For one person, living is cheaper in Alba: $1,630 a month against $1,998 in Rome, rent and utilities included – about $4,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Rome outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Alba and in Rome actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,630 per month in Alba vs $1,998 in Rome, rent included.
Alba $1,630
Rome $1,998
A couple spends around $2,551 per month in Alba vs $3,117 in Rome, rent included.
Alba $2,551
Rome $3,117
A family of three spends $3,473 per month in Alba vs $4,236 in Rome, rent included.
Alba $3,473
Rome $4,236
🙂
Alba is about 18% cheaper than Rome, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both Alba and Rome sit above the global median – Alba by 21%, Rome by 48%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Alba
Rome
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.91€19.49
$16.69€14.84
31.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.0€78.3
$65.8€58.5
33.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.36€11.89
$11.08€9.85
20.58%
Cappuccino
$2.13€1.90
$2.10€1.87
1.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68€3.27
$2.91€2.59
26.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82€1.62
$1.48€1.32
22.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.55€4.94
$5.62€5.00
-1.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.83€6.08
$6.68€5.94
2.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alba
Rome
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68€1.49
$1.72€1.53
-2.33%
White Bread(500g)
$3.32€2.95
$2.27€2.02
46.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.49€3.11
$2.99€2.66
16.72%
Eggs
$5.08€4.51
$4.75€4.23
6.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$23.19€20.63
$14.53€12.92
59.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.68€13.05
$12.63€11.24
16.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.94€20.40
$19.86€17.67
15.51%
Apples(1kg)
$3.09€2.75
$2.64€2.35
17.05%
Banana(1kg)
$2.32€2.06
$2.28€2.03
1.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.40€3.02
$2.46€2.19
38.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.16€3.70
$2.42€2.15
71.90%
Potato(1kg)
$2.32€2.06
$1.38€1.22
68.12%
Onion(1kg)
$2.02€1.79
$1.55€1.38
30.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.73€1.54
$1.32€1.17
31.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61€0.55
$0.55€0.49
10.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.89€6.13
$7.31€6.50
-5.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.54€8.48
$5.44€4.84
75.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.75
$1.58€1.40
24.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43€2.16
$2.62€2.33
-7.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Alba
Rome
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.63€1.45
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$39.26€34.92
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.00€7.11
$6.51€5.79
22.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.20€1.95
$1.68€1.50
30.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$63.8€56.8
$33.24€29.57
91.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.14€1.90
$2.17€1.93
-1.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€32.6K
$35.3K€31.4K
3.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7K€32.6K
$35.4K€31.5K
3.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alba
Rome
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$249€221
$203€181
22.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.00€7.12
$11.50€10.22
-30.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.33€26.09
$32.03€28.49
-8.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alba
Rome
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$65.9€58.6
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.89€20.36
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.37€11.00
$11.23€9.99
10.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alba
Rome
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$855€761
$484€430
76.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.1K€17.0K
$16.5K€14.7K
15.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alba
Rome
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.7€88.7
$71.0€63.1
40.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.95€44.43
$36.51€32.47
36.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115€102
$84.9€75.5
35.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$164€146
$122€108
34.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alba
Rome
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$535€476
$1,222€1,087
-56.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$384€342
$881€784
-56.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$732€651
$2,537€2,257
-71.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$616€548
$1,721€1,530
-64.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,916€2,594
$8,274€7,360
-64.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,084€2,743
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alba
Rome
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,652€2,359
$1,942€1,728
36.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.18
3.52
-9.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alba: October 12, 2026
Last update for Rome: October 12, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Alba
$419 25.7%
Rome
$329 16.5% ↓ 21.4%$90
🏠Accommodation & Living
Alba
$384 23.6%
Rome
$881 44.1% ↑ 130%$497
🍽Eating Out
Alba
$304 18.7%
Rome
$251 12.6% ↓ 17.5%$53
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alba
$286 17.6%
Rome
$246 12.3% ↓ 13.9%$40
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Alba
$193 11.8%
Rome
$141 7.1% ↓ 26.7%$52
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Alba
$25 * 1.5%
Rome
$88 4.4% ↑ 257%$64
🚌Getting Around
Alba
$19 * 1.2%
Rome
$61 3% ↑ 220%$42
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Alba
$989 28.5%
Rome
$786 18.6% ↓ 20.6%$204
🏠Accommodation & Living
Alba
$616 17.8%
Rome
$1.7K 40.6% ↑ 179%$1.1K
🍽Eating Out
Alba
$1.1K 30.4%
Rome
$833 19.7% ↓ 21.2%$224
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alba
$294 8.5%
Rome
$258 6.1% ↓ 12.3%$36
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Alba
$429 12.3%
Rome
$314 7.4% ↓ 26.7%$114
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Alba
$49 * 1.4%
Rome
$200 4.7% ↑ 303%$150
🚌Getting Around
Alba
$38 * 1.1%
Rome
$125 2.9% ↑ 229%$87
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $535 in Alba versus $1,222 in Rome. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 37% higher in Alba, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Alba versus $66.0 in Rome. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $419 vs $329 – making Rome the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Alba vs Rome: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rome cheaper than Alba?
Yes – Rome is pricier by about 23%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,445 per month in Alba and $2,998 in Rome. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Alba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Alba or in Rome?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Alba and $66.0 in Rome. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Alba and in Rome?
Interestingly, groceries are about 27% cheaper in Rome – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Alba or in Rome?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Alba, where all-in costs run around $1,630, than in Rome at $1,998. In Alba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rome it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Alba or Rome more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Alba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Alba or Rome?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Alba. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rome makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.