Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Cosenza Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Cosenza

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,027 in Rome versus $1,385 in Cosenza.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,143 in Rome versus $2,200 in Cosenza.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,260 in Rome versus $3,016 in Cosenza.

Living in Rome is roughly 46% more expensive than Cosenza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rome 51% above, Cosenza 3% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rome
Cosenza
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.23 €14.84
$17.64 €15.18
-2.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.9 €63.6
$63.9 €55.0
15.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.74 €10.11
$11.34 €9.76
3.53%
Cappuccino
$1.83 €1.58
$1.63 €1.41
12.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 €2.16
$2.14 €1.84
17.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 €1.09
$1.09 €0.94
16.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.86 €5.05
$4.66 €4.01
25.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.23 €4.50
$4.74 €4.08
10.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rome
Cosenza
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 €1.46
$1.12 €0.96
50.89%
White Bread (500g)
$2.14 €1.84
$1.72 €1.48
24.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.95 €2.54
$2.73 €2.35
8.06%
Eggs
$4.51 €3.88
$3.62 €3.11
24.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.42 €15.00
$12.21 €10.51
42.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.00 €10.33
$10.38 €8.93
15.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.19 €17.38
$15.53 €13.37
30.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.45 €2.11
$2.34 €2.02
4.70%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 €1.92
$2.00 €1.72
11.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.95 €1.68
$2.32 €2.00
-15.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.58 €2.22
$3.27 €2.82
-21.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 €1.53
$1.32 €1.14
34.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.86 €1.60
$1.91 €1.65
-2.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 €1.09
$1.44 €1.24
-12.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.48
$0.41 €0.35
34.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13 €6.14
$7.03 €6.05
1.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.63 €3.99
$8.32 €7.16
-44.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 €1.68
$2.22 €1.91
-12.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 €2.35
$3.05 €2.63
-10.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Rome
Cosenza
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.79 €1.54
$1.37 €1.18
30.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.00 €35.30
$42.93 €36.96
-4.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 €4.41
$5.70 €4.90
-10.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 €1.38
$0.50 €0.43
220.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.08 €30.20
$25.77 €22.19
36.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.95 €1.68
$2.09 €1.80
-6.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K €25.2K
$30.7K €26.4K
-4.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K €26.0K
$29.6K €25.4K
2.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome
Cosenza
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 €189
$226 €195
-2.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.01 €9.47
$13.41 €11.55
-17.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.31 €26.95
$32.17 €27.69
-2.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rome
Cosenza
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.1 €55.2
$47.41 €40.82
35.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.81 €20.49
$17.52 €15.09
35.90%
Cinema Ticket
$11.73 €10.10
$8.65 €7.45
35.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rome
Cosenza
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$528 €455
$295 €254
78.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K €8,974
$2,860 €2,462
264.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rome
Cosenza
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.3 €63.1
$69.7 €60.0
5.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.57 €29.76
$36.86 €31.74
-6.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.0 €74.9
$101 €87.1
-14.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €102
$110 €94.9
7.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rome
Cosenza
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,325 €1,140
$519 €447
155.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$885 €762
$341 €294
159.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,661 €2,291
$894 €770
197.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,636 €1,408
$680 €586
140.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,730 €7,516
$1,852 €1,594
371.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,452 €2,972
$1,357 €1,168
154.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rome
Cosenza
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,058 €1,772
$1,605 €1,381
28.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.95
4.04
-2.23%

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

Last update for Rome: May 31, 2026

Last update for Cosenza: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,325 in Rome and $519 in Cosenza. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rome pays 28% 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 Cosenza for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $291 per month, with Cosenza 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 Cosenza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rome and Cosenza?
Rome and Cosenza differ by about 46% in total monthly costs ($2,027 vs $1,385 including rent). Cosenza is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Rome or Cosenza?
Rome pays 28% 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 Cosenza?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,325 in Rome versus $519 in Cosenza. 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 Cosenza?
Childcare runs $528 in Rome versus $295 in Cosenza. 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 14% higher in Rome. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,385 in Cosenza versus $2,027 in Rome, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Cosenza but tight or insufficient in Rome. The gap between the two cities makes Cosenza the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Rome and Cosenza?
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 Cosenza safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Rome and Cosenza 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 Cosenza?
Expats usually find Cosenza gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Rome. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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