Cost of Living Comparison Between Florence and Rome Cost of Living Comparison Between Florence and Rome

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,128 per month in Florence vs $2,027 in Rome, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,310 per month in Florence vs $3,143 in Rome, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,493 per month in Florence vs $4,260 in Rome, rent included.

Florence costs about 5% more than Rome, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Florence and Rome sit above the global median – Florence by 59%, Rome by 51%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Florence
Rome
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.77 €19.59
$17.23 €14.82
32.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.9 €79.9
$73.9 €63.6
25.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.73 €10.09
$11.74 €10.10
-0.09%
Cappuccino
$1.93 €1.66
$1.83 €1.58
5.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 €2.87
$2.51 €2.16
33.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 €1.39
$1.27 €1.09
27.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.06 €6.07
$5.86 €5.04
20.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10 €6.11
$5.23 €4.50
35.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Florence
Rome
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 €1.40
$1.69 €1.46
-3.55%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 €1.98
$2.14 €1.84
7.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.29 €3.69
$2.95 €2.54
45.42%
Eggs
$4.36 €3.75
$4.51 €3.88
-3.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.70 €17.81
$17.42 €14.99
18.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.17 €9.61
$12.00 €10.32
-6.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.76 €17.85
$20.19 €17.37
2.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.77 €2.38
$2.45 €2.11
13.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 €1.59
$2.23 €1.92
-17.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.88 €2.48
$1.95 €1.68
47.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.57 €3.07
$2.58 €2.22
38.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.63 €1.40
$1.77 €1.53
-7.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.72 €1.48
$1.86 €1.60
-7.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.68 €1.44
$1.26 €1.09
33.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.48
$0.55 €0.48
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.03 €6.05
$7.13 €6.13
-1.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.25 €7.09
$4.63 €3.98
78.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 €1.43
$1.95 €1.67
-14.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 €2.11
$2.73 €2.35
-10.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Florence
Rome
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 €1.74
$1.79 €1.54
12.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.22 €37.18
$41.00 €35.27
5.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.93 €5.10
$5.13 €4.41
15.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.77 €1.53
$1.60 €1.38
10.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.47 €31.38
$35.08 €30.18
3.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.12 €1.82
$1.95 €1.68
8.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K €28.4K
$29.3K €25.2K
12.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K €27.1K
$30.2K €26.0K
4.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Florence
Rome
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 €177
$219 €189
-6.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.67 €11.76
$11.01 €9.47
24.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.98 €30.09
$31.31 €26.93
11.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Florence
Rome
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$85.5 €73.6
$64.1 €55.1
33.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.85 €20.51
$23.81 €20.48
0.17%
Cinema Ticket
$11.79 €10.14
$11.73 €10.09
0.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Florence
Rome
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$765 €658
$528 €454
44.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.6K €16.9K
$10.4K €8,966
88.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Florence
Rome
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3 €75.9
$73.3 €63.0
20.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.84 €27.39
$34.57 €29.74
-7.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 €73.2
$87.0 €74.8
-2.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147 €127
$119 €102
23.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Florence
Rome
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 €960
$1,325 €1,139
-15.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$883 €759
$885 €761
-0.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,272 €1,954
$2,661 €2,289
-14.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,528 €1,315
$1,636 €1,407
-6.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,579 €5,659
$8,730 €7,510
-24.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,016 €3,455
$3,452 €2,970
16.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Florence
Rome
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,061 €1,773
$2,058 €1,770
0.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.96
3.95
0.25%

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

Last update for Florence: June 1, 2026

Last update for Rome: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Florence versus $1,325 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 0% higher in Florence, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $93.0 in Florence versus $74.0 in Rome. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $360 vs $333 – 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
Florence vs Rome: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Florence and Rome compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,128 in Florence, $2,027 in Rome – roughly 5% apart. Florence costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Florence compared to Rome?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,191 per month in Florence and $3,041 in Rome. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Florence and Rome?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rome, 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: Florence or Rome?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,128 in Florence and $2,027 in Rome. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Florence and Rome?
Public transport costs about 5% less in Rome. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Rome, where all-in costs run around $2,027, than in Florence at $2,128. In Rome it covers expenses comfortably, while in Florence it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Florence and Rome?
It depends on your priorities. Rome has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,027 in Rome to $2,128 in Florence. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Florence 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 Florence and Rome?
If budget matters most, go with Rome. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Florence makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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