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Living in Vatican City

Vatican City is one of the most unique places to live in the world. As the world’s smallest country, this independent city-state is completely enclaved within Rome, Italy. Vatican City serves as the spiritual center for the Catholic Church and home to the Pope. Only about 1,000 people live within its walls and boundaries.

Living in Vatican City provides the extraordinary opportunity to reside in the heart of the Catholic faith. While not for everyone, life in the Vatican offers a completely one-of-a-kind experience. Here’s an in-depth look at what it’s like calling Vatican City home.

Why Move to Vatican City?

Vatican City appeals to a very narrow demographic. Unless you are directly involved with the Catholic Church, living here full-time is nearly impossible. However, for devout Catholics there are some appealing factors:

  1. Play a Role in the Church – Living and working in Vatican City allows you to directly impact the inner workings of Catholicism. Whether in an administrative, service, or religious capacity, you can be part of the Holy See.
  2. Surrounded by History – Every corner of Vatican City is filled with irreplaceable art, ancient structures, and invaluable archives documenting humanity. You are immersed in history.
  3. Attend Papal Events – Residents can closely participate in papal conclaves, masses, Easter and Christmas celebrations. These are unparalleled events for believers.
  4. Rare Residency Opportunity – The chance to live in the world’s smallest country and home of the Catholic Church is extremely rare. Only a privileged few get to call Vatican City home.
  5. Safe Neighborhood – Due to heavy security and low visitor numbers, Vatican City is an exceptionally safe and low-crime area. There is almost no violent crime within its walls.

If you have strong Catholic faith and deep church involvement, life in Vatican City offers huge spiritual rewards most will never experience.

Living in Vatican City: Pros and Cons

Compared to living elsewhere in Rome or Italy, Vatican City offers some unique pros but also challenges to adjust to.

Pros: 

  1. Priceless Catholic history and faith surrounding you
  2. Attend special masses and papal events
  3. Extremely safe, essentially no violent crime
  4. Very small community where most residents know each other
  5. No property or income taxes
  6. Unique experience living in the world’s smallest country
  7. High employment with good wages provided for many residents
  8. Cared for by church with most utilities and amenities provided

Cons: 

  1. Very limited private housing, most accommodations basic
  2. Virtually no private vehicle ownership allowed
  3. Limited public transport options within Vatican City
  4. Hard to adjust to formal environment if not devout Catholic
  5. High cost of living with limited housing and imported goods
  6. Limited entertainment and leisure options
  7. Difficult to gain residency unless closely involved with church
  8. Opaque bureaucracy administering daily lives
  9. Gossip spreads quickly within small population

The unusual pros and cons reflect Vatican City’s distinct status in the world. Life revolves almost entirely around the Catholic Church.

The Cost of Living in Vatican City: A Comprehensive Guide

Vatican City is one of the most expensive places to live in the world. While accurate data is sparse, cost of living is inflated by import costs, lack of housing, and economic realities controlled by the church.

  • Housing: Only about 5% of property in Vatican City is available for private residences. And waiting lists for these limited Vatican-owned apartments are decades long. Most are basic, with units often combined for larger households. Housing is allocated based on seniority and family size.
  • Rent or sale prices are not publicly listed but are known to be very high, costing thousands per month or millions to purchase. This is due to extreme scarcity and high demand.
  • Groceries: Food prices are high since nearly everything has to be imported. There are no supermarkets, only small shops. While you can find some basics for reasonable prices, imported and luxury goods carry premium price tags. Expect to pay at least 20% more than in Rome proper.
  • Dining Out: The Vatican has only a handful of restaurants, catering largely to tourists and church staff. A cheap lunch may run €15-20. Nicer dinners easily cost €50+ per person when including drinks. There are also cafes and gelaterias charging “Rome prices” which are costlier than elsewhere in Italy.
  • Transportation: Owning a private vehicle in Vatican City is extremely difficult, so most residents walk or cycle within its small area. For longer distances, there is limited public transit: a tourist bus, taxi stand, and large parking lots at entrances for commuters. Traffic is strictly controlled with permits required for entry.
  • Utilities & Amenities: Being such a compact state, the Vatican provides centralized utilities like electricity, water, trash collection, etc. included for residents. The same goes for amenities like shops and healthcare facilities. The church absorbs most costs. But living standards are not lavish by Western standards due to scarcity of resources.
  • Taxes: One of the only financial perks is the absence of property or income taxes for residents. The Vatican does not tax wages earned within Vatican City. However, workers still pay Italian taxes if they hold citizenship or residency there.

Quality of Life in Vatican City

So how does quality of life in uber-exclusive Vatican City stack up? Here are some factors to weigh.

  • Housing is extremely scarce and expensive but of decent quality. Overcrowding can be an issue.
  • Safety and low crime rates are excellent with ample security forces. Violent crime is virtually nonexistent.
  • Healthcare provided is basic but adequate, with access to excellent Italian hospitals nearby.
  • Pollution levels are low within Vatican walls. Noise levels are reasonable, besides tourists.
  • Public transit is very limited but walkability is high. Commuting to Rome is facilitated.
  • Access to culture, arts, entertainment is underwhelming. Offerings are minimal within Vatican.
  • Dining options are very limited within Vatican City. Reliance on Rome restaurants.
  • Community and family life revolves heavily around the church. Can feel isolating otherwise.
  • Nature and green space are pleasant but limited. Accessibly to parks in Rome.
  • Consumer goods and shopping are extremely minimal and expensive.

Quality of life suffers due to scarcity of housing and daily amenities. But safety, community, and spiritual fulfillment balance limitations.

A Beginner’s Guide to Vatican City Culture

Beyond the magnificent art and architecture, there are some interesting cultural aspects to life in the Vatican:

  • Language: Italian is the main official language, while Latin still plays an important ceremonial role. But in reality, Vatican City is very multilingual. Residents come from many countries and also speak languages like English, German, Spanish and more.
  • Cuisine: Food at Vatican refectories tends to be simple but hearty Italian fare like pastas, seafood, meats, cheeses. Mealtimes are communal. Some ceremonies involve particular culinary traditions.
  • Dress Code: Residents are expected to maintain a modest, professional dress code in most areas. Clerical garb abounds. Swimwear and revealing clothing is prohibited. Various guards and officers wear official uniforms.
  • Transportation: Walking and cycling are common for getting around locally. Vehicle traffic is extremely limited within the walls. Residents can enter and leave Vatican City freely. Public transit in Rome like buses, subways, trains facilitate commutes.
  • Leisure Activities: Vatican City offers fairly limited leisure and entertainment itself. A few highlights are the post office, grocery, library, and museums. Residents rely heavily on amenities in Rome for dining out, shopping, sporting events, and cultural offerings.
  • Community Groups: Parish life ties closely into Vatican social circles. Church work units, religious organizations, clubs, and societies play an important role in community life. Relationships tend to revolve around shared faith.

Living in Vatican City comes with distinctive quirks surrounding faith, tradition, language, dress, and cadence of life. Beginners can expect culture shock adjusting to its unique ecosystem.

Best Places to Live in Vatican City

Given its tiny size, residential options within Vatican City are very limited. But a few preferred spots exist:

  1. Via Santa Marta: A guest house with private apartments for clergy visiting the Vatican. Also home to the Holy Father. Convenient and a slightly more modern living situation.
  2. Palazzo San Carlo: Historic building for distinguished Cardinals located adjacent to St. Peter’s Basilica, close to the action. Apartments have classical architectural charm.
  3. Governatorato: A larger apartment building for lay residents who work within Vatican City. Offers more living space for families and shares a common yard.
  4. Via del Mascherino: Secluded road on the northern edge near the Vatican walls. Lined with two story homes for higher ranking church members and officials.
  5. Domus Sanctae Marthae: Lodging house providing simpler accommodation for lower level clergy, staff, and guests. More basic living but lower cost.

Ideally look for housing close to St. Peter’s and the major churches for easier access. Living on the periphery can feel too remote and isolated.

Emily Johnson

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