Cost of Living Comparison Between Prato and RomeCost of Living Comparison Between Prato and Rome
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,884 per month in Prato vs $2,027 in Rome, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,834 per month in Prato vs $3,143 in Rome, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,785 per month in Prato vs $4,260 in Rome, rent included.
🙂Prato is about 7% cheaper than Rome, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Prato and Rome sit above the global median – Prato by 41%, Rome by 51%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Prato
Rome
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.98€19.77
$17.23€14.82
33.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5€68.4
$73.9€63.6
7.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.71€10.08
$11.74€10.10
-0.26%
Cappuccino
$1.92€1.65
$1.83€1.58
4.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30€2.84
$2.51€2.16
31.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34€1.15
$1.27€1.09
5.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.11€6.12
$5.86€5.04
21.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.63€4.84
$5.23€4.50
7.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Prato
Rome
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52€1.31
$1.69€1.46
-10.06%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20€1.89
$2.14€1.84
2.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.90€2.49
$2.95€2.54
-1.69%
Eggs
$4.25€3.65
$4.51€3.88
-5.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.15€17.33
$17.42€14.99
15.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.03€9.49
$12.00€10.32
-8.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.41€17.56
$20.19€17.37
1.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.83€2.44
$2.45€2.11
15.51%
Banana(1kg)
$2.75€2.37
$2.23€1.92
23.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.59€3.08
$1.95€1.68
84.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.43€2.95
$2.58€2.22
32.95%
Potato(1kg)
$2.51€2.16
$1.77€1.53
41.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.86€1.60
-8.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.56€1.34
$1.26€1.09
23.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56€0.48
$0.55€0.48
1.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.86€5.90
$7.13€6.13
-3.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.17€7.03
$4.63€3.98
76.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70€1.46
$1.95€1.67
-12.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50€2.15
$2.73€2.35
-8.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Prato
Rome
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.35€2.02
$1.79€1.54
31.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.07€34.47
$41.00€35.27
-2.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.94€5.11
$5.13€4.41
15.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.68€1.45
$1.60€1.38
5.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.74€29.03
$35.08€30.18
-3.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11€1.81
$1.95€1.68
8.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K€26.2K
$29.3K€25.2K
3.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K€27.5K
$30.2K€26.0K
5.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Prato
Rome
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$268€231
$219€189
22.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.85€11.06
$11.01€9.47
16.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.83€26.52
$31.31€26.93
-1.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Prato
Rome
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.80€37.68
$64.1€55.1
-31.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.24€19.99
$23.81€20.48
-2.39%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.82
$11.73€10.09
-2.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Prato
Rome
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$716€616
$528€454
35.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.0K
$10.4K€8,966
67.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Prato
Rome
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.2€84.5
$73.3€63.0
34.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.65€32.39
$34.57€29.74
8.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.5
$87.0€74.8
16.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149€128
$119€102
25.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Prato
Rome
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$784€674
$1,325€1,139
-40.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$648€558
$885€761
-26.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,112€957
$2,661€2,289
-58.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$934€803
$1,636€1,407
-42.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,343€2,875
$8,730€7,510
-61.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,247€1,933
$3,452€2,970
-34.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Prato
Rome
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,208€1,900
$2,058€1,770
7.30%
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 Prato: June 1, 2026
Last update for Rome: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $784 in Prato 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 7% higher in Prato, 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 $79.0 in Prato versus $74.0 in Rome. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 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
Prato vs Rome: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rome cheaper than Prato?
Yes – Rome is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,826 per month in Prato and $3,041 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 Prato, 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 Prato vs Rome?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,884 in Prato and $2,027 in Rome. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 2% less in Prato. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Prato or Rome?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Prato, where all-in costs run around $1,884, than in Rome at $2,027. In Prato it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rome it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Prato or Rome more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Prato – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Prato 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 Prato. 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.