Living in Sicily: Costs, Towns & Real Life Guide

Is Sicily a Good Place to Live?

The thought of living in Sicily is about more than just moving to an island in Italy. It’s about stepping into a place that has been a crossroads of the Mediterranean for thousands of years. The layers of its past are everywhere, from ancient Greek ruins to Norman cathedrals and Baroque towns. For anyone looking to make a home here, getting to grips with what daily life is truly like, with its distinct local culture and rhythm, is the first step.

Sicily isn’t shy about showing its true colours, and life here comes with plenty of high points as well as a few quirks to be aware of. Some of the pros of life in Sicily include:

• Unbeatable cost of living: From affordable rent and property prices to delicious and cheap local produce at the market, Sicily remains one of the most budget-friendly places to live in Western Europe.
• A feast for the senses: You can be exploring an ancient Greek temple in the morning and enjoying some of the world’s best street food for lunch.
• Natural beauty and pace of life: The island is breathtakingly beautiful, and it’s combined with a slower, more deliberate pace of life.

On the other hand, some of the cons to consider are:

• The infamous bureaucracy: Dealing with Italian paperwork can be a soul-testing experience. Whether it’s registering your residency or navigating local services.
• Economic realities and job opportunities: The relaxed pace of life is wonderful, but it’s partly a result of a slower economy with high unemployment. Finding a traditional job can be very challenging, which is why many expats rely on remote work.

Best Places to Live in Sicily

Choosing a home base in Sicily is a wonderful dilemma to have, as each city has its own distinct personality. It really comes down to the kind of life you’re picturing for yourself.

Palermo

As Sicily’s capital, Palermo is a city of glorious, beautiful chaos where you can wander through a buzzing street market like Ballarò, snacking on fried panelle, and then turn a corner to find a breathtaking gold-mosaic cathedral. It’s not a polished, quiet life; it’s loud, vibrant, and a little gritty. If you thrive on that energy and love the idea of history feeling alive and breathing all around you, there’s nowhere else like it.

Catania

If Palermo is the grand queen, Catania is her cool, rebellious younger sister living under the shadow of a volcano. The city has this incredible look, built from the dark volcanic stone of Mount Etna, which gives it a totally different vibe. It feels more down-to-earth and is buzzing with the energy from its university students, which means the nightlife is fantastic and there’s always something going on.

Taormina

Taormina is ridiculously beautiful, like it was designed for a movie set. Perched on a cliff, the views from its ancient Greek theatre over the sea and towards Etna will make your jaw drop. However, that beauty comes with a price tag and a lot of people—in summer, the charming medieval streets are packed. Living here is more of a polished, resort-town experience. It’s great if you want that picture-postcard life and don’t mind the crowds that come with it.

Syracuse (Siracusa)

Syracuse is for the soul-searchers and the history nerds. The real magic is the tiny island of Ortigia, a labyrinth of white-washed alleyways that open onto the sparkling sea. You can feel the layers of time here, from the mighty Greek theatre to the cathedral built right into the bones of a temple to Athena. It’s far more relaxed than the big cities, with your day revolving around a trip to the food market, a swim, and a long, leisurely evening stroll.

Cost of Living in Sicily

One of Sicily’s biggest draws is its low cost of living, especially when compared to the eye-watering prices in cities like Milan or Florence. However, “cheap” isn’t a one-size-fits-all term here, and the island has its own scale of affordability. Your lifestyle and, most importantly, your choice of city will have the biggest impact on your monthly budget.

As a general rule of thumb, life in Sicily is pretty affordable. The average cost of living for one person is around €1,200 a month, which would allow for a comfortable lifestyle in most cities and towns. For a family, a budget starting around €2,500-€3,000 would be a realistic target, depending on your lifestyle and where you settle. However, if you choose to live in one of the chic, world-famous tourist towns, you’ll need to be prepared to add at least 50% to those figures for a similar quality of life.

Housing in Sicily

Whether you’re dreaming of a sun-drenched apartment overlooking a lively piazza or a quiet stone house in the countryside, this is where the move starts to feel real.

Renting in Sicily

Start by renting, especially when you’re new to the island. Think of it as a trial run; it gives you the freedom to get a real feel for different neighbourhoods before you commit to buying. Rental prices vary a lot, with tourist hotspots and city centres being the most expensive, but you can find some great deals.

Buying Property

Sicily is famous for its affordable property, with stories of foreigners snapping up incredible bargains, even those famous ‘€1 houses’. However, the buying process in Italy is not for the faint of heart and is very different from what you may be used to. It involves specific legal steps, like making a formal purchase proposal and paying a deposit that’s held until all conditions are met. Get professional advice from a reputable real estate agent and a lawyer who specialises in Italian property law to guide you through it all.

Moving to Sicily as a Foreigner

Settling into Sicily as a newcomer is an adventure in itself. While the famous Sicilian hospitality is very real, integrating into the local culture takes time and effort. Knowing where to base yourself and understanding the practicalities of residency are the first big steps, whether you’re looking to retire in Italy or start from scratch as a millennial.

Learning Italian

Learning Italian is your golden ticket to a real life in Sicily. While you might get by with English in the tourist centre of Taormina, the moment you step off that main street, the real, everyday Sicily runs on Italian. It’s the language of the morning coffee order, the chat with your neighbours over the balcony, and the friendly banter at the local market.

Where Do Most Expats Live in Sicily?

You’ll find that foreigners are scattered all over the island, but they tend to cluster in a few key areas depending on the lifestyle they’re after. Most gravitate towards the larger cities like Palermo and Catania. It makes sense, as these buzzing hubs offer more job opportunities, better transport links, and established expat communities where you can find support and make friends more easily. For those looking for a quieter, more traditionally Sicilian experience, smaller towns like Syracuse and Ragusa are incredibly popular.

Can Brits Move to Sicily?

The dream of living in Sicily is still very much alive for Brits post-Brexit, but it does require a bit more paperwork. For a visit of up to 90 days, you don’t need a visa. However, if you plan to stay longer and make Sicily your home, you will need to apply for Italian residency. This process involves registering with the local authorities at the town hall and obtaining a residence permit. To get this, you’ll need to show that you have a solid financial plan to support yourself and that you have comprehensive health insurance in place.

Education in Sicily

Sicily has a solid public school system, and your kids will get a proper immersion into Italian life and language. However, you might find that schools in smaller towns have fewer resources than their counterparts in big mainland cities, but they make up for it with a strong sense of community. If you’d prefer an international curriculum, your best bets are the bigger cities.

Employment Opportunities

Finding a traditional job in Sicily can be tough as the local economy moves at a much slower pace. It’s not impossible, but you have to be strategic. The main opportunities are in tourism during the high season and teaching English. However, the real game-changer for many expats is remote work. If you have freelance skills like web design, writing, or photography, you can enjoy the Sicilian lifestyle while earning your income online.

Healthcare in Sicily

When it comes to healthcare, as a resident, you’ll have access to Italy’s national health service, which will cover you for medical care. The public system provides good quality services, but it can be slow, and you might face long waits for specialist appointments. For this reason, many locals and expats choose to take out private health insurance. This gives you the option to use private clinics for faster service and more specialised care.