Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Crema Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Crema

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,044 per month in Rome vs $1,737 in Crema, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,119 per month in Rome vs $2,534 in Crema, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,194 per month in Rome vs $3,331 in Crema, rent included.

Rome costs about 18% more than Crema, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Rome and Crema sit above the global median – Rome by 52%, Crema by 29%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.19 €14.85

$20.48 €17.70

-16.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.8 €64.6

$56.8 €49.05

31.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.40 €9.85

$11.53 €9.96

-1.13%

Cappuccino

$1.81 €1.56

$1.94 €1.68

-6.70%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 €2.09

$2.82 €2.43

-14.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 €1.06

$1.34 €1.16

-8.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.82 €5.03

$5.92 €5.11

-1.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.14 €4.44

$4.74 €4.10

8.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 €1.48

$1.14 €0.98

50.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.08 €1.80

$1.74 €1.50

19.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 €2.62

$2.91 €2.51

4.12%

Eggs

$4.37 €3.78

$3.00 €2.60

45.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 €15.02

$12.85 €11.11

35.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.70 €10.11

$9.01 €7.78

29.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.90 €17.19

$16.48 €14.24

20.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 €2.03

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 €1.93

$1.40 €1.21

60.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 €1.72

$1.53 €1.32

30.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.66 €2.30

$2.33 €2.01

14.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 €1.52

$1.39 €1.20

26.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 €1.66

$1.64 €1.42

17.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 €1.10

$1.32 €1.14

-3.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 €0.45

$0.42 €0.36

23.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.87 €5.94

$6.73 €5.82

2.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.53 €3.92

$4.65 €4.02

-2.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 €1.61

$1.42 €1.22

31.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 €2.32

$1.01 €0.87

165.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 €1.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.07 €35.48

$43.87 €37.91

-6.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.29 €4.57

$11.61 €10.03

-54.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 €1.36

$2.11 €1.82

-25.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.96 €30.21

$57.7 €49.82

-39.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.00 €1.73

$2.07 €1.79

-3.38%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.9K €24.9K

$27.6K €23.8K

4.68%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.8K €25.8K

$32.4K €28.0K

-7.80%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$218 €188

$249 €215

-12.66%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.77 €9.30

$11.36 €9.81

-5.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.64 €26.48

$30.00 €25.92

2.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.1 €55.4

$54.0 €46.67

18.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.80 €20.56

$23.56 €20.36

1.02%

Cinema Ticket

$11.41 €9.86

$9.79 €8.46

16.55%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$541 €468

$560 €484

-3.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K €9,222

$7,927 €6,850

34.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.5 €63.5

$57.7 €49.89

27.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.48 €29.79

$37.21 €32.15

-7.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 €74.5

$106 €91.6

-18.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €102

$91.1 €78.7

30.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,368 €1,182

$762 €658

79.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$870 €751

$613 €529

41.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,624 €2,268

$1,197 €1,034

119.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,591 €1,375

$944 €816

68.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,523 €7,365

$2,818 €2,435

202.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,404 €2,941

$2,355 €2,035

44.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,023 €1,748

$2,408 €2,081

-15.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.95

4.68

-15.60%

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

Last update for Rome: June 7, 2026

Last update for Crema: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,368 in Rome versus $762 in Crema. 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 19% higher in Crema, 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 $75.0 in Rome versus $57.0 in Crema. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $329 vs $260 – making Crema 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

Rome vs Crema: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Rome is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,067 per month in Rome and $2,605 in Crema. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Crema, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,044 in Rome and $1,737 in Crema. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 7% less in Crema. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Crema, where all-in costs run around $1,737, than in Rome at $2,044. In Crema it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rome it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Crema – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Crema. 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.