She left California because she could not save for retirement and moved to Italy: “I live better with less”

Su Guillory left California after deciding that San Diego’s high cost of living made it difficult to save for retirement. Three years ago, she moved to Davoli, a small town in southern Italy with about 5,000 residents.

The move from one of the United States’ most expensive cities to a smaller, more rural Italian town sharply reduced her living costs, Guillory said in an article published by Business Insider. During her first years there, she rented a two-bedroom apartment near the sea in Soverato for about 500 euros, or $589, a month.

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Italy has a lower cost of living than the United States, and moving from an expensive large city to a small, more rural town has helped me greatly reduce my expenses.

She no longer pays that rent because her Italian husband already owned a roughly 600-square-foot, or 55-square-meter, house. “I live better with a smaller budget and feel more optimistic about my retirement than I did in the United States,” Guillory said.

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I live better with a smaller budget and feel more optimistic about my retirement than I did in the United States.

She said everyday services and activities also cost less than in California. Her family saves further on food because her mother-in-law receives fresh fruit and vegetables from neighbors and friends, while a relative works as a butcher. Without that help, Guillory estimated that groceries for two people would cost about $235 a month. They budget only $59 a month for eating out.

Retirement was one of Guillory’s main reasons for leaving the Golden State. She estimates that she still has 20 years before retirement, but says the outlook now feels more manageable. Her freelance work for U.S. clients covers her expenses in Italy and allows her to continue paying commitments in the United States.

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I realize that I am spending less money living here than when I lived in California.