For one person, living is cheaper in Imola: $1,756 a month against $1,998 in Rome, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 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 Imola and in Rome actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,756 per month in Imola vs $1,998 in Rome, rent included.
Imola $1,756
Rome $1,998
A couple spends around $2,685 per month in Imola vs $3,117 in Rome, rent included.
Imola $2,685
Rome $3,117
A family of three spends $3,613 per month in Imola vs $4,236 in Rome, rent included.
Imola $3,613
Rome $4,236
🙂
Imola is about 12% cheaper than Rome, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Both Imola and Rome sit above the global median – Imola by 30%, Rome by 48%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Imola
Rome
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.54€20.94
$16.69€14.84
41.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.2€60.7
$65.8€58.5
3.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.01€9.79
$11.08€9.85
-0.63%
Cappuccino
$1.55€1.37
$2.10€1.87
-26.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98€1.76
$2.91€2.59
-31.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99€0.88
$1.48€1.32
-33.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.37€3.89
$5.62€5.00
-22.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36€2.99
$6.68€5.94
-49.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Imola
Rome
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36€1.21
$1.72€1.53
-20.93%
White Bread(500g)
$2.04€1.81
$2.27€2.02
-10.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73€1.54
$2.99€2.66
-42.14%
Eggs
$3.33€2.96
$4.75€4.23
-29.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$25.79€22.94
$14.53€12.92
77.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.76€8.68
$12.63€11.24
-22.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.51€19.14
$19.86€17.67
8.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.96€2.63
$2.64€2.35
12.12%
Banana(1kg)
$2.27€2.02
$2.28€2.03
-0.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.34€2.97
$2.46€2.19
35.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.27€2.91
$2.42€2.15
35.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.66€1.48
$1.38€1.22
20.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10€0.98
$1.55€1.38
-29.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.40€0.36
$1.32€1.17
-69.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28€0.25
$0.55€0.49
-49.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.26€6.45
$7.31€6.50
-0.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.47€4.87
$5.44€4.84
0.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.52
$1.58€1.40
8.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97€1.75
$2.62€2.33
-24.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Imola
Rome
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.47€1.30
$1.63€1.45
-9.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.63€28.14
$39.26€34.92
-19.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.61€3.21
$6.51€5.79
-44.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22€1.08
$1.68€1.50
-27.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.70€24.64
$33.24€29.57
-16.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98€1.77
$2.17€1.93
-8.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K€29.2K
$35.3K€31.4K
-7.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K€31.5K
$35.4K€31.5K
0.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Imola
Rome
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$242€215
$203€181
19.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.23€9.99
$11.50€10.22
-2.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.55€28.95
$32.03€28.49
1.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Imola
Rome
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$77.5€68.9
$65.9€58.6
17.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.31€7.39
$22.89€20.36
-63.70%
Cinema Ticket
$10.55€9.38
$11.23€9.99
-6.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Imola
Rome
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$649€577
$484€430
34.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.0K€12.5K
$16.5K€14.7K
-15.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Imola
Rome
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.7€85.1
$71.0€63.1
34.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.42€25.28
$36.51€32.47
-22.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.3€83.8
$84.9€75.5
11.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.9€84.4
$122€108
-22.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Imola
Rome
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$668€594
$1,222€1,087
-45.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$565€503
$881€784
-35.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,316€1,170
$2,537€2,257
-48.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$967€860
$1,721€1,530
-43.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,821€2,509
$8,274€7,360
-65.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,953€1,737
$3,084€2,743
-36.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Imola
Rome
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,119€1,885
$1,942€1,728
9.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
3.52
-10.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Imola: October 11, 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.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Imola
$565 32.2%
Rome
$881 44.1% ↑ 56%$316
🛒Groceries & Markets
Imola
$339 19.3%
Rome
$329 16.5% ↓ 2.8%$9.4
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Imola
$285 16.3%
Rome
$246 12.3% ↓ 13.6%$39
🍽Eating Out
Imola
$280 16%
Rome
$251 12.6% ↓ 10.5%$29
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Imola
$141 8%
Rome
$141 7.1% ↑ 0.3%$0.4
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Imola
$99 5.6%
Rome
$88 4.4% ↓ 10.4%$10
🚌Getting Around
Imola
$47 2.7%
Rome
$61 3% ↑ 28.7%$14
🏠Accommodation & Living
Imola
$967 26.8%
Rome
$1.7K 40.6% ↑ 78%$754
🛒Groceries & Markets
Imola
$811 22.4%
Rome
$786 18.6% ↓ 3.1%$25
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Imola
$297 8.2%
Rome
$258 6.1% ↓ 13%$39
🍽Eating Out
Imola
$923 25.6%
Rome
$833 19.7% ↓ 9.7%$90
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Imola
$313 8.7%
Rome
$314 7.4% ↑ 0.3%$0.9
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Imola
$205 5.7%
Rome
$200 4.7% ↓ 2.9%$5.9
🚌Getting Around
Imola
$97 2.7%
Rome
$125 2.9% ↑ 28.2%$27
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $668 in Imola 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 9% higher in Imola, 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 $68.0 in Imola versus $66.0 in Rome. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $339 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
Imola vs Rome: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Imola and in Rome compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,756 in Imola, $1,998 in Rome – roughly 14% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Imola compared to Rome?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,634 per month in Imola and $2,998 in Rome. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Imola and Rome?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Imola, 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: Imola or Rome?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,756 in Imola and $1,998 in Rome. That's a gap of about 14%.
How do commuting costs compare in Imola and in Rome?
Public transport costs about 24% less in Imola. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Imola, where all-in costs run around $1,756, than in Rome at $1,998. In Imola it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rome it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Imola and Rome?
It depends on your priorities. Rome has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,756 in Imola to $1,998 in Rome. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Imola 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 Imola and Rome?
If budget matters most, go with Imola. 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.