Our family left unaffordable Australia behind after snapping up a four-bedroom hilltop home in Italy for a bargain. Now we're living our dream 'slow' lives with no mortgage

By CINDY TRAN, ASSOCIATE EDITOR - LIFESTYLE & SHOPPING, AUSTRALIA

Amanda and Paul Nedza always dreamed of owning property in Italy .

What started as a series of family holidays to the stunning European country eventually led to a life-changing decision to leave Australia behind indefinitely.

The couple, both 38, inspected 15 places across several locations before finding their dream home in Lazio, a region of central Italy, on the border of Tuscany.

The pair purchased an abandoned three-storey, four-bedroom villa for €200,000 (AU$328,600) after they sold their family home in Melbourne . The median price of established family homes in Melbourne spans from $1.3million to over $1.6million.

'Buying our home in Italy was significantly cheaper than what we had in Australia and not having a mortgage has made a huge difference ,' Amanda told Daily Mail.

The couple and their 11-year-old son Stefan uprooted their lives, sold most of their belongings, and travelled to Europe on a one-way ticket with just a few suitcases.

After years of visiting Italy as tourists and embracing its rich culture, seasonal produce, and slower pace of life, the young family of three now calls it home.

'We wanted slower days, more time together, a change of scenery and a life that felt more intentional. So we packed up our life, stepped away from our businesses and work and started again somewhere unfamiliar but deeply meaningful to us,' she said.

It's been nine months since the family moved abroad, but the couple has already noticed how much more affordable life in Italy is compared with Australia, particularly when it comes to groceries.

Amanda and Paul Nedza always dreamed of living in Italy with their 11-year-old son Stefan

The pair purchased an abandoned three-storey, four-bedroom villa for €200,000 (AU$328,600). They are currently renovating it after it was neglected for nearly 15 years

Amanda, who has Italian heritage, and her Polish husband Paul both have European roots so the idea of living in Italy 'felt familiar rather than completely foreign'.

She said knowing they have family living around Europe only made the decision to move 'feel easier and more realistic'.

'It was something we had talked about for years, and Italy naturally felt like the right fit,' the mum said.

'We had holidayed there several times as a family and each visit strengthened our connection to the country. We were drawn to the lifestyle, the sense of community, and the importance placed on food, family and daily life.'

Before their major move abroad, the family was living a 'busy life' that was 'very much part of the hustle culture'.

'We were always running in and out the door and trying to keep up with a structured routine,' Amanda explained.

With 20 years' experience as a hairdresser, Amanda owned three businesses - a hair salon, a barbershop, and even a café - while her husband worked as a cabinet maker.

Life was looking good for the couple, as they owned a house in Melbourne and kept up with their mortgage repayments, usual household bills, and living expenses.

But the family started to feel the pinch as grocery costs rose while they maintained a healthy, organic lifestyle. Amanda said she cooks 90 per cent of their meals, so buying fresh, high-quality ingredients accounted for a large part of their budget.

'Groceries were becoming one of our biggest costs, particularly because we prioritise whole foods and try to buy organic, pasture-raised, and grass-fed where possible. Shopping that way in Australia was becoming increasingly expensive for us,' she said.

'Food and lifestyle played a big role in our decision to move to Italy. We were drawn to the idea of eating more seasonally, sourcing food locally and avoiding as many additives as possible.

'Achieving that in Australia felt costly and harder to maintain, whereas the Italian way of living naturally aligned with how we wanted to raise our family.'

In September 2025, the family boarded a flight to Italy - with no plans to return to Australia

After years of embracing the country’s rich culture, seasonal produce, and slower pace of life, the young family of three now calls Italy home

Two years before the relocation, the mum stepped back from work to homeschool her son Stefan and prepare him for the transition abroad.

'One of the reasons we decided to homeschool Stefan was to slow things down and create a more intentional daily lifestyle,' she said.

'During that time we sold our businesses and began planning our move as a family.'

In September 2025, the family boarded a flight to Italy - with no plans to return to Australia.

As Amanda enjoys cooking everything from scratch, including traditional Italian dishes, she said groceries are now 'noticeably cheaper' for her family.

'In Italy, everything is very seasonal and locally sourced so we are buying fresh produce, dairy and meat without the same cost we were used to in Australia. It feels simpler and more affordable,' she said.

'Utilities are probably the one area that feels higher. Heating a large house in Italy, especially in winter, can be expensive, and gas and electricity are slightly more than what we were paying before.

'But overall, with cheaper food, fewer big expenses and a more local lifestyle, we are finding Italy costs less for us than Australia.'

Back in Australia, Stefan's soccer academy was quite expensive. But now his activities in Italy are much more affordable.

When they began their search for a new home, the couple set a budget of under $100,000, hoping the property would only require minor renovations before they could move in.

However, that 'simple Italian dream' quickly changed when they began viewing properties in the lower price range in person, only to discover major issues - including mould, water damage and structural problems.

And showing up for home inspections wasn't as simple as it is in Australia.

'We would meet the agent on the side of the road, sign paperwork to show we were serious buyers, and then follow them to the property,' Amanda said.

'There were no styled homes, no open inspections, no fresh flowers on the bench. It felt more like, here is the house, just step over the dog and have a look around.'