American Woman Tests 90-Day Move to Naples

Kaitlyn Rosati has traveled extensively throughout Italy, visiting all 20 regions over the past decade. She describes the country as her "soulmate" rather than a person. To test her dream of relocation, she is currently spending 90 days in Naples.

Triggered by the recent loss of her job and her dog, Bowie, Rosati decided to stop delaying her plans. She is staying on a tourist visa, which allows American passport holders to remain in the country for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Her experience has solidified her desire to return permanently, citing affordability and a welcoming atmosphere.

Rosati's connection to Italy began more than 10 years ago with a trip to Venice. Over time, she visited every region in the country, eventually realizing she had seen more of Italy than of the United States. Despite encouragement from friends and family in New York, she initially hesitated due to commitments like her job, apartment, and community.

A series of personal events shifted her perspective. Earlier this year, she lost her New York-based job, and shortly after, her Boston Terrier, Bowie, passed away. These events created a "now or never" mentality. She realized she did not want to die without attempting to live in her favorite place.

Visa restrictions presented a hurdle for an indefinite move. Consequently, she devised a plan to test life in Naples first. She promised herself that if she fell in love with living there, she would return to New York to plan for a long-term visa.

Finding a short-term lease proved to be a significant challenge. Rosati scoured major rental platforms, including Airbnb, Spotahome, and Booking.com, as well as Facebook groups. She discovered that options were limited and prices were often inflated.

The solution came from a past connection. While brainstorming, Rosati remembered she still had the contact information of a woman whose apartment she had rented via Airbnb in 2022. She reached out via text and was surprised to find the unit available. They agreed on a monthly payment schedule, securing her housing for the trial run.

The transition to long-term living differed significantly from short-term visits. Rosati spent her first four days inside her apartment, recovering from burnout and managing anxiety about speaking a new language. She initially feared sounding "stupid" but eventually forced herself to stop reverting to English.

After nearly two months, she has made progress, even purchasing a pair of glasses entirely in Italian. She has also adapted to several lifestyle quirks:

• Recycling: The system requires separating paper, glass, plastic, food waste, and nonorganic items into distinct bins.
• Shopping: Unlike the one-stop supermarkets in New York, Naples requires visiting different stores for produce, meat, cheese, and toiletries.
• Social: She has befriended her local butcher, Angelo, who prepares her chicken cutlets.

Financial affordability is a major highlight of Rosati's experience. She notes that the cost of food is significantly lower than in the United States. A full haul of meat, cheese, wine, water, and produce costs approximately 22 euros (about $26).

She contrasts this with New York City, where the same items would cost closer to $150. Dining out is also more accessible; she enjoyed a personal pizza and a glass of wine for just 8 euros. In New York, finding a glass of wine for under $20 at a nice restaurant is difficult.

Beyond finances, Rosati appreciates the cultural similarities and differences compared to New York. She observes that Southern Italy shares New York's "hard yet warm" attitude but operates at a much slower pace. Additionally, she enjoys the year-round warm weather, noting that Naples does not experience snow, unlike New York winters.