Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Ostia Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Ostia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,986 per month in Rome vs $1,709 in Ostia, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,073 per month in Rome vs $2,585 in Ostia, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,159 per month in Rome vs $3,461 in Ostia, rent included.

Rome costs about 16% more than Ostia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Rome and Ostia sit above the global median – Rome by 49%, Ostia by 28%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.54 €15.37

$17.38 €15.22

0.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 €66.5

$73.8 €64.6

3.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.67 €10.22

$11.59 €10.15

0.69%

Cappuccino

$1.77 €1.55

$2.11 €1.84

-16.11%

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

$2.45 €2.14

$2.32 €2.03

5.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 €1.11

$1.07 €0.94

17.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.75 €5.03

$4.60 €4.02

25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.06 €4.43

$4.61 €4.04

9.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 €1.49

White Bread (500g)

$2.07 €1.81

$2.19 €1.92

-5.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.99 €2.62

$2.83 €2.48

5.65%

Eggs

$4.52 €3.96

$4.36 €3.82

3.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 €15.49

$14.96 €13.11

18.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.75 €10.29

$10.44 €9.14

12.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.56 €18.01

$16.13 €14.13

27.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.43 €2.12

$2.40 €2.10

1.25%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 €2.06

$2.18 €1.91

8.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.02 €1.77

Tomato (1kg)

$2.67 €2.34

$2.64 €2.31

1.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 €1.54

$1.78 €1.56

-1.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 €1.62

$1.94 €1.70

-4.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 €1.11

$1.33 €1.16

-4.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 €0.49

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.81 €5.96

$6.86 €6.01

-0.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.96 €3.46

$4.03 €3.53

-1.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 €1.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 €2.42

$2.78 €2.44

-0.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 €1.51

$1.73 €1.51

-0.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.16 €36.05

$42.76 €37.45

-3.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.23 €4.58

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 €1.39

$1.53 €1.34

3.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.86 €30.53

$34.71 €30.40

0.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.03 €1.78

$1.94 €1.70

4.64%

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

$29.0K €25.4K

$29.2K €25.6K

-0.60%

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

$29.9K €26.2K

$29.0K €25.4K

2.82%

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

$222 €195

$222 €194

0.29%

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

$10.96 €9.60

$10.99 €9.62

-0.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.99 €27.14

$34.27 €30.01

-9.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.2 €56.2

$62.6 €54.8

2.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.99 €21.01

$22.72 €19.90

5.59%

Cinema Ticket

$11.63 €10.19

$11.69 €10.24

-0.51%

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

$539 €472

$396 €347

36.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K €9,363

$9,127 €7,993

17.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.1 €64.1

$73.3 €64.2

-0.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.58 €30.29

$34.19 €29.94

1.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 €75.8

$86.7 €75.9

-0.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €104

$121 €106

-1.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 €1,163

$755 €661

75.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$866 €759

$577 €505

50.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,596 €2,274

$1,198 €1,050

116.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,602 €1,403

$918 €804

74.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,434 €7,386

$2,681 €2,348

214.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,464 €3,034

$1,787 €1,565

93.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,947 €1,705

$2,078 €1,820

-6.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.95

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

Last update for Rome: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ostia: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,328 in Rome versus $755 in Ostia. 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 7% higher in Ostia, 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 $76.0 in Rome versus $74.0 in Ostia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $333 vs $304 – making Ostia 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 Ostia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Rome is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,979 per month in Rome and $2,564 in Ostia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ostia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $539 per month in Rome and $396 in Ostia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Rome, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Ostia, where all-in costs run around $1,709, than in Rome at $1,986. In Ostia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rome it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ostia – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Ostia. 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.