Cost of Living in Rome

Summary of cost of living in Rome, Italy:

  • The estimated monthly costs for a family of four are 3,695.0$ (3,147.7€), excluding rent (using our estimator).
  • The estimated monthly costs for a single person are 1,030.5$ (877.8€), excluding rent.
  • Rome is 10.5% less expensive than Columbus (excluding rent, see our cost of living index).
  • Rent in Rome is, on average, 6.9% lower than in Columbus.
Restaurants
Edit Range
Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant 15.00 € 12.00-25.00
Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) 70.00 € 50.00-90.00
Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) 10.00 € 10.00-12.00
Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) 5.00 € 3.50-7.00
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) 5.00 € 3.50-8.00
Cappuccino (Regular Size) 1.85 € 1.20-2.50
Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) 2.30 € 1.50-3.00
Bottled Water (12 oz) 1.19 € 1.00-2.00
Markets
Edit
Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) 1.60 € 1.20-2.00
Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) 1.63 € 1.36-2.27
White Rice (1 lb) 1.17 € 0.68-1.59
Eggs (12, Large Size) 4.04 € 3.00-6.00
Local Cheese (1 lb) 7.45 € 4.54-11.34
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 4.70 € 1.81-6.80
Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) 8.35 € 4.54-12.25
Apples (1 lb) 1.06 € 0.54-1.40
Bananas (1 lb) 0.92 € 0.59-1.36
Oranges (1 lb) 0.94 € 0.45-1.81
Tomatoes (1 lb) 1.11 € 0.59-2.04
Potatoes (1 lb) 0.69 € 0.45-1.13
Onions (1 lb) 0.77 € 0.45-1.36
Lettuce (1 Head) 1.15 € 1.00-2.00
Bottled Water (50 oz) 0.46 € 0.20-1.00
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 5.00 € 3.00-9.00
Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) 1.62 € 1.15-2.50
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) 2.53 € 1.20-4.00
Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) 6.05 € 5.50-6.50
Transportation
Edit
One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) 1.50 € 1.50-2.00
Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) 35.00 € 35.00-50.00
Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) 5.00 € 3.50-8.00
Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) 2.41 € 2.09-4.02
Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) 30.00 € 25.00-45.00
Gasoline (1 Liter) 1.72 € 1.50-1.83
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) 25,500.00 € 25,000.00-31,500.00
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) 27,325.00 € 25,000.00-31,500.00
Utilities (Monthly)
Edit
Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) 189.02 € 175.00-235.38
Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) 10.02 € 6.00-15.00
Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) 27.13 € 21.00-35.00
Sports And Leisure
Edit
Monthly Fitness Club Membership 59.94 € 40.00-90.00
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) 20.79 € 15.00-25.00
Cinema Ticket (International Release) 10.00 € 8.00-12.00
Childcare
Edit
Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child 472.44 € 350.00-650.00
International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child 11,411.74 € 8,000.00-25,000.00
Clothing And Shoes
Edit
Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) 66.54 € 50.00-120.00
Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) 31.05 € 20.00-50.00
Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 72.38 € 55.00-110.00
Men's Leather Business Shoes 105.91 € 69.99-200.00
Rent Per Month
Edit
1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre 1,240.97 € 1,000.00-1,800.00
1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre 814.71 € 650.00-1,100.00
3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre 2,320.00 € 2,000.00-3,500.00
3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre 1,540.00 € 1,200.00-2,000.00
Buy Apartment Price
Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 680.01 € 492.38-929.02
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 304.57 € 241.55-436.64
Salaries And Financing
Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 1,889.47 €
Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) 3.68 2.50-6.00

Prices in Rome

This city had 2205 entries in the past 12 months by 258 different contributors.
Last update: 7 December 2025
Distribution of Expenses Using Our Statistical Model:
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13 Comments so far
Anonymous on Nov 26, 2025:
Rome is an amazing city that you cannot compare with anyother cities in the entire world. Its not cheap place to live, i reccommend at least 2000 euros net month, if you live in the subway area its very easy to move. Nightlife is crazy vibrant.
Anonymous on Oct 30, 2024:
apartment is no problem, because italian 20s man live together with their mother.
Mikel on Apr 11, 2024:
I disagree with the data.Rome is very expensive.Its so bad,that young Italians have been leaving italy to escape the hight cost of living.
Jack on Aug 30, 2023:
How much salary should a person have in order to have a normal living?
Fabio on Apr 23, 2023:
Just to rectify Anonymous comment Feb 07:
There is a fixed tax on Bank accounts that are over 5000€ (It's a fixed 35€ yearly fee). It is definitely not 6%. Some Banks charge stupid fees but that's another thing.
If you have stocks, there is a Tobin Tax but it is very low (0.1-0.2%).
VAT is 22% since 2013
Taxes on income are bracketed and range between 27-43%.
Anonymous on Feb 07, 2022:
FYI additionally it's mandatory for all foreigners to maintain a bank account including Italians so there's no getting around the 6% taxes banks charge on the eur.
Anonymous on Feb 07, 2022:
None of the cost of living prices or anything else is correct here.I've lived in Rome almost 2 years now renting a small 1 bedroom apartment in an unsavory area for 1,450 eur monthly.Electric gas water average 450 eur monthly.My job assignment will be finished April 2022 then I'll leave Italy. Taxes on income earned is 33% food is expensive even at open street markets and public transportation is spotty at best. I live 21 blocks from my work walk to and from 5 days each week.VAT value added tax on everything is 19% even 1 small bottle of drinking water.If a considerable amount of money is deposited into the bank on debit or savings it'll be taxed at 6%.When I came here I deposited 7,300 eur into a well known bank opened a debit account. I figured that amount would be a good financial buffer should other needs arise but the 6% tax on my amount deposited was eaten up with taxes in a short time. Best advice don't take any job assignments in Italy period not even if it's 10,000 eur monthly. Whether you're a single person like me or a couple taxes will bury you financially and that's the truth.
Anonymous on Jan 14, 2022:
net salary-single person cost-Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre =-60euro/month
so a person living in Rome can earn nothing per month?
Anonymous on Mar 05, 2021:
Starting prices for a condo in Rome $650,000 usd up to $2 million usd.
Maria on Mar 04, 2021:
How much does it cost to buy a condo in Rome?
Anonymous on Dec 28, 2020:
To anonymous comments April 8, 2019.

I totally agree with your observations on Italy

Oh and Phil stop waving your flag while you're at it nobody cares what you have to say.

Some of us on here can relate to the comments mentioned on April 8,2019 and I'm one of those.

Phil you're a wannabe piece of trash that nobody wants.
Anonymous on Dec 20, 2020:
Well PHIL anonymous post on April 8,2019 is spot on correct. You don't have a clue how things are in Rome Dr.PHIL leave your moms basement once in awhile and while you're at it get infected will you?
Phil on Sep 07, 2020:
To #Anonymous on Apr 08, 2019: You are ignorant. I'm an American and I can guarantee people on this website that you are a pathetic example of American hospitality and the exception to the rule. People like you need to crawl back into your holes or leave. You don't represent America.