Cost of Living in Rome, Italy

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How Much Does It Cost to Live In Rome?

The cost of living in Rome is equivalent to any big international city.

In fact, it’s much cheaper than New York, London, or Tokyo and many people coming from London find Rome extremely cheap by their standards.

However, it’s more expensive than living in a suburb or a small town. Some things are more expensive in Italy than in the U.S. like gasoline, electricity, heating, etc. while some things are much cheaper, like food and wine.

Surprisingly, these are not only cheaper: the quality is also much higher.

RESTAURANTS

Those that aren’t fans of cooking can go to any of the thousands of really nice restaurants where the food is nice and cheap. The important thing is to avoid the tourists traps. If you want to save some money, instead of eating out in a restaurant, it’s much cheaper to buy a slice (or two) of pizza. You don’t always want the whole pizza anyway, right?! One glass of wine costs somewhere around 7$ per round.

MARKETS

If you go shopping in local market you can count on a wide range of many delicious foods (meat, fresh fish, vegetables and tasty fruits). When it comes to food, Rome is one of the best places to live, especially if you are fond of cooking. Ingredients are local, seasonal and cheap and do not cost as much as they do in other cities.

TRANSPORTATION

Traffic is, hands down, Rome’s worst problem. A monthly fee for public transport costs around 40$ a month. There are only two metro lines but buses lead you almost everywhere though they don’t go so often. There are buses, and a one-way ticket costs 1.71$. A scooter seems like the easiest way to get around, and it’s actually a popular vehicle in Italy.

UTILITIES (MONTHLY)

Utilities aren’t as expensive as you’d expected to be in the capital of Italy. All the basic ones like gas, electricity, heating and cooling will cost you over 100$, and for a larger apartment (if you have a family) of about 85m2 they cost around 140$. This is actually cheap compared to other metropolitan cities like Milan or Florence.

SPORTS & LEISURE

Once you are in Rome you have access to a wide range of activities like theaters, cinemas and of course monuments and museums. This all costs: for example, cinema tickets will cost you 10$. Add to your budget some more money for a fitness club membership, if you’re into sports activities: it costs about 56$.

CLOTHING & SHOES

Rome, the capital of Italy and a huge fashion center. It is literally brimming with stores and luxurious boutiques – it is the shopping dream of everyone who is rich enough to go shopping in this city. This is why the prices are high at even the regular chain stores that exist around the world: jeans cost around 80$, while sneakers are 100$.

RENT PER MONTH

Rent prices are skyrocketing in this vibrant capital! A two-room apartment close to metro station will cost you close to 1000$ a month, so by now you are probably aware that your greatest expense will be rent. Like everywhere though, the cost depends on the size, condition, and location of the property.

Cost of Living Averages Table for Rome

How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Rome?

Single biggest expense in one of the most beautiful cities in the world is going to be rent.

Next expense is food, but that’s pretty much relative and depending on your personal lifestyle.

Restaurants are next, which is no wonder since Rome is practically the center of good food and wine, and filled with delicious food, so you’re practically forced to go.

Transportation is necessary, though badly organized, but everyone uses it daily, since Rome is such a large city.

The last on the list are clothing and sports and leisure.

Average Costs Breakdown

Rome: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages

Those that live in Rome say it is a great place to live if you do not need to depend on the local economy to earn your living, because the economy slumped and it’s harder to make a living than it used to be.

With a minimum wage of 1200$ many can’t cover their expenses, especially if they’re renting an apartment.

Average monthly net salary is near 1600$ so it’s safe to say that those who are smart about managing their salaries and dividing them between their expenses intelligently, can earn enough for a decent living.

Rome Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Rome Safety Review

Safety Index:

64

• OVERALL RISK: LOW
• TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
• PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
• NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
• MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
• TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
• SCAMS RISK: HIGH
• WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Cost of Living by City in Rome