For one person, living is cheaper in Genoa: $1,790 a month against $1,998 in Rome, rent and utilities included – about $2,500 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Rome outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Rome and in Genoa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,998 per month in Rome vs $1,790 in Genoa, rent included.
Rome $1,998
Genoa $1,790
A couple spends around $3,117 per month in Rome vs $2,702 in Genoa, rent included.
Rome $3,117
Genoa $2,702
A family of three spends $4,236 per month in Rome vs $3,613 in Genoa, rent included.
Rome $4,236
Genoa $3,613
😐
Rome costs about 12% more than Genoa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both Rome and Genoa sit above the global median – Rome by 48%, Genoa by 33%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Rome
Genoa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69€14.84
$16.62€14.78
0.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.8€58.5
$83.4€74.2
-21.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.08€9.85
$13.65€12.14
-18.83%
Cappuccino
$2.10€1.87
$1.90€1.69
10.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91€2.59
$2.94€2.62
-1.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48€1.32
$1.54€1.37
-3.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.62€5.00
$6.72€5.97
-16.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.68€5.94
$5.73€5.10
16.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rome
Genoa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72€1.53
$1.88€1.68
-8.51%
White Bread(500g)
$2.27€2.02
$2.37€2.11
-4.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.99€2.66
$3.35€2.98
-10.75%
Eggs
$4.75€4.23
$4.59€4.08
3.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.53€12.92
$17.61€15.66
-17.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.63€11.24
$12.61€11.21
0.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.86€17.67
$20.56€18.29
-3.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.35
$2.73€2.43
-3.30%
Banana(1kg)
$2.28€2.03
$2.06€1.84
10.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.46€2.19
$2.89€2.57
-14.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.42€2.15
$3.42€3.04
-29.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38€1.22
$2.16€1.92
-36.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.55€1.38
$1.81€1.61
-14.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32€1.17
$1.64€1.46
-19.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55€0.49
$0.52€0.47
5.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.31€6.50
$6.83€6.07
7.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.44€4.84
$7.79€6.93
-30.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.40
$2.33€2.07
-32.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62€2.33
$2.98€2.65
-12.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Rome
Genoa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.63€1.45
$2.24€2.00
-27.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.26€34.92
$53.5€47.54
-26.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.51€5.79
$6.61€5.88
-1.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.68€1.50
$1.37€1.21
22.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.24€29.57
$33.92€30.17
-2.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.17€1.93
$2.17€1.93
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€31.4K
$36.8K€32.8K
-4.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K€31.5K
$35.5K€31.5K
-0.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome
Genoa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$203€181
$239€213
-15.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.50€10.22
$10.06€8.95
14.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.03€28.49
$31.97€28.43
0.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rome
Genoa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$65.9€58.6
$47.95€42.65
37.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.89€20.36
$15.32€13.63
49.41%
Cinema Ticket
$11.23€9.99
$8.87€7.89
26.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rome
Genoa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$484€430
$361€321
33.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.7K
$12.3K€11.0K
33.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rome
Genoa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.0€63.1
$72.6€64.6
-2.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.51€32.47
$38.11€33.90
-4.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.9€75.5
$90.4€80.4
-6.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€108
$122€109
-0.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rome
Genoa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,222€1,087
$861€766
41.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$881€784
$599€533
47.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,537€2,257
$1,390€1,236
82.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,721€1,530
$907€807
89.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,274€7,360
$3,651€3,248
126.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,084€2,743
$1,149€1,022
168.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rome
Genoa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,942€1,728
$2,029€1,805
-4.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.52
3.38
4.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rome: October 12, 2026
Last update for Genoa: October 10, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Rome
$881 44.1%
Genoa
$599 33.5% ↓ 32%$282
🛒Groceries & Markets
Rome
$329 16.5%
Genoa
$363 20.3% ↑ 10.2%$33
🍽Eating Out
Rome
$251 12.6%
Genoa
$260 14.5% ↑ 3.5%$8.8
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome
$246 12.3%
Genoa
$281 15.7% ↑ 14.2%$35
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Rome
$141 7.1%
Genoa
$146 8.1% ↑ 2.9%$4.2
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Rome
$88 4.4%
Genoa
$66 3.7% ↓ 25.6%$23
🚌Getting Around
Rome
$61 3%
Genoa
$76 4.2% ↑ 24.9%$15
🏠Accommodation & Living
Rome
$1.7K 40.6%
Genoa
$907 25.1% ↓ 47.3%$814
🛒Groceries & Markets
Rome
$786 18.6%
Genoa
$855 23.7% ↑ 8.9%$70
🍽Eating Out
Rome
$833 19.7%
Genoa
$933 25.8% ↑ 12%$100
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome
$258 6.1%
Genoa
$292 8.1% ↑ 13%$34
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Rome
$314 7.4%
Genoa
$323 9% ↑ 2.9%$9.2
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Rome
$200 4.7%
Genoa
$147 4.1% ↓ 26.5%$53
🚌Getting Around
Rome
$125 2.9%
Genoa
$156 4.3% ↑ 25.2%$31
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,222 in Rome versus $861 in Genoa. 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 4% higher in Genoa, 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 $66.0 in Rome versus $83.0 in Genoa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $329 vs $363 – making Rome the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 Genoa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rome or Genoa?
Rome costs about 12% more than Genoa, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Rome and in Genoa?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,998 per month in Rome and $2,685 in Genoa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Rome or Genoa?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Genoa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Rome compared to Genoa?
Public transport costs about 36% less in Genoa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Rome and in Genoa?
Kindergarten costs $484 per month in Rome and $361 in Genoa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Rome or in Genoa?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Genoa, where all-in costs run around $1,790, than in Rome at $1,998. In Genoa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rome it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rome or Genoa?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Genoa costs $1,790 versus $1,998 in Rome. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Rome compared to Genoa?
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.
Should I move to Rome or to Genoa?
If budget matters most, go with Genoa. 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.