Is Italy a good country for remote workers?

Insights from visiting my home country for holidays

Back from a sunny week in Italy 🇮🇹☀️ and yes, the "Should I move back?" question popped up.

After all, unlike when I first left the country, today:

• My income is fully remote

• I prioritise life quality alongside career growth

• I could set up my business in a tax-friendly way

Yet, I'm not going back 🙅

Here's why:

1️⃣ It would make me less sharp

Italy is great for holidays:

• Great weather, food, art and nature

• People are friendly and live a relaxed, social life

This is nice but it also makes people less competitive internationally.

While Italians relax and live "la dolce vita"… People in emerging countries learn, work, develop, grow.

2️⃣ Infrastructure is set to deteriorate

Italy's glory days are a thing of the past.

What used to be a roaring economy - with great standard of living and infrastructure - is now the epitome of decadence.

It's striking that the best things to see in the country are, literally, ruins.

Hospitals, schools, roads - they're all getting worse and crossing the line from 1st to 2nd world.

3️⃣ I don't like how the country is run

Italy is among the European countries that screwed up the most on immigration.

Too ineffective to bring in (much needed) workers in a safe and controlled manner, it let in just anyone.

• Value signallers boasted big hearts

• Rich intellectuals got cheap housekeepers

• Entrepreneurs hired for dangerous and gruelling jobs without guaranteeing basic work rights

Honest and less fortunate people paid the price and live in less safe cities.

And this is far from being the only issue:

• Pension system that is a Ponzi scheme

• Obscure legislation and bureaucracy

• Horrible taxes (the nice-sounding exemptions have many caveats that make them impractical)

• Corruption

The list goes on.

4️⃣ What will be best for my kids?

I just turned 31, and building a life in a place that could also be good for my kids - once and if I'll have them - is among the things I value.

I don't think Italy is a bad place to raise kids, but I also don't think it's that good.

• Education is severely outdated

• Job market is very bad and the country bleeds young professionals

• Safety issues, broadly speaking (infra, crime, etc)

• Provincial mindset

5️⃣ Being part of a success story

Humans operate in societies.

Whether you like it or not, your surroundings have a big impact on your life.

A country can be seen as:

• Your business partner: it helps you earn, develop and scale; it takes shares of what you build

• Your enlarged family: people you meet, develop relationships and spend time with

In addition to the obvious components like lifestyle, infrastructure and services.

What do you want to be a part of?

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This little rant is obviously just my personal take after a week of holidays. Take it with a grain of salt, and always do your own research 😊♥️

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The Caveat

Having a relaxed, chill life seem to cut both ways

For example, at the country level, as it is for Italy (or other Southern European countries).

The tricky part is that I'm also not too enthusiastic about ultra-grindful and capitalistic places like the US or UAE.

One of my main efforts these days is tuning my work-life balance to a sustainable yet effective pace.

And finding this balance is not easy, but I think it's worth it.

Life is too:

• Short (to waste it grinding away every waking hour)

• Tough/interesting (to just sleep it out, uncaring of your output and development)

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About relocation…

I often talk about “best countries” to move to, but I never mention the sacrifices that moving abroad carry.

I left my hometown in my late teens chasing opportunities and a better future.

Since then I've only returned for short holidays.

Last week, while visiting Italy, I met a childhood friend who had just moved back so his little boy could grow up near the grandparents.

Below is a photo from the trip, with my grandma (87) and grandpa (90).

Growing up, my parents lived close to them:

• When we were kids → grandparents helped raise us

• Now that they're older → their children are nearby to help them

When you relocate, family's support network takes a hit, for you and for them.

Seeing my grandma's smile always reminds me of what distance costs.

I don't regret moving at all

It has improved my life dramatically and helped shape the person I am today.

But this is one downside I don't often mention.

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I want to hear from you

If you have any insight or perspective on:

• Living in Italy in 2025

• WLB (both personally and in the process of choosing where to live)

• Keeping family ties and support while being abroad

I’d love to hear from you! Just reply to this email and I’ll read it :)

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