Six months ago, Alice embarked on an arduous and frustrating journey.
A ‘campaign’ to obtain her Italian patente di guida (driver’s license). And I have nothing but admiration for both her tenacity and downright stubbornness!
So why does she have to do it?
Well, British residents in Italy with UK-issued driver’s licenses can still drive legally here until the end of 2023. Now, as we both have UK licenses, we’re likewise covered until the end of this year, just like them. Which is good news for us, of course!
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| She's aced it...! |
Why?
Because we’d originally straight-swapped our NZ licenses for UK ones when we’d first arrived there many years ago, and the Italian authorities state that as our licenses were initially NZ ones … this ruling doesn’t apply to us! Or anyone in a similar situation to ours, for that matter: So any non-EU citizens who managed to do the same thing back in the day? They too must go through this process!
Why only Alice, you may ask? The theory test (which she just aced!) is in very ‘tricksy’ old-fashioned and obscure Italian … and my wife’s language skills are so very much better than mine, do y’see?
She did it though, and I’m so very proud of her!
Cost of Living
The cost of living is rising everywhere...
And we’re not immune to that in Sicily: We’ve noticed it during our weekly shop, and at the cafes and restaurants we frequent.
However, I do have to say it’s less noticeable here than in many other places. Including northern Italy, according to my research.
You can, for instance, still get a caffè latte, a caffè americano and a ciambella (doughnut) as big as your palm for less than €5.00 if you ‘shop around’. As in: Stay away from the tourist areas.
Now, naturally, I’ve been here long enough now to know said places! Having said that, the above selection will set you back only around €6.50 even in the historical centre, which is still not bad at all considering.
As for shopping, while a kilo of, say, tomatoes will set you back up to €3.00 at a supermercato, dried pasta is still as cheap as chips.
And again, if’n you shop around, you’ll find bargains at a local fruttivendolo (fruit shop). Our favourite, for example, regularly has (‘okay’) tomatoes on offer at €1.00 a kilo! With the same price for melanzane (eggplants), oranges, mandarins, etc., all dependant on the season.
Now we’re incredibly lucky in Modica, given we’re in the centre of a prime agricultural area, so the transport cost from field-to-table is low, and they grow about everything you need locally, so we’re very spoiled!
So, while it is getting more expensive … I reckon it’s entirely ‘bearable’.
And we’re not immune to that in Sicily: We’ve noticed it during our weekly shop, and at the cafes and restaurants we frequent.
However, I do have to say it’s less noticeable here than in many other places. Including northern Italy, according to my research.
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| Breakfast of champions...! |
Now, naturally, I’ve been here long enough now to know said places! Having said that, the above selection will set you back only around €6.50 even in the historical centre, which is still not bad at all considering.
As for shopping, while a kilo of, say, tomatoes will set you back up to €3.00 at a supermercato, dried pasta is still as cheap as chips.
And again, if’n you shop around, you’ll find bargains at a local fruttivendolo (fruit shop). Our favourite, for example, regularly has (‘okay’) tomatoes on offer at €1.00 a kilo! With the same price for melanzane (eggplants), oranges, mandarins, etc., all dependant on the season.
Now we’re incredibly lucky in Modica, given we’re in the centre of a prime agricultural area, so the transport cost from field-to-table is low, and they grow about everything you need locally, so we’re very spoiled!
So, while it is getting more expensive … I reckon it’s entirely ‘bearable’.
Housing
So, what’s the local housing market like?
Well, the average price for a property in Modica bassa (the lower historic centre) where we live, is only €871 per square metre. However, as with all ‘averages’, the prices and conditions vary widely, of course!
The most expensive property being this 2,000 m², 31-roomed farm house for €2.7 million. Which comes with about 17 hectares planted with citrus fruit, olive trees and vines. Which, okay, works out to a modest €1,350 m².
However, it isn’t even here ... it’s out in the countryside ... but then that’s the local real estate agencies for you! In fact, if’n you click on the map of its location, it only shows the agent’s office, which alright is in Modica bassa! Ha!
Well, it cost us €787 per square metre: ‘Un-restructured’. We, however, were very lucky, given it was an ex-B&B so liveable from the off, and we ‘only’ had to replace the doors and windows, fit a new kitchen, and furnish it to our taste.
All of which pushed the overall price up to €1,084 per square metre.
Which is very good, considering.
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| 'Spot the Difference': €2.7 million and €4,700... |
However, it isn’t even here ... it’s out in the countryside ... but then that’s the local real estate agencies for you! In fact, if’n you click on the map of its location, it only shows the agent’s office, which alright is in Modica bassa! Ha!
At the extreme other end of the scale, the cheapest right now is a €4,700, 24 m², ‘Detached House’! It’s actually here, and translates to only €196 per square metre. Not that you’d want to live there, especially as the agency describes it as: “Da ristrutturare” (“To be restructured”)!
So, what did we pay for our ‘kiwi4ever’ home back in 2021?Well, it cost us €787 per square metre: ‘Un-restructured’. We, however, were very lucky, given it was an ex-B&B so liveable from the off, and we ‘only’ had to replace the doors and windows, fit a new kitchen, and furnish it to our taste.
All of which pushed the overall price up to €1,084 per square metre.
Which is very good, considering.
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