A 62-year-old woman has opened up about her decision to leave her life in Texas and move to Italy on her own after realizing it was too expensive to retire in the US.
Barbara Barto, a former office manager from Fort Worth, had always dreamed of living abroad, but it wasn’t until she lost her job of a decade that she considered taking the plunge.
In an interview with CNN, she explained that she was at a crossroads in her life in 2020. Her mother had died, her divorce was finalized, and her job search had been fruitless.
Barto was ready for retirement, but she was concerned about the rising cost of living in the US. Then she remembered the short time she spent in Italy in the 1980s.
Barbara Barto, 62, left her home in Fort Worth, Texas, to retire in Italy after realizing it was cheaper to live abroad
The former office manager bought a three-bedroom house outside Palombaro, a village in Italy’s Abruzzo region, for just $123,000
The house is located on 2.5 hectares of land with 200 olive trees and offers beautiful views of the mountains of Maiella.
After watching a few livestreams from A Home In Italy, a company that helps foreigners buy real estate in the country, she realized this was a more cost-effective option than staying in Texas.
Retirees need about $60,000 a year to live comfortably in Texas, which is slightly less than the national average of $68,000, according to research by GoBanking Rates.
“I put pencil to paper and saw that I could afford it, and that it would be more affordable than living in the United States,” Barto told CNN.
‘Because everything is more expensive there. When I added up the numbers, I saw that I could live there more comfortably with my pension and the inheritance I have. And I thought, “Why not?”
Barto traveled to Italy in April 2021 to look for apartments, and after viewing six houses, she chose one outside Palombaro, a village in Italy’s Abruzzo region.
Set on two and a half hectares of land with 200 olive trees, the three-bedroom house cost just €123,000, which amounted to $123,000 due to the equivalent renovation at the time.
“You couldn’t buy something like this in the United States for what I paid for it,” she noted.
After completing the paperwork, she applied for an Italian Elective Residency Visa, a long-stay permit for non-EU citizens to live in the country, provided they have a self-sufficient income and financial assets.
Barto (pictured with her niece) packed her things and moved into her new home in October 2022 with the help of her younger sister and ex-husband
“You couldn’t buy (something like this) in the United States for what I paid for it,” she told CNN of her home in Italy
Barto recalled how locals greeted her with coffee and pastries, making her immediately feel welcome in her new home
The retiree does odd jobs in and around her house and travels through Italy
In October 2022, Barto packed up and moved into her new home with the help of her younger sister and ex-husband, whom she remains friends with after their divorce.
She remembered how locals greeted her with coffee and pastries, which immediately made her feel welcome in her new home.
The pensioner admitted that learning Italian was not easy, but modern technology allows her to communicate via Google Translate.
Before calling or visiting a company, she writes down what she has to say in Italian and practices her speech until she feels confident.
She noted that when she has to call for a hair appointment, the salon staff will recognize her voice and say, “Oh, it’s Barbara from Texas.”
Barto has also had to adapt to cultural differences, including most businesses closing in the middle of the afternoon and not having access to fast food.
Barto had to prove that she had enough money to live in Italy without working to qualify for an Elective Residency Visa
During the summer she had the opportunity to enjoy the sun on the beach in Abruzzo
“I really enjoy living here,” she said. “I love going outside and looking at my balcony… You say ‘Wow’ every day.”
Despite the challenges of living in a new country, she couldn’t be happier with her decision.
“My money goes a lot further here,” she said. ‘Groceries are a lot cheaper here. You save a lot more money here, which I like.”
Barto has noticed that she has also become more active and can travel around Italy and visit different cities and towns thanks to the country’s train system.
She plans to return to Texas for the holidays, and while she’s looking forward to seeing her family and eating her favorite foods, she admits she doesn’t miss worrying about her safety.
“Crime has gotten so crazy there,” she said. “Texas has such open gun laws and there are just way too many angry people with guns.”
After a year abroad Barto has met a number of expats, including single women like herself, and she hopes to stay in Italy permanently.
“I really enjoy living here,” she said. ‘I love going outside and looking at my balcony… You’re like, ‘Wow,’ every day.”