Looking for American Expats in Rome?

Thinking about moving to Rome as an American? These pros and cons come from the InterNations Expat Insider 2024 survey, in which thousands of expats around the world share what they like and don't like about life abroad each year. The points below reflect what US American expats in Rome wrote in their own words, backed up by survey percentages from all expats living there.

• The food and culture are the heart of it. Rome scores 88% for culinary variety and 75% for culture and nightlife, and Americans describe la dolce vita — a beautiful life at a slower pace.

• The climate and nature. 87% of expats in Rome rate the climate and weather positively and 93% the natural environment, with hiking and beaches close by.

• It's a warm and has a good way of life. Americans praise the emphasis on quality of life, family, and community, with 69% rating locals as friendly.

• It's a base for travel. 88% rate the opportunity to travel positively, with the rest of Italy and Europe within easy reach.

• Bureaucracy can be challenging. Just 9% of expats in Rome find it easy to deal with local authorities — one of the lowest scores anywhere — spanning permits, taxes, and licences.

• Careers and the economy are weak. Only 18% rate the local job market positively and 23% the state of the economy, with brain drain a recurring theme.

• Getting around be frustrating. Public transport rates 51% amid strikes and delays, and only 60% find it easy to get around on foot or by bike.

• Cleanliness and the language barriers. Litter and graffiti come up often, and just 14% find it easy to get by without Italian.

For Americans, Rome offers extraordinary food, culture, climate, and a warm, unhurried way of life. The trade-offs are heavy bureaucracy, a weak job market, and patchy transport. It rewards those who come for the lifestyle rather than the career, and can laugh off the red tape.

Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys for expats — Expat Insider — where we ask people living around the world about every aspect of expat life. We’ve rounded up key facts about the typical American expat: what motivated them to move to a new country, what they enjoy about life abroad, as well as what they struggle with the most.

• Browse our network of members to get to know American expats in Rome and connect with others.
• Take part in our expat forums to get firsthand tips and information from fellow Americans in Rome.
• Meet other American expats and global minds at 600 monthly official events and share your interests at more than 4,600 monthly activities in Rome and across the globe.

InterNations provides an easy, casual way to get to know expats from the USA and further afield in your local community. Sound good? Then let us welcome you into our Rome Community today!

Our community in Rome is also very active offline. Our InterNations Ambassadors organize regular events and various expat activities, e.g. a dinner in Rome’s hippest restaurant or an outing with other American expats to explore hot and dry Apulia, full of ancient footsteps left by Greek, Arab, and Norman settlers. These activities are a casual way to get to know expats from the USA in your local community as well as Americans in Italy nationwide. Interested? Simply become a member and we’ll be happy to welcome you among our Americans living in Rome!