😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,027 in Rome versus $1,713 in Alessandria.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,143 in Rome versus $2,512 in Alessandria.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,260 in Rome versus $3,310 in Alessandria.
😐Living in Rome is roughly 18% more expensive than Alessandria, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rome51% above, Alessandria28% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rome
Alessandria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.23€14.84
$15.29€13.16
12.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.9€63.6
$63.6€54.7
16.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.74€10.11
$11.44€9.85
2.62%
Cappuccino
$1.83€1.58
$1.89€1.63
-3.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51€2.16
$3.04€2.62
-17.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27€1.09
$1.23€1.06
3.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.86€5.05
$4.71€4.06
24.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.23€4.50
$4.53€3.90
15.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rome
Alessandria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69€1.46
$1.78€1.54
-5.06%
White Bread(500g)
$2.14€1.84
$2.41€2.08
-11.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.95€2.54
$2.75€2.37
7.27%
Eggs
$4.51€3.88
$3.95€3.40
14.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.42€15.00
$18.40€15.84
-5.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.00€10.33
$10.90€9.38
10.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.19€17.38
$17.93€15.43
12.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$2.60€2.23
-5.77%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.92
$1.98€1.71
12.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95€1.68
$2.95€2.54
-33.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.58€2.22
$2.82€2.43
-8.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.53
$1.56€1.34
13.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$1.70€1.46
9.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26€1.09
$1.68€1.45
-25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55€0.48
$0.51€0.44
7.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.14
$7.10€6.11
0.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.63€3.99
$4.54€3.91
1.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.68
$1.58€1.36
23.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73€2.35
$2.55€2.20
7.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Rome
Alessandria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.79€1.54
$2.23€1.92
-19.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.00€35.30
$77.7€66.9
-47.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.13€4.41
$7.76€6.68
-33.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60€1.38
$2.13€1.83
-24.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.08€30.20
$39.07€33.64
-10.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95€1.68
$2.11€1.82
-7.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K€25.2K
$33.9K€29.2K
-13.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K€26.0K
$35.3K€30.4K
-14.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome
Alessandria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$219€189
$218€188
0.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.01€9.47
$11.80€10.16
-6.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.31€26.95
$30.44€26.21
2.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rome
Alessandria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.1€55.2
$46.83€40.31
36.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.81€20.49
$11.37€9.79
109.41%
Cinema Ticket
$11.73€10.10
$10.25€8.82
14.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rome
Alessandria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$528€455
$589€507
-10.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4K€8,974
$6,834€5,884
52.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rome
Alessandria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.3€63.1
$97.6€84.0
-24.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.57€29.76
$55.1€47.39
-37.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.0€74.9
$97.0€83.5
-10.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$165€142
-28.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rome
Alessandria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,325€1,140
$609€524
117.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$885€762
$543€468
62.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,661€2,291
$879€756
202.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,636€1,408
$687€591
138.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,730€7,516
$2,408€2,073
262.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,452€2,972
$1,699€1,463
103.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rome
Alessandria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,058€1,772
$1,883€1,621
9.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.95
3.25
21.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rome: May 31, 2026
Last update for Alessandria: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,325 in Rome and $609 in Alessandria. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rome pays 9% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $74.0 in Rome vs $64.0 in Alessandria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $326 per month, with Alessandria cheaper across the board.
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
Rome vs Alessandria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rome and Alessandria?
Rome and Alessandria differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($2,027 vs $1,713 including rent). Alessandria is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Rome or Alessandria?
Rome pays 9% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Rome and Alessandria?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,325 in Rome versus $609 in Alessandria. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Rome and Alessandria?
Childcare runs $528 in Rome versus $589 in Alessandria. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Rome. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,713 in Alessandria versus $2,027 in Rome, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Alessandria but tight or insufficient in Rome. The gap between the two cities makes Alessandria the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Rome and Alessandria?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Rome or Alessandria safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Rome and Alessandria are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Rome or Alessandria?
Expats usually find Alessandria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Rome. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.