😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,027 in Rome versus $1,433 in San Marco Argentano.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,143 in Rome versus $2,174 in San Marco Argentano.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,260 in Rome versus $2,915 in San Marco Argentano.
😐Living in Rome is roughly 41% more expensive than San Marco Argentano, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rome51% above, San Marco Argentano7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rome
San Marco Argentano
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.23€14.84
$17.71€15.24
-2.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.9€63.6
$58.5€50.4
26.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.74€10.11
$11.62€10.00
1.03%
Cappuccino
$1.83€1.58
$1.35€1.16
35.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51€2.16
$1.18€1.02
112.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27€1.09
$0.61€0.52
108.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.86€5.05
$2.32€2.00
152.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.23€4.50
$3.55€3.06
47.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rome
San Marco Argentano
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69€1.46
$1.50€1.29
12.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.14€1.84
$1.14€0.98
87.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.95€2.54
$2.33€2.01
26.61%
Eggs
$4.51€3.88
$3.18€2.74
41.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.42€15.00
$5.71€4.92
205.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.00€10.33
$5.85€5.04
105.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.19€17.38
$11.76€10.12
71.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.70€1.46
44.12%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.92
$1.60€1.38
39.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95€1.68
$1.46€1.26
33.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.58€2.22
$1.74€1.50
48.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.53
$1.19€1.03
48.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$1.13€0.97
64.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26€1.09
$0.84€0.72
50.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55€0.48
$0.44€0.38
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.14
$5.69€4.90
25.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.63€3.99
$7.95€6.85
-41.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.68
$1.15€0.99
69.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73€2.35
$2.34€2.02
16.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Rome
San Marco Argentano
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.79€1.54
$1.77€1.52
1.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.00€35.30
$44.18€38.04
-7.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.13€4.41
$6.97€6.00
-26.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60€1.38
$1.54€1.33
3.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.08€30.20
$58.2€50.1
-39.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95€1.68
$1.94€1.67
0.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K€25.2K
$22.3K€19.2K
31.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K€26.0K
$25.0K€21.5K
20.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome
San Marco Argentano
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$219€189
$114€98.1
92.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.01€9.47
$14.65€12.61
-24.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.31€26.95
$28.43€24.47
10.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rome
San Marco Argentano
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.1€55.2
$54.0€46.46
18.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.81€20.49
$22.95€19.76
3.75%
Cinema Ticket
$11.73€10.10
$9.00€7.75
30.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rome
San Marco Argentano
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$528€455
$176€151
200.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4K€8,974
$11.5K€9,866
-9.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rome
San Marco Argentano
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.3€63.1
$79.8€68.7
-8.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.57€29.76
$29.21€25.14
18.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.0€74.9
$88.2€75.9
-1.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$105€90.5
13.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rome
San Marco Argentano
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,325€1,140
$766€660
72.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$885€762
$568€489
55.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,661€2,291
$1,196€1,030
122.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,636€1,408
$909€783
79.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,730€7,516
$3,002€2,584
190.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,452€2,972
$2,045€1,761
68.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rome
San Marco Argentano
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,058€1,772
$1,775€1,528
15.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.95
2
97.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rome: May 31, 2026
Last update for San Marco Argentano: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,325 in Rome and $766 in San Marco Argentano. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rome pays 16% 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 $59.0 in San Marco Argentano for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $203 per month, with San Marco Argentano 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 San Marco Argentano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rome or San Marco Argentano?
San Marco Argentano wins on cost – living expenses run 41% lower than in Rome. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San Marco Argentano the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Rome or San Marco Argentano?
Rome pays 16% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rome vs San Marco Argentano?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,325 in Rome versus $766 in San Marco Argentano. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Rome compared to San Marco Argentano?
All in, you'll spend $2,027 per month in Rome versus $1,433 in San Marco Argentano – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Rome vs San Marco Argentano?
A monthly transit pass in San Marco Argentano runs roughly 8% less than in Rome. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Rome or San Marco Argentano?
At $1,433 in San Marco Argentano versus $2,027 in Rome, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Marco Argentano but tight or insufficient in Rome. The gap between the two cities makes San Marco Argentano the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rome or San Marco Argentano?
Both work as nomad bases, but San Marco Argentano delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,433 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes San Marco Argentano hard to pass up.
How safe is Rome compared to San Marco Argentano?
Safety-wise, Rome and San Marco Argentano 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find San Marco Argentano gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Rome. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.