😐A single person spends $1,986 per month in Rome vs $1,736 in Riva del Garda, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,073 per month in Rome vs $2,729 in Riva del Garda, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,159 per month in Rome vs $3,722 in Riva del Garda, rent included.
😐Rome costs about 14% more than Riva del Garda, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Rome and Riva del Garda sit above the global median – Rome by 49%, Riva del Garda by 30%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rome
Riva del Garda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.54€15.37
$17.07€14.95
2.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.0€66.5
$92.7€81.2
-18.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.67€10.22
$11.60€10.16
0.60%
Cappuccino
$1.77€1.55
$2.38€2.08
-25.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.14
$3.52€3.08
-30.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26€1.11
$2.40€2.10
-47.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.75€5.03
$5.70€4.99
0.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06€4.43
$5.07€4.44
-0.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rome
Riva del Garda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70€1.49
$1.13€0.99
50.44%
White Bread(500g)
$2.07€1.81
$2.80€2.45
-26.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.99€2.62
$2.52€2.20
18.65%
Eggs
$4.52€3.96
$4.93€4.32
-8.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.69€15.49
$15.92€13.94
11.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.75€10.29
$12.22€10.71
-3.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.56€18.01
$17.47€15.30
17.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.43€2.12
$1.73€1.51
40.46%
Banana(1kg)
$2.36€2.06
$2.02€1.77
16.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.77
$2.67€2.34
-24.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.67€2.34
$2.69€2.36
-0.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.47€1.28
19.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$1.74€1.52
6.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.27€1.11
$1.13€0.99
12.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56€0.49
$0.24€0.21
133.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.81€5.96
$7.92€6.93
-14.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.96€3.46
$8.17€7.15
-51.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94€1.70
$1.18€1.04
64.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76€2.42
$1.13€0.99
144.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Rome
Riva del Garda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.72€1.51
$1.72€1.50
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.16€36.05
$42.71€37.41
-3.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.23€4.58
$8.28€7.26
-36.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58€1.39
$1.78€1.56
-11.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.86€30.53
$40.82€35.75
-14.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.03€1.78
$2.05€1.79
-0.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K€25.4K
$29.2K€25.5K
-0.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9K€26.2K
$34.6K€30.3K
-13.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome
Riva del Garda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$222€195
$217€190
2.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.96€9.60
$11.41€9.99
-3.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.99€27.14
$29.79€26.09
4.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rome
Riva del Garda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.2€56.2
$54.6€47.77
17.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.99€21.01
$23.13€20.26
3.72%
Cinema Ticket
$11.63€10.19
$12.58€11.02
-7.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rome
Riva del Garda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$539€472
$478€419
12.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K€9,363
$6,953€6,090
53.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rome
Riva del Garda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.1€64.1
$92.5€81.0
-20.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.58€30.29
$57.8€50.6
-40.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.6€75.8
$151€132
-42.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€104
$163€143
-27.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rome
Riva del Garda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,328€1,163
$745€652
78.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$866€759
$585€512
48.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,596€2,274
$1,231€1,078
110.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,602€1,403
$943€826
69.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,434€7,386
$2,796€2,449
201.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,464€3,034
$2,120€1,856
63.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rome
Riva del Garda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,947€1,705
$1,840€1,612
5.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.95
3.11
27.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rome: July 11, 2026
Last update for Riva del Garda: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,328 in Rome versus $745 in Riva del Garda. 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 Rome, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Rome versus $93.0 in Riva del Garda. Groceries tell a different story – $333 in Rome vs $315 in Riva del Garda – so Riva del Garda wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Riva del Garda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Rome and in Riva del Garda compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,986 in Rome, $1,736 in Riva del Garda – roughly 14% apart. Rome costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Rome compared to Riva del Garda?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,979 per month in Rome and $2,604 in Riva del Garda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Rome and Riva del Garda?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Riva del Garda, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Rome and Riva del Garda?
Kindergarten costs $539 per month in Rome and $478 in Riva del Garda. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 6% more in Rome, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Riva del Garda, where all-in costs run around $1,736, than in Rome at $1,986. In Riva del Garda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rome it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Rome and Riva del Garda?
It depends on your priorities. Rome has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,736 in Riva del Garda to $1,986 in Rome. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Rome or Riva del Garda safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Rome and Riva del Garda?
If budget matters most, go with Riva del Garda. 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.