As the expiry date for his working holiday visa neared, Fabiani said, they settled on a solution: “Let’s do the same experience in Italy. And then, at the end of it, let’s decide where we’re going to stay.”

Craparotta, who was disillusioned with her job and ready for a fresh start, agreed. She quit her job and flew to Rome in May 2023 on a working holiday visa to start a new chapter with Fabiani.

A year later, the couple is still in Rome. There have been challenges, such as turning a dusty old apartment Fabiani inherited into their home, and plenty of adjustments, but they aren’t interested in moving back to Canada anytime soon — here’s why.

Italy is pedestrian-friendly and a convenient base for travel

One of Fabiani’s first questions to Craparotta when he arrived in Toronto was, “Where are the mountains?”

Like many first-time visitors, Fabiani assumed that Canada was “covered in nature” and that places such as Banff National Park were a stone’s throw away, Craparotta said.

But the best lakes are a two-hour drive from Toronto, she said, and potentially pricey flights are the easiest way to get to hot spots such as Vancouver.

As an architect, Fabiani enjoyed how “industrial-looking” Toronto was, but he wasn’t a fan of how reliant the couple was on a car in the city’s suburbs, where they lived with Craparotta’s parents.

By contrast, Craparotta appreciates how “walkable” Rome is, even in its outskirts, and how close it is to lakes, beaches, and quaint medieval towns.

Another upside is that the couple doesn’t have to plan European vacations that far in advance.

“Back in Canada, I would have to plan and take a one-week trip to go anywhere in Europe,” she said.

Living in Italy, it’s relatively easy — and cheap — to book weekend trips on trains or budget airlines to Milan or the Amalfi Coast, as well as international spots such as London or Paris.

“I can easily travel around Italy or Europe for the same cost as a long-distance bus ticket in Canada,” Craparotta said.

Food in Italy is better, healthier, and cheaper

Craparotta and Fabiani are big on food, as cooking is one of their favorite things to do together.

But Fabiani wasn’t a huge fan of some Toronto dining options.

Craparotta said her mother was excited to take Fabiani to her favorite Italian spot.

Like most Italians she’s met, Fabiani is “brutally honest,” Craparotta said. When a waiter came by to ask how the food was, his response was: “Not the greatest.”

It was only after Craparotta moved to Rome that she understood where Fabiani was coming from.

Italians “cook very simply,” and there are fewer deep-fried or sugary dishes compared to restaurants in Canada, Craparotta said.

“I could eat out three days in a row, and I’m not going to gain a crazy amount of weight,” she said.

Craparotta also said the produce is much fresher and cheaper in Italy.

In Rome, she added, she could pop over to a local vegetable vendor and buy a week’s worth of fruit and vegetables for 10 euros (or about $10), whereas in Toronto, a single bag of lettuce could cost as much as 10 Canadian dollars (or $7).

Italian social life is less focused on drinking

In Toronto, Craparotta was used to a social life that revolved around drinking.

It came as a culture shock for Fabiani. When they lived in Canada, Craparotta remembered Fabiani being shocked by a rowdy party where people were playing beer pong and drinking out of red Solo cups.

“The first time that I experienced something different to that was when I was in Spain with my Italian friends, because they would always have dinner parties or wine nights,” Craparotta said.

That’s what most of their social life is like in Rome now, which Craparotta prefers as it’s easier to get to know people and have more in-depth conversations.

“If we go out, it’s like one or two glasses of wine, and they’re not drinking more than that,” Craparotta said.

Italy’s job market can be tough, especially if you’re used to North American salaries

Craparotta came to Rome on a working holiday visa with “the hopes” that she’d eventually find a full-time job in e-commerce.

Even though she felt she had the advantage of having worked for a well-known technology company for years, it became clear with every rejection that her lack of fluency in Italian was a real issue.

“With Italian culture, it’s so social, especially at the office,” she said, adding that most of the companies she interviewed at didn’t feel she was a “social fit” because of her language skills.

Craparotta said she also had a “hard time” accepting how much lower salaries are in Rome compared with Toronto.

According to Numbeo, a data-based website that crowdsources the cost of living in major cities across the world, the average monthly net salary in Toronto is about $3,564, whereas Rome’s is about $2,071.

“When I got here, people were saying my expectations were way too high,” Craparotta said.

As the months passed without an offer for her, she and Fabiani reluctantly toyed with the idea of moving back to Canada.

“I didn’t want to leave,” she said. “But the job market in Italy is not your friend.”

But after over a year of applying, Craparotta secured a decent-paying job in Rome in e-commerce that she will start in July. While she is making less than what she would back in Toronto, Craparotta said the location is worth the pay cut.

“You can do more with less in Rome,” she said. “There’s always something to do, amazing food to eat, and people out enjoying life.”