Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lucca and in Rome actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $2,017 per month in Lucca vs $1,998 in Rome, rent included.
Lucca $2,017
Rome $1,998
A couple spends around $3,004 per month in Lucca vs $3,117 in Rome, rent included.
Lucca $3,004
Rome $3,117
A family of three spends $3,990 per month in Lucca vs $4,236 in Rome, rent included.
Lucca $3,990
Rome $4,236
😐
Lucca costs about 1% more than Rome, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both Lucca and Rome sit above the global median – Lucca by 49%, Rome by 48%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Lucca
Rome
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.78€17.59
$16.69€14.84
18.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.6€71.7
$65.8€58.5
22.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.84€10.53
$11.08€9.85
6.86%
Cappuccino
$2.02€1.79
$2.10€1.87
-3.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30€2.93
$2.91€2.59
13.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.27
$1.48€1.32
-3.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.73€5.99
$5.62€5.00
19.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.08€4.52
$6.68€5.94
-23.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lucca
Rome
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64€1.46
$1.72€1.53
-4.65%
White Bread(500g)
$2.42€2.15
$2.27€2.02
6.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.99€2.66
$2.99€2.66
-
Eggs
$4.01€3.56
$4.75€4.23
-15.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.76€18.46
$14.53€12.92
42.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.43€12.83
$12.63€11.24
14.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.07€18.74
$19.86€17.67
6.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38€2.12
$2.64€2.35
-9.85%
Banana(1kg)
$2.14€1.91
$2.28€2.03
-6.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.52€2.24
$2.46€2.19
2.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.20€2.84
$2.42€2.15
32.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.69
$1.38€1.22
37.68%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14€1.91
$1.55€1.38
38.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.82€1.62
$1.32€1.17
37.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57€0.50
$0.55€0.49
3.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.05€6.28
$7.31€6.50
-3.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.83€6.96
$5.44€4.84
43.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93€1.72
$1.58€1.40
22.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.50
$2.62€2.33
7.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Lucca
Rome
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.95€1.74
$1.63€1.45
19.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.12€30.35
$39.26€34.92
-13.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.53€4.03
$6.51€5.79
-30.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.62€1.44
$1.68€1.50
-3.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.76€24.69
$33.24€29.57
-16.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11€1.88
$2.17€1.93
-2.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K€32.4K
$35.3K€31.4K
3.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K€30.9K
$35.4K€31.5K
-2.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lucca
Rome
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$336€299
$203€181
65.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.93€10.62
$11.50€10.22
3.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.27€28.70
$32.03€28.49
0.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lucca
Rome
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$65.8€58.6
$65.9€58.6
-0.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.0€44.47
$22.89€20.36
118.44%
Cinema Ticket
$9.86€8.77
$11.23€9.99
-12.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lucca
Rome
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$645€574
$484€430
33.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3K€10.0K
$16.5K€14.7K
-31.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lucca
Rome
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€89.6
$71.0€63.1
41.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.80€42.52
$36.51€32.47
30.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.5€80.5
$84.9€75.5
6.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165€146
$122€108
35.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lucca
Rome
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$796€708
$1,222€1,087
-34.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663€589
$881€784
-24.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,431€1,273
$2,537€2,257
-43.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,012€900
$1,721€1,530
-41.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,989€3,549
$8,274€7,360
-51.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,088€1,857
$3,084€2,743
-32.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lucca
Rome
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,765€1,570
$1,942€1,728
-9.14%
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 Lucca: 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
Lucca
$663 32.8%
Rome
$881 44.1% ↑ 33%$219
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lucca
$380 18.9%
Rome
$246 12.3% ↓ 35.2%$134
🛒Groceries & Markets
Lucca
$372 18.5%
Rome
$329 16.5% ↓ 11.5%$43
🍽Eating Out
Lucca
$281 13.9%
Rome
$251 12.6% ↓ 10.6%$30
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Lucca
$182 9%
Rome
$141 7.1% ↓ 22.2%$40
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Lucca
$86 4.2%
Rome
$88 4.4% ↑ 3.3%$2.8
🚌Getting Around
Lucca
$55 2.7%
Rome
$61 3% ↑ 11.2%$6.1
🏠Accommodation & Living
Lucca
$1K 25.4%
Rome
$1.7K 40.6% ↑ 70.1%$709
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lucca
$392 9.8%
Rome
$258 6.1% ↓ 34.2%$134
🛒Groceries & Markets
Lucca
$879 22%
Rome
$786 18.6% ↓ 10.6%$93
🍽Eating Out
Lucca
$969 24.3%
Rome
$833 19.7% ↓ 14%$136
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Lucca
$404 10.1%
Rome
$314 7.4% ↓ 22.2%$89
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Lucca
$221 5.5%
Rome
$200 4.7% ↓ 9.7%$22
🚌Getting Around
Lucca
$113 2.8%
Rome
$125 2.9% ↑ 10.3%$12
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $796 in Lucca 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 10% higher in Rome, 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 $81.0 in Lucca versus $66.0 in Rome. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $372 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
Lucca vs Rome: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rome cheaper than Lucca?
Yes – Lucca is pricier by about 1%, 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 $3,026 per month in Lucca 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 Rome, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Lucca and in Rome?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,017 in Lucca and $1,998 in Rome. That's a gap of about 1%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 15% less in Rome. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Lucca or in Rome?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Rome, where all-in costs run around $1,998, than in Lucca at $2,017. In Rome it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lucca it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lucca or Rome more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Rome – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lucca 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 Rome. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lucca makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.