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The overall cost of living in Rome for two people per month starts from 1500 euro. Rome is not a cheap city to live in, but it is less expensive than many other European cities. Moreover, many places do not accept credit cards, and Italy is a country where you always need to have cash. However, the Eternal City is one of the most touristic cities in the world, and all tourist spots accept credit cards.
Here you can read about the average cost of living in Rome:
What to Expect
In Rome, the cost of living is equivalent to any big international city but still cheaper than cities like Tokyo, Paris, or New York. Be ready that some things in Italy are more expensive than in the United States, for instance, energy costs, heating, fuel, and electricity. On the other hand, food is much cheaper and healthier than in any other country since Italians pay a lot of attention to the freshness of products.
Food Cost
The average cost of spending on groceries per month for one person is 250-300 euro, considering that a person buys a wide variety of products and personal items. Moreover, going out to the restaurant for lunch or dinner will cost you from 10 to 30 euros.
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district: 12-16 euro
- 500 gr (1 lb.) of chicken breast: about 5 euro
- Beef (1kg): 9-20 euro
- 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk: 1-1.50 euro
- 12 eggs, large: 3.80-4.50 euro
- 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes: 1.99-3 euro
- 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese: 7-110 euro
- 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes: 1-1.50 euro
- Cappuccino: 1.2o euro
- Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle): 0.70-1 euro (more expensive in bars and restaurents)
- Water (0.33 liter bottle): 20-40 cents (more expensive in bars and restaurents)
- 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality: 5-15 euro
- White bread for 2 people for 1 day: 0.80-1.20 euro
- Rice (white), (1kg): 1.50-2.80 euro
- Apples (1kg): 1-2.50 euro
- Banana (1kg): 1-2 euro
- Oranges (1kg): 1.50-2.70 euro
- Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle): 80 cents-1.50 euro
- Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle): 1-2.50 euro
- One pack of cigarettes: from 4 euro
If you want to live in Italy, do it as Italians do!
Housing
Undoubtedly, rent is the most significant part of the cost of living in Rome. Therefore, if you want to find a studio or a small one-bedroom apartment, be ready to pay 900-1100 euros per month. Moreover, a separate fee goes to the agency, 10-13% from the whole amount you pay for the apartment (e.g., ten months x 1000 euro = 10.000 euro + 1000-1300 euro that go to the agency). Of course, you can try to find an apartment without the help of agencies, but it is better to know Italian in this case and be careful not to be cheated.
Rent Per Month
- One-bedroom apartment in the city center of Rome: 700-1350 euro
- One-bedroom apartment outside of city center: 500-850 euro
- Three bedrooms apartment in the city center: 1.400-2500 euro
- Three bedrooms apartment outside of center: 900-1500 euro
Utilities
- Heating, electricity, gas, cooling, water, garbage for one person in 45 m2 apartment per month: 60-120 euro
- Heating, electricity, gas, cooling, water, garbage for one person in 85 m2 apartment per month: 80-220 euro
- 1 minute of prepaid mobile tariff local (without discounts and plans): 0.03-0.30 euro
- Internet 60 Mbps and more: 25-40 euro per month
Buy Apartment Price
- Price per square meter to buy an apartment in Rome city center: 4500-10.000 euro
- Price per square meter to buy apartment outside Rome city center: 2000-4500 euro
Housekeeping
- Laundry detergent: from 1.19 euro (15-20 washings)
- Hourly rate for cleaning: from 8 euro
- 40″ flat screen TV: from 300 euro
- Microwave 800/900 Watt: from 100 euro
Transportation
It is worth mentioning that having a car in Rome is inconvenient and expensive. In addition, there are different rules, roads are full of traffic, and if you are not a resident, you can’t drive to the historical center of Rome.
- Gasoline (1 liter): 1.45-1.70 euro
- Toyota Corolla 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car): 19.500-28.500 euro
- Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car): 19.000-23.000 euro
Talking about public transportation, it is a local feature easily described as chaos. Be ready that a bus, tram or train can be late. Or it will not come at all. Be ready that there are no ticket controllers most of the time, and many people do not buy tickets. But still, public transportation option exists, and it is usable:
- One-way ticket: 1.50 euro
- Monthly pass: 35 euro
- Taxi departure price (normal tariff): 3-5 euro
- 1km Taxi (normal tariff): 1.10-1.50 euro
- Taxi 1 hour of waiting (normal tariff): 20-50 euro
Entertainment
Rome is full of entertainment, sports, and leisure options.
- Dinner for two in neighborhood pub/restaurant: 40 euro
- Two tickets to the movie: 16 euro
- Dinner for two at an Italian restaurant in a residential area with appetizers, main course, wine, and dessert: 55-70 euro
- One cocktail drink in a nightclub: 10-15 euro
- One beer in a pub (500 ml): 5-7 euro
- Fitness Club monthly fee: 40-70 euro
- Tennis court rent (1 hour on the weekend): 10-25 euro
- Entrance to a spa (full day): from 30 euro
Personal Expenses
Prices for personal expenses are pretty similar to any other European city. You can find international and local brands in Rome with a wide variety of products:
- Cold medicine for six days (Tylenol, Frenadol, Coldrex, or equivalent): 7 euro;
- One pack of antibiotics: 10 euro;
- Short visit to the private doctor: 70-150 euro;
- Standard men’s haircut in a residential area of Rome: 18 euro.
Clothing
Rome is also famous for its shopping streets, malls, and outlet.
- A pair of jeans (Zara, Bershka, Tezenis): from 20 euro;
- A summer dress: from 15 euro;
- A pair of Nike or Adidas shoes: 40-200 euro;
- A pair of leather shoes: 80-150 euro.
Salaries and Financing
- Average salary per month (after tax): 1.386.85 euro;
- The mortgage interest rate in percentages per year, for 20 years fixed-rate: 1.75-3 euro.
Childcare
- Preschool (kindergarten), gull day, private, per month for one child: 360-700 euro;
- International Primary School per year: 6.500-18.000 euro.
Overall, Rome is not the cheapest city for living, but not as expensive as London or Paris. Be ready for the best food experience in your life, heavy traffics, and exciting life with locals.
