Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Brest Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Brest

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,027 in Rome versus $1,473 in Brest.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,143 in Rome versus $2,331 in Brest.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,260 in Rome versus $3,190 in Brest.

Living in Rome is roughly 38% more expensive than Brest, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rome 51% above, Brest 10% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rome
Brest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.23 €14.82
$15.89 €13.67
8.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.9 €63.6
$51.7 €44.51
42.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.74 €10.10
$11.02 €9.48
6.53%
Cappuccino
$1.83 €1.58
$3.31 €2.85
-44.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 €2.16
$2.43 €2.09
3.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 €1.09
$1.86 €1.60
-31.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.86 €5.04
$6.74 €5.80
-13.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.23 €4.50
$5.27 €4.53
-0.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rome
Brest
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 €1.46
$1.15 €0.99
46.96%
White Bread (500g)
$2.14 €1.84
$1.73 €1.49
23.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.95 €2.54
$2.04 €1.75
44.61%
Eggs
$4.51 €3.88
$3.79 €3.26
19.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.42 €14.99
$18.43 €15.85
-5.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.00 €10.32
$13.33 €11.47
-9.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.19 €17.37
$13.50 €11.61
49.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.45 €2.11
$2.77 €2.38
-11.55%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 €1.92
$2.07 €1.78
7.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.95 €1.68
$4.14 €3.56
-52.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.58 €2.22
$3.46 €2.97
-25.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 €1.53
$1.89 €1.62
-6.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.86 €1.60
$2.36 €2.03
-21.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 €1.09
$1.43 €1.23
-11.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.48
$0.41 €0.35
34.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13 €6.13
$12.91 €11.10
-44.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.63 €3.98
$7.18 €6.18
-35.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 €1.67
$3.57 €3.07
-45.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 €2.35
$3.13 €2.69
-12.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Rome
Brest
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.79 €1.54
$1.92 €1.65
-6.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.00 €35.27
$49.17 €42.30
-16.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 €4.41
$5.81 €5.00
-11.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 €1.38
$1.81 €1.56
-11.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.08 €30.18
$32.32 €27.80
8.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.95 €1.68
$2.00 €1.72
-2.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K €25.2K
$36.9K €31.7K
-20.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K €26.0K
$33.4K €28.8K
-9.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome
Brest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 €189
$179 €154
22.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.01 €9.47
$23.00 €19.78
-52.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.31 €26.93
$25.37 €21.82
23.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rome
Brest
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.1 €55.1
$37.11 €31.92
72.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.81 €20.48
$23.46 €20.18
1.49%
Cinema Ticket
$11.73 €10.09
$14.06 €12.09
-16.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rome
Brest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$528 €454
$228 €196
132.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K €8,966
$11.7K €10.0K
-10.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rome
Brest
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.3 €63.0
$57.6 €49.57
27.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.57 €29.74
$43.30 €37.24
-20.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.0 €74.8
$72.8 €62.6
19.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €102
$91.8 €79.0
29.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rome
Brest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,325 €1,139
$535 €460
147.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$885 €761
$408 €351
116.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,661 €2,289
$861 €741
208.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,636 €1,407
$750 €645
118.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,730 €7,510
$2,843 €2,445
207.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,452 €2,970
$2,544 €2,188
35.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rome
Brest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,058 €1,770
$2,567 €2,208
-19.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.95
3.62
9.12%

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

Last update for Rome: May 31, 2026

Last update for Brest: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,325 in Rome and $535 in Brest. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brest pays 25% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $74.0 in Rome vs $52.0 in Brest. Groceries flip the comparison at $333 vs $334, with Rome 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
Rome vs Brest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rome or Brest?
Brest wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Rome. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Brest the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Rome or Brest?
On paper, Brest earns 25% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rome vs Brest?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,325 in Rome versus $535 in Brest. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Rome vs Brest?
Dining out is cheaper in Brest – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $74.0 in Rome. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Rome compared to Brest?
All in, you'll spend $2,027 per month in Rome versus $1,473 in Brest – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Rome or Brest?
At $1,473 in Brest versus $2,027 in Rome, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Brest but tight or insufficient in Rome. The gap between the two cities makes Brest the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rome or Brest?
Both work as nomad bases, but Brest delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,473 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Brest hard to pass up.
How safe is Rome compared to Brest?
Safety-wise, Rome and Brest 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 Brest gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Rome. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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