๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,036 in Rome versus $1,408 in San Marco Argentano.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,123 in Rome versus $2,164 in San Marco Argentano.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,210 in Rome versus $2,921 in San Marco Argentano.
๐Living in Rome is roughly 45% more expensive than San Marco Argentano, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rome51% above, San Marco Argentano5% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Rome
San Marco Argentano
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.16โฌ14.60
$17.51โฌ14.90
-2.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.1โฌ63.9
$57.0โฌ48.53
31.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.67โฌ9.93
$11.76โฌ10.01
-0.77%
Cappuccino
$1.81โฌ1.54
$1.37โฌ1.17
32.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52โฌ2.15
$1.18โฌ1.00
113.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23โฌ1.04
$0.56โฌ0.48
119.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.66โฌ4.82
$2.27โฌ1.93
149.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33โฌ4.54
$3.54โฌ3.02
50.56%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Rome
San Marco Argentano
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76โฌ1.50
$1.49โฌ1.27
18.12%
White Bread(500g)
$2.17โฌ1.85
$1.18โฌ1.00
83.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.11โฌ2.65
$2.24โฌ1.91
38.84%
Eggs
$4.55โฌ3.87
$3.22โฌ2.74
41.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.55โฌ14.93
$5.65โฌ4.81
210.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.09โฌ10.29
$5.92โฌ5.03
104.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.12โฌ17.12
$11.45โฌ9.74
75.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34โฌ1.99
$1.70โฌ1.45
37.65%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26โฌ1.93
$1.56โฌ1.33
44.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93โฌ1.64
$1.43โฌ1.22
34.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.67โฌ2.27
$1.75โฌ1.49
52.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79โฌ1.53
$1.15โฌ0.98
55.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85โฌ1.58
$1.17โฌ1.00
58.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30โฌ1.11
$0.92โฌ0.78
41.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56โฌ0.47
$0.47โฌ0.40
19.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.87โฌ5.85
$5.72โฌ4.87
20.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.20โฌ4.43
$4.67โฌ3.97
11.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92โฌ1.64
$1.15โฌ0.98
66.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67โฌ2.27
$2.28โฌ1.94
17.11%
๐ Getting Around
Rome
San Marco Argentano
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.79โฌ1.52
$1.70โฌ1.44
5.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.43โฌ34.40
$42.62โฌ36.27
-5.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.17โฌ4.40
$6.88โฌ5.85
-24.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53โฌ1.31
$1.52โฌ1.29
0.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.49โฌ29.35
$58.6โฌ49.83
-41.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.04โฌ1.73
$1.96โฌ1.67
4.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7Kโฌ24.4K
$21.8Kโฌ18.6K
31.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8Kโฌ25.4K
$25.0Kโฌ21.3K
19.25%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome
San Marco Argentano
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217โฌ185
$114โฌ97.4
89.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.02โฌ9.38
$14.32โฌ12.18
-23.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.36โฌ26.69
$29.50โฌ25.10
6.31%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Rome
San Marco Argentano
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.6โฌ54.2
$55.8โฌ47.51
13.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.29โฌ19.82
$22.99โฌ19.57
1.30%
Cinema Ticket
$11.67โฌ9.93
$9.02โฌ7.67
29.38%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Rome
San Marco Argentano
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$529โฌ450
$173โฌ147
205.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4Kโฌ8,886
$11.6Kโฌ9,889
-10.14%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Rome
San Marco Argentano
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.2โฌ62.3
$79.2โฌ67.4
-7.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.65โฌ29.48
$29.45โฌ25.06
17.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.0โฌ73.2
$88.2โฌ75.1
-2.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123โฌ104
$106โฌ90.1
15.91%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Rome
San Marco Argentano
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,362โฌ1,159
$744โฌ633
83.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$866โฌ737
$576โฌ490
50.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,580โฌ2,195
$1,206โฌ1,027
113.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,615โฌ1,374
$937โฌ797
72.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,905โฌ7,578
$2,959โฌ2,518
200.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,672โฌ3,125
$2,121โฌ1,805
73.14%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Rome
San Marco Argentano
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,114โฌ1,799
$1,731โฌ1,473
22.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.95
2
97.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rome: April 13, 2026
Last update for San Marco Argentano: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,362 in Rome and $744 in San Marco Argentano. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐRome pays 22% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $75 in Rome vs $57 in San Marco Argentano for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $196 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 โ living expenses run 45% 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 22% 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: $1,362 in Rome versus $744 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 $2,036 per month in Rome versus $1,408 in San Marco Argentano โ a 45% 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 5% 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 $1,408 in San Marco Argentano versus $2,036 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 โ similar infrastructure at $1,408 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 โ expenses run 45% less than in Rome. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.