La Dolce Vita in Sicily, Italy: A New Life for $1,870 a Month

“How was I supposed to go back to my ‘normal’ life after visiting Sicily?” wondered Keri.

So she didn’t.

Keri Venuti, 43, is from a tiny rural town in Utah—a town so small it only has a population of 280. She spent most of her life there, raising three girls and doing what regular moms do—driving carpool, helping with homework and attending all their sporting events.

A few years ago, she moved to a bigger city—St. George, Utah. She found a job she loved at a high-end specialty grocer, purchasing imported meats, cheeses, and olive oil from Italy, and began dreaming about traveling to Italy.

“I was drawn to Sicily, shamefully, by watching the Netflix series The White Lotus after binge-watching it on New Year’s Eve, 2022,” Keri admitted. Her girls were now adults, so she decided to take a trip to Europe—her first time out of the US. “I hadn’t even gone to Mexico before,” she laughs.

In early 2023, she visited Taormina, the setting for The White Lotus, and not surprisingly, loved it. She spent some time in Palermo on that trip and fell in love with it. She was captivated by the friendly people, the culture, the vibrant colors, the glorious food, and the incredibly gorgeous beaches.

Not only did she fall in love with Sicily and the capital city, but Keri also fell in love with a local Palermitano man. After spending time together in the US and Italy, they decided to get married in Las Vegas, and Keri moved to Palermo to begin a new life.

Keri Venuti started a new life in romantic Sicily at the age of 43. |©Keri Venuti

Why Palermo? “Palermo is wild and lively! It’s a bustling city rich with historic sites. It’s a melting pot of cultures, and the architecture is amazing. It’s so full of life!” she exclaims. “You can’t walk out your front door without someone calling a friendly buongiorno (good day)!”

Asked what she loves about Italy (besides her handsome new husband), Keri talks about the food culture in Sicily. “There’s a fruit and vegetable stand in every neighborhood, sometimes one on every corner.” The meat and eggs seem fresher and less processed—and so much more delicious than what she was buying in the States. Her average grocery bill is half of what she was paying in Utah.

“Prices for cheese are ridiculously cheap compared to what I was paying (and pricing for work) in the US.”

Going out to eat is very affordable as well. “You can get a freshly baked pistachio cornetto (croissant) and a coffee for €2.50 for breakfast. Lunch at my favorite local ‘bar’ is from six to 10 euro.” A nice dinner at a trattoria in the neighborhood might cost €20 to €25 per person for a shared bruschetta as an appetizer, a hearty bucatini a la Norma—pasta cooked al dente with fried eggplant and salted ricotta, and a glass of local Nero d’Avolo wine.

In addition to the low cost of groceries and restaurant meals, the cost of living in general is much less than what she was paying in St. George. Her monthly rent is €550 ($571) for a ,“very cute, modern three-bedroom apartment close to the historic centro.” Her cellphone bill is a quarter of what she had been paying stateside. Her monthly budget (without food costs) is €1,800 ($1,870). “Which is €520 ($540) cheaper than just my rent alone back in the States!” Keri says.

Keri initially moved to Sicily on a student visa and was required to purchase healthcare for her stay. She paid €210 ($218) for a six-month policy. Not per month—for the 180-day duration! “That total price was less than half of what I was paying each month in the US!” says Keri. She had a couple of medical procedures done in Palermo, including an ultrasound on her shoulder, which cost €120 ($124). A dental exam and cleaning cost her €45 ($46). Now that she’s a resident, she can avail herself of universal healthcare at no cost.

Keri found love and a new life in Sicily.|©Keri Venuti

Living la dolce vida has given her more time to pursue old hobbies. When she’s not working with her husband in the new tourism business they created, she likes to spend time sewing, something she didn’t seem to have time for in the past.

She’s also more relaxed. “I feel like I have more time for me. Honestly, I have never in my adult life been so rested!” She’s even turned into a beach aficionado. “Living in a land-locked state my whole life, this is a novelty for me and I cherish it! Swimming in the sea, lying on the beach, and NOT being on vacation is magical!” Gorgeous beaches are nearby, and the spiaggia at Mondello or Cefalù are two favorites.

When asked what a typical day looks like, Keri laughs. “When I first moved here, I tried to keep up with the Italians. Coffee and a fresh pastry in the morning. Pasta for lunch, then a pisolino (nap). Then, an Aperol spritz and an apertivo, an evening passeggiata (the traditional stroll around town before dinnertime for which Italy is famous), and a late dinner. I loved it, but I gained weight. Now my days involve a workout at the gym, a light lunch, and of course I still love my afternoon pisolino, especially in the winter!”

Dinner with family is important in Italy. Keri looks forward to sitting down with her husband and his two boys for a freshly prepared meal made with local ingredients and sharing stories about their day at the family table.

When asked what her advice would be about moving overseas, Keri smiles. “Do it! If you have the chance, do it. In 43 years of living, I never thought I’d be living in Sicily! I feel so incredibly blessed.”