Expat Questions Answered: How Do I Set Up a Phone in Italy?

When you move to Italy, you'll need an Italian phone number, not only to make calls, but also to use when you sign up for things online. Often, trying to input an American number doesn't work.

The good news is: a cell phone plan in Italy will cost WAY less than what you've been paying in America! I currently pay €6 for 50 GB of data and more minutes than I ever use. That's a far cry from the $80 a month I paid in the U.S.

Where to Buy a Phone Plan

The good news is that your phone will work here. You just need an Italian SIM card. There are mobile stores in every city, and many of them offer SIMs from different brands. They're usually pretty good about helping you find the best deal.

(One good question to ask is whether the plan can be used when you visit America, or if you'll need to purchase an additional international or travel plan. More on that in a minute.)

Like I said, I pay little. Consider that you'll be using wifi when you're home, so you may not need an unlimited data plan. Also, people here hardly ever text via SMS. We use WhatsApp, which is data-based. So don't pay for a bunch of text minutes you won't use.

Once you get your plan and SIM, the person who works in the store will be happy to set it up for you.

What to Do About Your American Phone Plan

Cancel it! You don't need it! I have a Google Voice number for all U.S. calls and texts. It's free, and I got to choose the area code for my number. I downloaded the Voice app, and I use it to text and call friends and family in the U.S.

The only problem is that sometimes when you have to input your phone number on a website (like Venmo), it won't accept a Google Voice number. There are other virtual numbers you can find with a quick search, but I don't know if you'd have the same issue.

You may be able to contact your bank (that's usually where there's a problem with the number) and ask if they can override the problem. That way, you aren't paying $80 a month for the privilege of having a phone number that complies with the bank's website!

When Traveling to the U.S.

I falsely assumed my Digi plan could be used in the U.S., and I realized with horror in the Atlanta airport that I was wrong. Fortunately, I discovered e-SIMs! I purchased a plan from Saily, which offers plans for a varying number of days (7-30) and varying amounts of GBs (1-unlimited). The prices are extremely reasonable. A 30-day plan is just $22.99.

You don't have to install a physical SIM card. Just download the app and switch your data to the e-SIM virtual card, and you're good to go!

Our phones aren't always something we consider when planning a move abroad, but try and survive without yours!