Rome - Post Report Question and Answers
What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Apartment near Villa Borghese. Four bedroom with a rickety elevator to a higher level floor. I can walk to the Embassy in about 25 minutes on a good day. A lot of people are placed in the USG owned Grazioli, which isn't too bad but in a good location for shopping. Parioli is nearby too, but the locals are extremely snooty and hate Americans (they will make comments about you while shopping if they hear your English). Others are placed down near the Vatican area or the touristy city center and even WAY out in the Cassia near the schools. Housing is probably the number one reason why people short of tour here. It's often noisy (we got lucky, it's not for us), stuff doesn't work, absolutely no storage, etc... - Aug 2024
Typically apartments in the center of the city. There are a few options, depending how close you want to be to the touristy areas. There are some options in Cassia with larger houses, but who wants to live in suburbs of Rome when you can live downtown by all the historic sites and walk to work? The only people I hear complain about housing are those used to living in mansions in Africa during previous tours. It's Europe - you need to adjust and learn to downsize. When in Rome..... - Sep 2022
On the local economy, can be expensive. Several young/trendy/local areas. From Embassy area to the centre of Rome, 30 minutes by car (45 during rush hour) not including parking. Scooter recommended but only if you are competent on one before coming. - Oct 2014
You get what you pay for. Think big-city, US prices (i.e., high costs per square foot to live in the historic center, cheaper the farther you get from downtown). During rush hour, from one end of the city to the next could be a two-hour commute. In non-rush hour, the same distance could be covered in, say, 20 minutes. - May 2013
Housing is mostly apartments in various locations in the city. Most people are pleasantly surprised with their housing arrangment, and unpleasantly surprised with their commute. If you are looking at a map and think, "that's only 10 minutes away", then double or triple your original time expectation. - Apr 2012
Apartments. Old and small in the center of Rome, near the Embassy. Old and a little larger as you go out. Not anything to write home about--typical European lack of storage or counter space, and doors to every room and hall. Tend to be dark and chopped up. With marble floors, crown molding, and high ceilings. - Aug 2010
We have severe noise issues upstairs. Since the Embassy only 'rents' our place and the people upstairs 'own' their place, we have very little pull or say in asking them to be more quiet. They fight, throw things, walk in hard shoes all day and night- even at 3 am. While this extreme isn't too common, noise issues are an issue for some people. Embassy housing is not great compared to housing pools in other European cities. We have a two bedroom for four of us (two adults, two children) and we're not the only ones. The alternative would be to live out on the Cassia (northwest suburbs) in a bigger place, but the commute times can be over an hour each way. Even those with three or four bedrooms have very small rooms, or connected rooms, where you can only access one by walking through another! - Apr 2009
Everyone lives in apartments. Garage space is always provided for U.S. Government employees. The further out you live, the more likely you will get garage space colocated with your apartment. Commute times can range from 15 minutes to over an hour. Many people use public transportation, but I see lots of people drive cars, motorini (Vespas), bicycle, walk, etc. Housing gets larger the further away you live; however, commute times also get worse. The only real advantage to living further out is that you are closer to schools. Also note:most residences are not supplied with a lot of electricity. In my house, I cannot run the washer and dryer at the same time without tripping a breaker. Because these appliances are also on the same circuit with the kitchen, we cannot run the dishwasher while doing laundry. This can get pretty frustrating with a larger family! - Feb 2008
Housing consists almost exclusively of apartments in various parts of the city,depending upon the family size and need for access to parks. - Feb 2008
