Cost of Living Comparison Between Cortona and Rome Cost of Living Comparison Between Cortona and Rome

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,883 per month in Cortona vs $2,066 in Rome, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,829 per month in Cortona vs $3,252 in Rome, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,775 per month in Cortona vs $4,438 in Rome, rent included.

Cortona is about 9% cheaper than Rome, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cortona and Rome sit above the global median – Cortona by 37%, Rome by 50%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cortona
Rome
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.01 €18.11
$17.60 €15.17
19.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.9 €71.5
$68.9 €59.4
20.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.89 €10.26
$11.57 €9.98
2.77%
Cappuccino
$2.03 €1.75
$2.25 €1.94
-9.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 €2.95
$3.11 €2.68
10.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 €1.24
$1.50 €1.29
-4.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.94 €5.99
$5.91 €5.09
17.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.96 €4.28
$6.81 €5.87
-27.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cortona
Rome
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 €1.52
$1.78 €1.53
-1.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.21 €1.91
$2.28 €1.96
-3.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 €2.81
$3.12 €2.69
4.49%
Eggs
$5.39 €4.64
$4.51 €3.89
19.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$28.91 €24.93
$15.13 €13.04
91.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.83 €14.52
$12.46 €10.74
35.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.40 €21.90
$18.91 €16.30
34.32%
Apples (1kg)
$3.09 €2.66
$2.65 €2.28
16.60%
Banana (1kg)
$2.17 €1.87
$2.37 €2.04
-8.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.41 €2.94
$2.60 €2.24
31.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.38 €2.92
$2.37 €2.05
42.62%
Potato (1kg)
$3.20 €2.76
$1.45 €1.25
120.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 €1.95
$1.61 €1.39
40.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.88 €1.63
$1.43 €1.23
31.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 €0.75
$0.51 €0.44
70.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.23 €7.10
$7.42 €6.40
10.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.98 €7.74
$4.16 €3.59
115.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.72 €2.34
$1.62 €1.40
67.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15 €3.58
$2.71 €2.34
53.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Cortona
Rome
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.77 €1.52
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.05 €34.54
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.89 €5.08
$7.63 €6.58
-22.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.28 €1.97
$1.71 €1.47
33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.96 €10.31
$34.52 €29.77
-65.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 €1.74
$2.08 €1.79
-2.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K €32.3K
$36.8K €31.8K
1.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.9K €31.8K
$36.5K €31.5K
0.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cortona
Rome
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$354 €305
$215 €185
64.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.46 €10.74
$12.52 €10.80
-0.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.95 €37.90
$31.79 €27.41
38.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cortona
Rome
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.57 €24.63
$70.0 €60.3
-59.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.81 €10.18
$25.16 €21.69
-53.06%
Cinema Ticket
$11.27 €9.72
$11.46 €9.88
-1.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cortona
Rome
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$662 €571
$516 €445
28.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,960 €7,727
$17.9K €15.4K
-49.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cortona
Rome
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.2
$73.8 €63.7
41.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$78.5 €67.7
$38.78 €33.44
102.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.8 €77.5
$87.9 €75.8
2.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$204 €176
$122 €105
66.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cortona
Rome
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$884 €762
$1,247 €1,075
-29.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$415 €358
$887 €765
-53.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,531 €1,321
$2,608 €2,249
-41.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$637 €550
$1,733 €1,494
-63.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,375 €2,048
$8,745 €7,541
-72.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,854 €2,461
$3,273 €2,822
-12.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cortona
Rome
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,191 €2,752
$1,963 €1,693
62.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.7
3.52
5.11%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cortona: September 6, 2026

Last update for Rome: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $884 in Cortona versus $1,247 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 63% higher in Cortona, 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 $83.0 in Cortona versus $69.0 in Rome. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $452 vs $326 – making Rome the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Cortona vs Rome: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Cortona and in Rome compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,883 in Cortona, $2,066 in Rome – roughly 10% apart. Rome costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Cortona compared to Rome?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,825 per month in Cortona and $3,098 in Rome. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Cortona and Rome?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cortona, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Cortona or Rome?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,883 in Cortona and $2,066 in Rome. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Cortona and Rome?
Kindergarten costs $662 per month in Cortona and $516 in Rome. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Cortona, where all-in costs run around $1,883, than in Rome at $2,066. In Cortona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rome it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Cortona and Rome?
It depends on your priorities. Rome has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,883 in Cortona to $2,066 in Rome. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Cortona or Rome safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Cortona and Rome?
If budget matters most, go with Cortona. 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.

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