Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Mestre Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Mestre

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,044 per month in Rome vs $1,955 in Mestre, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,119 per month in Rome vs $3,009 in Mestre, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,194 per month in Rome vs $4,063 in Mestre, rent included.

Rome costs about 5% more than Mestre, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Rome and Mestre sit above the global median – Rome by 52%, Mestre by 45%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rome
Mestre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.19 €14.81
$23.31 €20.08
-26.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.8 €64.5
$92.3 €79.5
-18.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.40 €9.82
$12.36 €10.65
-7.77%
Cappuccino
$1.81 €1.56
$2.11 €1.82
-14.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 €2.09
$3.11 €2.68
-22.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 €1.06
$1.75 €1.50
-29.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.82 €5.01
$5.76 €4.96
1.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.14 €4.43
$4.53 €3.90
13.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rome
Mestre
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 €1.48
$1.64 €1.41
4.88%
White Bread (500g)
$2.08 €1.79
$2.96 €2.55
-29.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.03 €2.61
$2.91 €2.51
4.12%
Eggs
$4.37 €3.76
$4.26 €3.67
2.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.39 €14.98
$16.20 €13.96
7.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.70 €10.08
$12.31 €10.60
-4.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.90 €17.14
$14.60 €12.58
36.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 €2.02
$2.93 €2.53
-19.80%
Banana (1kg)
$2.24 €1.93
$2.01 €1.73
11.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 €1.72
$2.62 €2.26
-24.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.66 €2.29
$2.61 €2.25
1.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.52
$1.85 €1.59
-4.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.92 €1.65
$1.70 €1.47
12.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 €1.09
$1.80 €1.55
-29.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 €0.45
$0.48 €0.42
8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.87 €5.92
$6.60 €5.68
4.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.53 €3.91
$7.12 €6.14
-36.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 €1.61
$1.47 €1.26
27.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 €2.31
$2.04 €1.76
31.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Rome
Mestre
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.72 €1.49
$1.77 €1.52
-2.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.07 €35.38
$47.01 €40.51
-12.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.29 €4.56
$7.10 €6.12
-25.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 €1.35
$1.47 €1.26
6.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.96 €30.12
$46.76 €40.29
-25.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.00 €1.73
$2.02 €1.74
-0.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K €24.9K
$30.6K €26.3K
-5.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8K €25.7K
$28.3K €24.4K
5.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome
Mestre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 €188
$225 €194
-3.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.77 €9.28
$13.54 €11.66
-20.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.64 €26.40
$26.65 €22.96
14.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rome
Mestre
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.1 €55.2
$58.9 €50.8
8.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.80 €20.50
$20.71 €17.84
14.92%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41 €9.83
$11.35 €9.78
0.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rome
Mestre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$541 €466
$582 €501
-6.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K €9,196
$5,853 €5,043
82.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rome
Mestre
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.5 €63.4
$81.9 €70.6
-10.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.48 €29.71
$46.07 €39.69
-25.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.2 €74.3
$97.9 €84.3
-11.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €102
$145 €125
-18.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rome
Mestre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,368 €1,179
$917 €790
49.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$870 €749
$750 €646
15.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,624 €2,261
$1,589 €1,369
65.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,591 €1,371
$1,289 €1,110
23.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,523 €7,344
$1,956 €1,686
335.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,404 €2,933
$1,598 €1,377
112.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rome
Mestre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,023 €1,743
$2,010 €1,732
0.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.95
4.9
-19.39%

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

Last update for Rome: June 7, 2026

Last update for Mestre: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,368 in Rome versus $917 in Mestre. 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 1% higher in Rome, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Rome versus $92.0 in Mestre. Groceries tell a different story – $329 in Rome vs $326 in Mestre – so Mestre wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Mestre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Rome and Mestre compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,044 in Rome, $1,955 in Mestre – roughly 5% apart. Rome costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Rome compared to Mestre?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,067 per month in Rome and $2,932 in Mestre. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Rome and Mestre?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mestre, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Rome or Mestre?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,044 in Rome and $1,955 in Mestre. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Rome and Mestre?
Public transport costs about 14% less in Mestre. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mestre, where all-in costs run around $1,955, than in Rome at $2,044. In Mestre it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rome it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Rome and Mestre?
It depends on your priorities. Rome has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,955 in Mestre to $2,044 in Rome. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Rome or Mestre safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Rome and Mestre?
If budget matters most, go with Mestre. 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.

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