LA Woman Buys $31,000 Home in Sicily, Finds Warm Community

Kiki Leigh traded her LA life for a renovation project in the small town of Mussomeli, Italy.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:55pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a classic Italian espresso cup repeated in a tight grid pattern, using a neon color palette and heavy black outlines to capture the essence of Italian culture and consumer habits in a modern pop art style.A vibrant pop art celebration of the everyday Italian lifestyle that inspired one LA woman to trade her city life for a home renovation project in Sicily.Los Angeles Today

Kiki Leigh, a 28-year-old originally from Winnipeg, Canada, moved from Los Angeles to Sicily, Italy, after seeing a viral video about buying cheap homes there. She purchased a 4,300-square-foot house in the town of Mussomeli for just $31,115 and is now in the process of renovating it, despite having no prior renovation experience. Leigh says the warm, welcoming community in Sicily has made the transition much easier compared to the more superficial social scene in LA.

Why it matters

Leigh's story highlights the growing trend of people, especially younger generations, seeking more affordable housing and a stronger sense of community by moving abroad. It also showcases how viral social media content can inspire major life changes. Her experience renovating an older, multi-unit home in Italy provides insight into the challenges and rewards of taking on such a project in a foreign country.

The details

Leigh's house was originally five separate units that had been combined into one 4,300-square-foot home with seven doors, five of which have addresses. She paid 27,000 euros (about $31,115) for the property in June 2024 and estimates the renovations will cost around 90,000 euros (about $103,715) by the time they are completed this summer. This is a stark contrast to the $3,000 per month Leigh was paying to rent a one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles' Echo Park neighborhood.

  • Leigh visited Sicily for the first time in 2022.
  • She saw a viral video about buying cheap homes in Sicily in early 2024.
  • Leigh purchased the house in Mussomeli in June 2024.
  • Renovation work on the home is expected to be completed by June or July 2025.

The players

Kiki Leigh

A 28-year-old originally from Winnipeg, Canada, who moved from Los Angeles to Mussomeli, Sicily, to purchase and renovate a 4,300-square-foot home.

Lorrah Minton

The creator of a viral video that inspired Leigh to consider buying a home in Sicily.

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What they’re saying

“I instantly felt at home in Sicily. The people here are so kind and so helpful, and this is exactly the kind of community that I want to be in if I'm going to be making an insane move 5,000 miles away from everything I've ever known.”

— Kiki Leigh

“LA is filled with a lot of superficial relationships, a lot of, 'Oh my God, let's hang out,' and then you never hear from that person again. Here, there's a stronger sense of community.”

— Kiki Leigh

What’s next

Leigh plans to complete the renovation work on her Mussomeli home by June or July 2025, at which point she will have a fully renovated 4,300-square-foot property that she can use for entertaining friends and family from Canada and Los Angeles.

The takeaway

Leigh's story demonstrates how the combination of affordable real estate, a welcoming community, and a slower pace of life can inspire people to make major life changes and relocate to places like Sicily. Her experience highlights the benefits of immersing oneself in a different culture and the potential challenges of undertaking a large renovation project in a foreign country.