5 Things You Didn't Know About Living in Italy

Think you know Italy? These things might surprise you. They certainly did me!

1. Cable TV is Free

In the U.S., we're bombarded with deals for cable television, especially now that video apps like Netflix have taken over. But in Italy, you don't have to pay for the privilege of having far more channels than you can possibly watch.

Well, I shouldn't say that cable is totally free; it's a fee that's baked into your electricity bill. So it's not optional. Everyone gets it. And I like that it's free!

2. Cell Phone Plans Are Cheap

How much do you pay for your cell plan? $50? $100? Guess what I pay a month.

€5.

That's right. €5 a month, and I never use all my data.

I have no idea why American phone companies charge so much when obviously it's not that the technology costs a lot.

3. You Can Choose Your Electricity Provider

I was shocked at this one: Italy has a free market for electricity, which means that you can choose the company. Just like you choose wifi. And they're competitive; every power company tries to outdo the next one with a better deal.

There are energy consultants you can go to who are tapped into who has the best deal. You tell them what you want and where you live, and they find you the deal. And you don't pay for this service! The electric company pays them for every new customer they bring. Makes sense.

And where you live makes a huge difference in what you pay. In Soverato, for July and August, we paid €400 (for the 2 months) for electricity. In Davoli, we paid €100 for the two months. And we ran the A/C just as much. The energy costs were higher, but the house in Soverato was less energy-efficient.

4. You Can Text Your Doctor

I don't think the U.S. has caught up here, has it? Whenever I need a prescription or have a question, I text my doctor. It's great, even if it does sometimes take her days to respond.

You can also call the doctor directly, though it's something I haven't gotten used to. I don't want to disturb them when they're working, but damn, every other Italian calls, and my doctor answers her phone in the middle of our appointments!

5. You Don't Always Need a Prescription

While it's not true for all medications, there are some types of medicine that you can get in Italy without a prescription (and for less than in the U.S...without insurance). Here are some examples:

• Ketoprofen

• High-Dose Acetaminophen

• Antibiotic/Corticosteroid Creams

• Pseudoephedrine

I'm still discovering things that surprise me here in Italy. Have you discovered anything I didn't cover?