Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Dubuque, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Dubuque, IA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,031 per month in Rome vs $1,794 in Dubuque, IA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,167 per month in Rome vs $2,653 in Dubuque, IA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,304 per month in Rome vs $3,513 in Dubuque, IA, rent included.

Rome costs about 13% more than Dubuque, IA, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Rome and Dubuque, IA sit above the global median – Rome by 48%, Dubuque, IA by 31%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.45 €15.02

$16.30 $16.30

7.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.9 €61.0

$50.1 $50.1

41.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.79 €10.14

$9.95 $9.95

18.49%

Cappuccino

$2.26 €1.94

$5.02 $5.02

-54.98%

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

$3.10 €2.67

$2.04 $2.04

51.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 €1.33

$1.02 $1.02

51.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 €5.04

$2.96 $2.96

97.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 €5.86

$4.58 $4.58

48.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 €1.55

$0.81 $0.81

122.22%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 €1.97

$2.72 $2.72

-16.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.25 €2.80

$3.42 $3.42

-4.97%

Eggs

$4.74 €4.08

$2.78 $2.78

70.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.31 €13.18

$10.14 $10.14

50.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.46 €10.72

$10.42 $10.42

19.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.09 €16.43

$15.22 $15.22

25.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 €2.30

$3.37 $3.37

-20.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 €2.13

$1.23 $1.23

100.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.56 €2.21

$3.32 $3.32

-22.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 €2.10

$2.39 $2.39

2.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 €1.25

$1.40 $1.40

4.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.61 €1.39

$1.62 $1.62

-0.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 €1.24

$2.33 $2.33

-38.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 €0.43

$1.78 $1.78

-71.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.07 €6.09

$9.05 $9.05

-21.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.54 €3.91

$13.46 $13.46

-66.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 €1.49

$2.01 $2.01

-13.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 €2.52

$2.69 $2.69

8.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.69 €1.46

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.92 €35.22

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.64 €6.57

$2.75 $2.75

177.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 €1.53

$1.58 $1.58

12.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.61 €29.78

$20.81 $20.81

66.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.05 €1.77

$0.89 $0.89

130.34%

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

$37.1K €31.9K

$35.7K $35.7K

4.06%

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

$36.0K €30.9K

$25.6K $25.6K

40.41%

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

$220 €189

$204 $204

7.80%

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

$12.41 €10.68

$67.9 $67.9

-81.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.36 €26.98

$66.0 $66.0

-52.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.4 €58.9

$37.36 $37.36

83.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.35 €21.81

Cinema Ticket

$11.50 €9.90

$7.88 $7.88

45.94%

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

$504 €434

$784 $784

-35.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K €15.0K

$24.4K $24.4K

-28.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.4 €64.0

$54.6 $54.6

36.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.93 €32.64

$35.33 $35.33

7.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.3 €75.1

$88.2 $88.2

-1.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 €107

$90.7 $90.7

37.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,244 €1,071

$1,006 $1,006

23.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$887 €763

$723 $723

22.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,637 €2,269

$1,456 $1,456

81.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,795 €1,545

$1,190 $1,190

50.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,673 €7,463

$1,754 $1,754

394.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,283 €2,825

$1,691 $1,691

94.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,947 €1,675

$3,766 $3,766

-48.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.52

5.25

-32.95%

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

Last update for Rome: August 31, 2026

Last update for Dubuque, IA: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,244 in Rome versus $1,006 in Dubuque, IA. 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 93% higher in Dubuque, IA, 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 $71.0 in Rome versus $50.0 in Dubuque, IA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $332 vs $318 – making Dubuque, IA 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 Dubuque, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rome costs about 13% more than Dubuque, IA, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,046 per month in Rome and $2,690 in Dubuque, IA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dubuque, IA, 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 $2,031 in Rome and $1,794 in Dubuque, IA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $504 per month in Rome and $784 in Dubuque, IA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Dubuque, IA, where all-in costs run around $1,794, than in Rome at $2,031. In Dubuque, IA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rome it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dubuque, IA costs $1,794 versus $2,031 in Rome. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Dubuque, IA. 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.