😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,031 in Rome versus $1,835 in Montecatini Terme.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,167 in Rome versus $2,851 in Montecatini Terme.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,304 in Rome versus $3,868 in Montecatini Terme.
🌍Living in Rome is roughly 11% more expensive than in Montecatini Terme, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rome48% above, Montecatini Terme34% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rome
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.45€15.00
$22.97€19.75
-24.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.9€61.0
$94.3€81.1
-24.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.79€10.13
$14.07€12.09
-16.20%
Cappuccino
$2.26€1.94
$1.98€1.71
14.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10€2.67
$3.09€2.66
0.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55€1.33
$1.69€1.45
-8.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.86€5.03
$7.14€6.14
-17.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82€5.86
$5.87€5.05
16.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rome
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80€1.55
$1.56€1.34
15.38%
White Bread(500g)
$2.28€1.96
$2.62€2.25
-12.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.25€2.79
$1.70€1.46
91.18%
Eggs
$4.74€4.07
$5.26€4.52
-9.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.31€13.16
$20.69€17.79
-26.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.46€10.71
$14.59€12.55
-14.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.09€16.41
$22.44€19.29
-14.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.67€2.30
$2.68€2.30
-0.37%
Banana(1kg)
$2.47€2.13
$2.62€2.25
-5.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.56€2.21
$3.33€2.87
-23.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44€2.09
$3.15€2.71
-22.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46€1.25
$2.54€2.19
-42.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.61€1.39
$1.78€1.53
-9.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.23
$1.48€1.27
-2.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51€0.43
$0.70€0.60
-27.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.07€6.08
$6.83€5.87
3.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.54€3.91
$9.09€7.82
-50.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73€1.49
$1.61€1.38
7.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93€2.52
$2.65€2.28
10.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Rome
Montecatini Terme
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.69€1.45
$1.91€1.64
-11.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.92€35.18
$47.12€40.51
-13.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.64€6.57
$6.79€5.83
12.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.78€1.53
$1.51€1.29
17.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.61€29.76
$33.49€28.80
3.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.05€1.77
$2.14€1.84
-4.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K€31.9K
$37.7K€32.4K
-1.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0K€30.9K
$36.8K€31.6K
-2.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$220€189
$198€171
10.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.41€10.67
$13.93€11.98
-10.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.36€26.96
$31.80€27.33
-1.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rome
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.4€58.8
$51.1€43.96
33.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.35€21.79
$26.35€22.65
-3.80%
Cinema Ticket
$11.50€9.89
$11.56€9.94
-0.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rome
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$504€433
$585€503
-13.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.0K
$15.6K€13.4K
11.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rome
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.4€64.0
$89.5€76.9
-16.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.93€32.61
$44.27€38.06
-14.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.3€75.0
$102€87.5
-14.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$112€96.1
11.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rome
Montecatini Terme
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,244€1,070
$731€628
70.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$887€762
$556€478
59.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,637€2,267
$1,061€912
148.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,795€1,543
$968€832
85.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,673€7,457
$3,480€2,992
149.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,283€2,822
$1,873€1,610
75.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rome
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,947€1,674
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.52
3.29
6.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rome: August 31, 2026
Last update for Montecatini Terme: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,244 in Rome and $731 in Montecatini Terme. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $71.0 in Rome vs $94.0 in Montecatini Terme for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $387 per month, with Rome cheaper across the board.
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 Montecatini Terme: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montecatini Terme cheaper than Rome?
Montecatini Terme is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,046 in Rome and $2,752 in Montecatini Terme to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Rome and Montecatini Terme?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,244 in Rome versus $731 in Montecatini Terme. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Rome and in Montecatini Terme?
Shoppers in Rome pay roughly 17% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Rome or in Montecatini Terme?
Dining out is cheaper in Montecatini Terme – a meal for two runs $94.0 versus $71.0 in Rome. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Rome or in Montecatini Terme?
At $1,835 in Montecatini Terme versus $2,031 in Rome, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Montecatini Terme but tight or insufficient in Rome. The gap between the two cities makes Montecatini Terme the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Rome or Montecatini Terme more family-friendly?
For families, Montecatini Terme is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Rome, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Rome or Montecatini Terme?
Safety-wise, Rome and Montecatini Terme are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Montecatini Terme gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Rome. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.