😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,027 in Rome versus $1,686 in Reggio Nell'emilia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,143 in Rome versus $2,693 in Reggio Nell'emilia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,260 in Rome versus $3,700 in Reggio Nell'emilia.
😐Living in Rome is roughly 20% more expensive than Reggio Nell'emilia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rome51% above, Reggio Nell'emilia26% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rome
Reggio Nell'emilia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.23€14.84
$17.55€15.12
-1.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.9€63.6
$84.4€72.7
-12.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.74€10.11
$11.48€9.88
2.26%
Cappuccino
$1.83€1.58
$2.19€1.88
-16.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51€2.16
$3.63€3.13
-30.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27€1.09
$1.83€1.57
-30.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.86€5.05
$5.93€5.11
-1.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.23€4.50
$6.11€5.26
-14.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rome
Reggio Nell'emilia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69€1.46
$1.47€1.27
14.97%
White Bread(500g)
$2.14€1.84
$2.12€1.82
0.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.95€2.54
$1.89€1.63
56.08%
Eggs
$4.51€3.88
$3.66€3.15
23.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.42€15.00
$19.31€16.62
-9.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.00€10.33
$10.52€9.06
14.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.19€17.38
$21.04€18.12
-4.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.97€1.70
24.37%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.92
$2.02€1.74
10.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95€1.68
$2.54€2.18
-23.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.58€2.22
$3.37€2.90
-23.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.53
$2.36€2.03
-25.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$1.67€1.43
11.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26€1.09
$1.06€0.91
18.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55€0.48
$0.60€0.52
-8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.14
$6.76€5.82
5.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.63€3.99
$7.08€6.10
-34.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.68
$1.42€1.22
37.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73€2.35
$2.43€2.09
12.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Rome
Reggio Nell'emilia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.79€1.54
$2.21€1.90
-19.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.00€35.31
$31.35€26.99
30.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.13€4.42
$8.78€7.56
-41.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60€1.38
$1.00€0.86
60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.08€30.21
$23.19€19.97
51.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95€1.68
$2.03€1.75
-3.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K€25.2K
$28.6K€24.6K
2.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K€26.0K
$44.4K€38.3K
-32.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome
Reggio Nell'emilia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$219€189
$183€158
19.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.01€9.48
$13.38€11.52
-17.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.31€26.96
$27.68€23.84
13.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rome
Reggio Nell'emilia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.1€55.2
$69.3€59.6
-7.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.81€20.50
$22.43€19.31
6.15%
Cinema Ticket
$11.73€10.10
$10.60€9.13
10.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rome
Reggio Nell'emilia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$528€455
$519€447
1.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4K€8,976
$7,003€6,030
48.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rome
Reggio Nell'emilia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.3€63.1
$85.7€73.8
-14.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.57€29.77
$56.9€49.02
-39.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.0€74.9
$124€107
-29.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$112€96.0
6.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rome
Reggio Nell'emilia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,325€1,141
$714€615
85.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$885€762
$525€452
68.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,661€2,292
$1,229€1,058
116.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,636€1,409
$979€843
67.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,730€7,518
$2,595€2,234
236.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,452€2,973
$2,112€1,818
63.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rome
Reggio Nell'emilia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,058€1,772
$2,027€1,745
1.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.95
4.58
-13.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rome: May 31, 2026
Last update for Reggio Nell'emilia: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,325 in Rome and $714 in Reggio Nell'emilia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rome pays 2% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $74.0 in Rome vs $84.0 in Reggio Nell'emilia. Groceries flip the comparison at $333 vs $329, with Reggio Nell'emilia cheaper for home cooking.
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 Reggio Nell'emilia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Reggio Nell'emilia cheaper than Rome?
Reggio Nell'emilia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Rome or Reggio Nell'emilia?
Rome pays 2% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Rome and Reggio Nell'emilia?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,325 in Rome versus $714 in Reggio Nell'emilia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Reggio Nell'emilia runs roughly 31% less than in Rome. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $528 in Rome versus $519 in Reggio Nell'emilia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Rome or Reggio Nell'emilia?
At $1,686 in Reggio Nell'emilia versus $2,027 in Rome, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Reggio Nell'emilia but tight or insufficient in Rome. The gap between the two cities makes Reggio Nell'emilia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Rome or Reggio Nell'emilia more family-friendly?
For families, Reggio Nell'emilia 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 Reggio Nell'emilia?
Safety-wise, Rome and Reggio Nell'emilia 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 Reggio Nell'emilia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Rome. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.