American couple left New York City and bought a house in Italy for $13,000: 'We found a different way of life'

My 5-year-old daughter will start primary school in Italy this September. Watching her prepare for this next chapter has made me reflect on how much our lives have changed. My husband, Alex Ninman, and I were both born and raised in the U.S., but our daughter wasn't. We left New York City, where I worked in operations at a tech startup and my husband was a butcher at Whole Foods, to move to Europe in 2019. We were staying with my grandfather in the Czech Republic when we welcomed our daughter in 2020. Today, we live in a small town in Italy's Abruzzo region, about three hours outside Rome. While many Americans who move abroad are drawn to larger cities or well-known destinations like Florence, we chose a place that most tourists have never heard of. We found a different way of life, and I can't imagine moving back to the U.S. in the coming years. Going abroad Like many Americans, my husband and I grew up surrounded by the idea that success meant constantly upgrading — larger homes, newer cars, bigger achievements, and busier schedules. Over time, we started questioning whether any of those things were actually making us happier. Cassandra Tresl, her husband Alex Ninman, who were both born and raised in the U.S., now live with their daughter live in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Martin Errichiello for CNBC Make It While we weren't chasing a fantasy version of life abroad, we did want more time, more flexibility, and a stronger sense of connection to the people around us. …