Cost of Living Comparison Between Ferrara and Rome Cost of Living Comparison Between Ferrara and Rome

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,616 in Ferrara versus $2,027 in Rome.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,515 in Ferrara versus $3,143 in Rome.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,415 in Ferrara versus $4,260 in Rome.

Living in Ferrara costs roughly 20% less than in Rome, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ferrara 21% above, Rome 51% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ferrara
Rome
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.72 €16.12
$17.23 €14.84
8.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.3 €58.8
$73.9 €63.6
-7.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.63 €10.02
$11.74 €10.11
-0.94%
Cappuccino
$1.99 €1.71
$1.83 €1.58
8.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 €2.17
$2.51 €2.16
0.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 €1.11
$1.27 €1.09
1.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.66 €4.88
$5.86 €5.05
-3.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 €3.95
$5.23 €4.50
-12.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ferrara
Rome
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 €1.29
$1.69 €1.46
-11.24%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 €2.11
$2.14 €1.84
14.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.79 €2.40
$2.95 €2.54
-5.42%
Eggs
$4.29 €3.69
$4.51 €3.88
-4.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 €12.67
$17.42 €15.00
-15.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.79 €9.29
$12.00 €10.33
-10.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.70 €16.96
$20.19 €17.38
-2.43%
Apples (1kg)
$1.95 €1.68
$2.45 €2.11
-20.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 €1.59
$2.23 €1.92
-17.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.24 €2.79
$1.95 €1.68
66.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.53 €3.04
$2.58 €2.22
36.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.74 €1.49
$1.77 €1.53
-1.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.68 €1.45
$1.86 €1.60
-9.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 €1.26
$1.26 €1.09
15.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34 €0.30
$0.55 €0.48
-38.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.28 €5.41
$7.13 €6.14
-11.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.56 €3.92
$4.63 €3.99
-1.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.36
$1.95 €1.68
-18.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 €1.42
$2.73 €2.35
-39.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Ferrara
Rome
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.72 €1.48
$1.79 €1.54
-3.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.66 €30.71
$41.00 €35.31
-13.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 €6.90
$5.13 €4.42
56.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.83 €1.58
$1.60 €1.38
14.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.39 €29.61
$35.08 €30.21
-1.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 €1.80
$1.95 €1.68
7.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K €32.5K
$29.3K €25.2K
28.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.1K €34.5K
$30.2K €26.0K
32.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ferrara
Rome
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$192 €166
$219 €189
-12.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.00 €11.19
$11.01 €9.48
18.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.31 €26.96
$31.31 €26.96
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ferrara
Rome
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.05 €29.32
$64.1 €55.2
-46.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.97 €14.61
$23.81 €20.50
-28.73%
Cinema Ticket
$8.99 €7.74
$11.73 €10.10
-23.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ferrara
Rome
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$350 €301
$528 €455
-33.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,852 €5,900
$10.4K €8,976
-34.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ferrara
Rome
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.3 €70.8
$73.3 €63.1
12.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.75 €35.09
$34.57 €29.77
17.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 €90.9
$87.0 €74.9
21.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 €79.8
$119 €102
-22.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ferrara
Rome
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$638 €549
$1,325 €1,141
-51.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$570 €490
$885 €762
-35.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,292 €1,113
$2,661 €2,292
-51.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$933 €803
$1,636 €1,409
-42.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,430 €2,093
$8,730 €7,518
-72.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,849 €1,592
$3,452 €2,973
-46.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ferrara
Rome
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,685 €1,451
$2,058 €1,772
-18.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.44
3.95
12.41%

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

Last update for Ferrara: May 30, 2026

Last update for Rome: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $638 in Ferrara and $1,325 in Rome. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rome pays 22% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $68.0 in Ferrara vs $74.0 in Rome for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $315 vs $333 per month, with Ferrara cheaper across the board.

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
Ferrara vs Rome: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ferrara or Rome?
Ferrara wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Rome. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ferrara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ferrara or Rome?
On paper, Rome earns 22% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ferrara vs Rome?
Rent for a central apartment: $638 in Ferrara versus $1,325 in Rome. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Ferrara vs Rome?
Dining out is cheaper in Ferrara – a meal for two runs $68.0 versus $74.0 in Rome. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Ferrara compared to Rome?
All in, you'll spend $1,616 per month in Ferrara versus $2,027 in Rome – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Ferrara or Rome?
At $1,616 in Ferrara versus $2,027 in Rome, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ferrara but tight or insufficient in Rome. The gap between the two cities makes Ferrara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ferrara or Rome?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ferrara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,616 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ferrara hard to pass up.
How safe is Ferrara compared to Rome?
Safety-wise, Ferrara and Rome are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ferrara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Rome. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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