Cost of Living Comparison Between Olbia and Rome Cost of Living Comparison Between Olbia and Rome

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,742 in Olbia versus $1,986 in Rome.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,486 in Olbia versus $3,073 in Rome.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,231 in Olbia versus $4,159 in Rome.

Living in Olbia costs roughly 12% less than in Rome, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Olbia 30% above, Rome 49% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Olbia
Rome
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08 €14.96
$17.54 €15.37
-2.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.4 €72.2
$76.0 €66.5
8.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.10 €9.72
$11.67 €10.22
-4.88%
Cappuccino
$1.71 €1.50
$1.77 €1.55
-3.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 €2.55
$2.45 €2.14
18.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 €1.18
$1.26 €1.11
7.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.57 €4.01
$5.75 €5.03
-20.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70 €4.12
$5.06 €4.43
-7.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Olbia
Rome
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 €1.38
$1.70 €1.49
-7.06%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 €1.54
$2.07 €1.81
-14.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.75 €2.41
$2.99 €2.62
-8.03%
Eggs
$2.40 €2.11
$4.52 €3.96
-46.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.46 €14.42
$17.69 €15.49
-6.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.69 €9.36
$11.75 €10.29
-9.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.88 €16.54
$20.56 €18.01
-8.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.06 €1.81
$2.43 €2.12
-15.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.52
$2.36 €2.06
-26.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 €1.94
$2.02 €1.77
9.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.03 €2.66
$2.67 €2.34
13.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 €1.33
$1.76 €1.54
-14.20%
Onion (1kg)
$1.44 €1.26
$1.85 €1.62
-22.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.29
$1.27 €1.11
15.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 €0.38
$0.56 €0.49
-23.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.04 €6.17
$6.81 €5.96
3.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.84 €6.87
$3.96 €3.46
97.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 €1.43
$1.94 €1.70
-15.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 €1.23
$2.76 €2.42
-48.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Olbia
Rome
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 €1.23
$1.72 €1.51
-18.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.00 €22.77
$41.16 €36.05
-36.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 €3.36
$5.23 €4.58
-26.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.11 €0.98
$1.58 €1.39
-29.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.97 €25.37
$34.86 €30.53
-16.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.12 €1.86
$2.03 €1.78
4.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K €28.8K
$29.0K €25.4K
13.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6K €25.0K
$29.9K €26.2K
-4.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Olbia
Rome
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 €157
$222 €195
-19.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.09 €11.47
$10.96 €9.60
19.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.39 €27.50
$30.99 €27.14
1.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Olbia
Rome
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 €47.39
$64.2 €56.2
-15.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.34 €7.30
$23.99 €21.01
-65.24%
Cinema Ticket
$7.91 €6.93
$11.63 €10.19
-31.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Olbia
Rome
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$337 €295
$539 €472
-37.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,086 €7,082
$10.7K €9,363
-24.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Olbia
Rome
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0 €79.7
$73.1 €64.1
24.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.41 €43.27
$34.58 €30.29
42.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 €74.5
$86.6 €75.8
-1.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €105
$119 €104
1.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Olbia
Rome
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$943 €826
$1,328 €1,163
-28.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$685 €600
$866 €759
-20.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,416 €1,240
$2,596 €2,274
-45.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$813 €712
$1,602 €1,403
-49.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,344 €2,929
$8,434 €7,386
-60.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,686 €2,352
$3,464 €3,034
-22.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Olbia
Rome
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,948 €1,706
$1,947 €1,705
0.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.87
3.95
23.29%

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

Last update for Olbia: July 12, 2026

Last update for Rome: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $943 in Olbia and $1,328 in Rome. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Olbia pays 0% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $82.0 in Olbia vs $76.0 in Rome. Groceries flip the comparison at $303 vs $333, with Olbia cheaper for home cooking.

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
Olbia vs Rome: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Olbia or Rome?
Olbia wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Rome. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Olbia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Olbia or in Rome?
Average pay runs 0% higher in Olbia, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Olbia compared to Rome?
Rent for a central apartment: $943 in Olbia versus $1,328 in Rome. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Olbia and in Rome?
Childcare runs $337 in Olbia versus $539 in Rome. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Olbia or in Rome?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Rome. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Olbia or in Rome?
At $1,742 in Olbia versus $1,986 in Rome, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Olbia but tight or insufficient in Rome. The gap between the two cities makes Olbia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Olbia or Rome?
Both work as nomad bases, but Olbia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,742 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Olbia hard to pass up.
How safe is Olbia compared to Rome?
Safety-wise, Olbia 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 Olbia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Rome. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Olbia vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities