Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Padova Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Padova

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,044 in Rome versus $2,038 in Padova.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,119 in Rome versus $3,096 in Padova.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,194 in Rome versus $4,154 in Padova.

Monthly costs are close between Rome and Padova; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rome 52% above, Padova 52% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rome
Padova
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.19 €14.81
$18.67 €16.09
-7.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.8 €64.5
$82.3 €70.9
-9.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.40 €9.82
$11.61 €10.00
-1.81%
Cappuccino
$1.81 €1.56
$1.90 €1.64
-4.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 €2.09
$3.65 €3.15
-33.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 €1.06
$1.77 €1.52
-30.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.82 €5.01
$6.99 €6.02
-16.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.14 €4.43
$4.70 €4.05
9.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rome
Padova
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 €1.48
$1.59 €1.37
8.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.08 €1.79
$2.76 €2.38
-24.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.03 €2.61
$3.24 €2.79
-6.48%
Eggs
$4.37 €3.76
$4.04 €3.48
8.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.39 €14.98
$15.87 €13.68
9.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.70 €10.08
$12.81 €11.04
-8.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.90 €17.14
$20.25 €17.44
-1.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 €2.02
$2.88 €2.49
-18.40%
Banana (1kg)
$2.24 €1.93
$2.32 €2.00
-3.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 €1.72
$2.78 €2.40
-28.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.66 €2.29
$3.83 €3.30
-30.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.52
$2.25 €1.94
-21.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.92 €1.65
$2.13 €1.84
-9.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 €1.09
$1.59 €1.37
-20.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 €0.45
$0.42 €0.36
23.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.87 €5.92
$7.03 €6.06
-2.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.53 €3.91
$6.74 €5.80
-32.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 €1.61
$1.99 €1.72
-6.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 €2.31
$2.52 €2.17
6.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Rome
Padova
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.72 €1.49
$2.00 €1.72
-14.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.07 €35.38
$49.60 €42.73
-17.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.29 €4.56
$10.26 €8.84
-48.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 €1.35
$2.13 €1.84
-26.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.96 €30.12
$39.81 €34.30
-12.18%
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
$34.4K €29.7K
-16.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8K €25.7K
$38.4K €33.1K
-22.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome
Padova
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 €188
$298 €257
-26.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.77 €9.28
$12.09 €10.42
-10.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.64 €26.40
$31.11 €26.80
-1.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rome
Padova
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.1 €55.2
$56.9 €49.05
12.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.80 €20.50
$27.00 €23.26
-11.85%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41 €9.83
$11.69 €10.07
-2.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rome
Padova
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$541 €466
$646 €556
-16.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K €9,196
$11.1K €9,533
-3.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rome
Padova
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.5 €63.4
$72.0 €62.0
2.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.48 €29.71
$41.54 €35.79
-17.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.2 €74.3
$103 €88.9
-16.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €102
$132 €113
-9.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rome
Padova
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,368 €1,179
$994 €857
37.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$870 €749
$755 €651
15.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,624 €2,261
$1,713 €1,476
53.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,591 €1,371
$1,230 €1,060
29.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,523 €7,344
$4,087 €3,522
108.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,404 €2,933
$2,281 €1,965
49.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rome
Padova
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,023 €1,743
$2,007 €1,729
0.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.95
4.47
-11.63%

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

Last update for Rome: June 7, 2026

Last update for Padova: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,368 in Rome and $994 in Padova. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rome pays 1% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $75.0 in Rome vs $82.0 in Padova for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $329 vs $355 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 Padova: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city pays better: Rome or Padova?
Rome pays 1% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Rome and Padova?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,368 in Rome versus $994 in Padova. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Rome and Padova?
A monthly transit pass in Padova runs roughly 21% less than in Rome. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Rome pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,038 in Padova versus $2,044 in Rome, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Padova but tight or insufficient in Rome. The gap between the two cities makes Padova the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Rome and Padova?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Rome or Padova safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Rome and Padova are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
How do I decide between Rome and Padova?
It comes down to priorities – Padova wins on affordability, Rome on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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