✦ Cost of living
Rome
Rome, Italy
US = 100
In plain terms: Rome is about 0% pricier than a typical US city. A one-bedroom in the centre runs around $1,200/month.
▤ Category breakdown
Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.
- Housing110+10%
- Food & groceries100−0%
- Transport75−25%
- Utilities120+20%
- Healthcare80−20%
- Goods & services100−0%
Is Rome expensive?
Not really — Rome indexes at 100 against a US average of 100, so a month here lands within a few percent of a typical US city. Expect the surprises in individual lines rather than in the total.
Of the 87 cities we track, Rome ranks #41 by overall cost — 46 of them are cheaper.
What a month in Rome costs
One person
$2,620/mo
A one-bedroom outside the centre, modest everyday spending.
Couple
$3,730/mo
A one-bedroom in the centre, two adults sharing the bills.
Family of four
$6,640/mo
A three-bedroom in the centre, two adults and two children.
| Monthly line | One person | Couple | Family of four |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | $900 | $1,200 | $2,400 |
| Food & groceries | $460 | $670 | $1,120 |
| Transport | $450 | $660 | $1,110 |
| Utilities | $240 | $360 | $600 |
| Healthcare | $220 | $330 | $550 |
| Goods & services | $350 | $510 | $860 |
| Total per month | $2,620 | $3,730 | $6,640 |
Estimates, not quotes. Rent comes from this city's own figures; every other line is a US-average household basket (shaped by the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey) scaled by this city's category index. Your own total moves with the neighbourhood, your habits and whether you run a car. How we calculate these figures →
Good to know before you move to Rome
Living inside an open-air museum — unbeatable food and history, but slow bureaucracy and patchy transit.
- Currency
- Euro (€ EUR)
- Languages
- Italian
- Time zone
- UTC+1
- Internet
- 100 Mbps
- English
- Rarely spoken
- Safety
- 55/100
- Climate
- ❄ 8°C · ☀ 25°C · 200 sunny days/yr
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Power
- F/L · 230V
- Driving
- Right-hand side
- Popular areas
- Trastevere · Monti · Prati
About
“The Eternal City”
Living inside an open-air museum — unbeatable food and history, but slow bureaucracy and patchy transit.
- Currency
- Euro · EUR
- Languages
- Italian
- Coordinates
- 41.90, 12.50
- Emergency
- 112
What things cost
Housing
Taxes
43%
Income tax
progressive
22%
VAT / sales
24%
Corporate
26%
Capital gains
$1,900
Avg net salary
per month
Plus regional/municipal surcharges.
Flat-tax regimes for new residents and impatriates.
Visas & residency
Quota-based work permits (Decreto Flussi); new digital-nomad route.
✈ Schengen 90/180 for many passports.
Passive income.
Permanent residence after ~5 yrs. Citizenship after ~10 yrs.
Quality of life
Quality of life
68/100
Safety
55/100
Healthcare
78/100
Pollution
60/100
Internet
100 Mbps
Jan avg
+8 °C
Jul avg
+25 °C
Sunny days
200/yr
Walkability
85/100
Public transit
75/100
Family-friendly
64/100
Living there
- English spoken
- Low
- Expat community
- Medium
- Coworking spaces
- 40
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
Popular areas
Relocation & documents
Where to look
Updated: · Sources: Cost/quality survey (placeholder) · Economy: World Bank Open Data (GDP per capita, life expectancy, inflation) · Minimum wage (EU + Türkiye): Eurostat earn_mw_cur, 2026-S2 · Taxes: national tax authority / OECD (headline figures)
Can you live in Rome without a car?
81/100
Car-free score
85/100
Walkability
75/100
Public transport
Yes — Rome scores 81/100 on our car-free score, so commuting, errands and nights out all work on foot or by public transport. Most residents here can skip car ownership entirely, and the savings go straight into the rest of the budget.
Transport in Rome indexes at 75 against a US average of 100 — about 25% cheaper than a typical US city. That line covers fares, fuel and running a vehicle, so it is the one that moves most when you drop the car.
Rome ranks #11 of 87 cities we track for walkability. See the most walkable cities →
The car-free score is our own composite: 60% walkability, 40% public transport, both on a 0–100 scale. Like the rest of our quality-of-life figures, they are calibrated estimates, not official statistics.
Cost of living in Rome — in your currency
- 1-bed rent, city centre$1,200
- 1-bed rent, outside centre$900
- Inexpensive meal$15
- Monthly transit pass$38
- Utilities (monthly)$180
Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).
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? Frequently asked questions
Is Rome, IT expensive to live in?
Rome, IT's cost-of-living index is 100 (US average = 100) — about 0% more expensive than a typical US city — and it ranks #41 of the 87 cities we track. On our estimates one person needs around $2,620 a month and a family of four around $6,640, rent included.
How much does it cost to live in Rome, IT?
Rome, IT's cost-of-living index is 100 (US average = 100) — about 0% more expensive than a typical US city. A one-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around $1,200 per month.
What are the average living costs in Rome, IT?
Living costs in Rome, IT are about 0% more expensive than the US average — its cost-of-living index is 100 (US = 100). Monthly living expenses scale with that, and housing is the biggest line: a one-bedroom in the centre runs around $1,200. See the category breakdown above for where the money goes.
What is the average rent in Rome, IT?
A one-bedroom in the city centre averages about $1,200 per month, and around $900 outside the centre.
What taxes would I pay in Italy?
Italy has a top income-tax rate of 43% and a VAT or sales tax of 22%. See the taxes section above for the full breakdown.
What is the weather like in Rome, IT?
Rome, IT averages around +8 °C in January and +25 °C in July, with roughly 200 sunny days a year.
Is Rome, IT safe?
Rome, IT scores 55 out of 100 on our safety index, where higher means safer.
Can you live in Rome, IT without a car?
Rome, IT scores 81/100 on our car-free score — 85/100 for walkability and 75/100 for public transport. The higher the score, the more of daily life you can cover on foot or by transit instead of paying to run a car.
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Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.