Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Modena Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Modena

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,986 per month in Rome vs $1,996 in Modena, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,073 per month in Rome vs $3,148 in Modena, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,159 per month in Rome vs $4,300 in Modena, rent included.

Rome and Modena have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Rome and Modena sit above the global median – Rome by 49%, Modena by 49%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rome
Modena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.54 €15.33
$23.09 €20.17
-24.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.0 €66.4
$82.0 €71.6
-7.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.67 €10.20
$11.67 €10.20
-
Cappuccino
$1.77 €1.55
$2.02 €1.77
-12.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 €2.14
$3.06 €2.68
-19.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26 €1.10
$1.40 €1.22
-10.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.75 €5.02
$5.85 €5.11
-1.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06 €4.42
$5.83 €5.10
-13.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rome
Modena
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 €1.49
$1.38 €1.21
23.19%
White Bread (500g)
$2.07 €1.81
$2.77 €2.42
-25.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.99 €2.61
$2.61 €2.28
14.56%
Eggs
$4.52 €3.95
$4.79 €4.18
-5.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.69 €15.45
$20.23 €17.67
-12.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.75 €10.26
$15.07 €13.17
-22.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.56 €17.96
$22.68 €19.82
-9.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.43 €2.12
$2.73 €2.38
-10.99%
Banana (1kg)
$2.36 €2.06
$2.68 €2.34
-11.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.02 €1.77
$3.62 €3.16
-44.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.67 €2.34
$3.88 €3.39
-31.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$2.70 €2.36
-34.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 €1.62
$1.76 €1.54
5.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 €1.11
$1.55 €1.36
-18.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 €0.49
$0.60 €0.52
-6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.81 €5.95
$6.97 €6.09
-2.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.96 €3.46
$9.02 €7.88
-56.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 €1.69
$1.70 €1.49
14.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 €2.41
$2.63 €2.30
4.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Rome
Modena
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.72 €1.50
$2.24 €1.96
-23.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.16 €35.97
$36.58 €31.96
12.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.23 €4.57
$6.76 €5.91
-22.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 €1.38
$1.15 €1.01
37.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.86 €30.46
$32.77 €28.63
6.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.03 €1.77
$2.01 €1.76
1.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K €25.3K
$28.1K €24.6K
3.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9K €26.1K
$37.1K €32.5K
-19.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome
Modena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$222 €194
$269 €235
-17.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.96 €9.58
$13.05 €11.40
-16.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.99 €27.07
$30.62 €26.75
1.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rome
Modena
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.2 €56.1
$66.7 €58.3
-3.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.99 €20.96
$23.11 €20.19
3.81%
Cinema Ticket
$11.63 €10.16
$11.06 €9.66
5.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rome
Modena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$539 €471
$699 €611
-22.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K €9,341
$11.3K €9,851
-5.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rome
Modena
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.1 €63.9
$100 €87.5
-26.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.58 €30.22
$42.61 €37.23
-18.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.6 €75.7
$103 €89.7
-15.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €104
$127 €111
-6.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rome
Modena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,328 €1,160
$857 €748
55.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$866 €757
$694 €606
24.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,596 €2,268
$1,639 €1,432
58.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,602 €1,400
$1,287 €1,124
24.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,434 €7,369
$3,630 €3,172
132.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,464 €3,026
$2,194 €1,917
57.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rome
Modena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,947 €1,701
$2,073 €1,812
-6.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.95
4.24
-6.84%

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

Last update for Rome: July 11, 2026

Last update for Modena: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,328 in Rome versus $857 in Modena. 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 6% higher in Modena. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Rome versus $82.0 in Modena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $333 vs $396 – making Rome 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 Modena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Rome and in Modena?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,979 per month in Rome and $2,993 in Modena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Rome or Modena?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rome, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Rome and in Modena?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Rome and $82.0 in Modena. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How expensive is transport in Rome compared to Modena?
Public transport costs about 13% less in Rome. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Rome or in Modena?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Rome, where all-in costs run around $1,986, than in Modena at $1,996. In Rome it covers expenses comfortably, while in Modena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rome or Modena?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rome costs $1,986 versus $1,996 in Modena. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Rome compared to Modena?
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 Modena?
If budget matters most, go with Rome. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Modena makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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