😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,027 in Rome versus $1,733 in San Martino in Rio.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,143 in Rome versus $2,649 in San Martino in Rio.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,260 in Rome versus $3,566 in San Martino in Rio.
😐Living in Rome is roughly 17% more expensive than San Martino in Rio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rome51% above, San Martino in Rio29% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rome
San Martino in Rio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.23€14.84
$17.47€15.04
-1.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.9€63.6
$82.6€71.1
-10.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.74€10.11
$11.78€10.14
-0.34%
Cappuccino
$1.83€1.58
$2.02€1.74
-9.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51€2.16
$3.52€3.03
-28.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27€1.09
$1.43€1.23
-11.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.86€5.05
$5.67€4.88
3.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.23€4.50
$5.63€4.85
-7.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rome
San Martino in Rio
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69€1.46
$1.52€1.31
11.18%
White Bread(500g)
$2.14€1.84
$2.09€1.80
2.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.95€2.54
$1.80€1.55
63.89%
Eggs
$4.51€3.88
$3.84€3.30
17.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.42€15.00
$19.34€16.65
-9.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.00€10.33
$10.56€9.10
13.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.19€17.38
$20.73€17.85
-2.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$2.00€1.72
22.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.92
$1.98€1.70
12.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95€1.68
$2.65€2.28
-26.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.58€2.22
$3.37€2.90
-23.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.53
$2.32€2.00
-23.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$1.63€1.41
14.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26€1.09
$1.02€0.88
23.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55€0.48
$0.54€0.47
1.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.14
$7.13€6.14
-
Wine(Bottle)
$4.63€3.99
$7.03€6.06
-34.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.68
$1.81€1.56
7.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73€2.35
$3.07€2.65
-11.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Rome
San Martino in Rio
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.79€1.54
$1.78€1.54
0.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.00€35.30
$42.84€36.88
-4.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.13€4.41
$5.66€4.87
-9.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60€1.38
$1.00€0.86
60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.08€30.20
$23.03€19.83
52.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95€1.68
$2.10€1.81
-7.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K€25.2K
$29.2K€25.1K
0.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K€26.0K
$39.6K€34.1K
-23.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome
San Martino in Rio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$219€189
$231€199
-5.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.01€9.47
$11.61€9.99
-5.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.31€26.95
$27.98€24.09
11.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rome
San Martino in Rio
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.1€55.2
$54.1€46.61
18.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.81€20.49
$22.89€19.71
4.02%
Cinema Ticket
$11.73€10.10
$10.63€9.15
10.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rome
San Martino in Rio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$528€455
$523€450
0.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4K€8,974
$8,002€6,889
30.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rome
San Martino in Rio
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.3€63.1
$88.2€75.9
-16.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.57€29.76
$38.53€33.17
-10.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.0€74.9
$123€106
-29.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$113€97.6
4.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rome
San Martino in Rio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,325€1,140
$750€645
76.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$885€762
$572€493
54.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,661€2,291
$1,213€1,044
119.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,636€1,408
$918€791
78.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,730€7,516
$2,764€2,379
215.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,452€2,972
$2,040€1,756
69.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rome
San Martino in Rio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,058€1,772
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.95
4.17
-5.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rome: May 31, 2026
Last update for San Martino in Rio: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,325 in Rome and $750 in San Martino in Rio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $74.0 in Rome vs $83.0 in San Martino in Rio. Groceries flip the comparison at $333 vs $331, with San Martino in Rio 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 San Martino in Rio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rome or San Martino in Rio?
San Martino in Rio wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Rome. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San Martino in Rio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Rome vs San Martino in Rio?
You'd need roughly $3,041 in Rome and $2,600 in San Martino in Rio to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rome vs San Martino in Rio?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,325 in Rome versus $750 in San Martino in Rio. 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 Martino in Rio?
All in, you'll spend $2,027 per month in Rome versus $1,733 in San Martino in Rio – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Rome vs San Martino in Rio?
A monthly transit pass in San Martino in Rio runs roughly 4% less than in Rome. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Rome or San Martino in Rio?
At $1,733 in San Martino in Rio versus $2,027 in Rome, a $3,000 budget is realistic in San Martino in Rio but tight or insufficient in Rome. The gap between the two cities makes San Martino in Rio the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rome or San Martino in Rio?
Both work as nomad bases, but San Martino in Rio delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,733 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes San Martino in Rio hard to pass up.
How safe is Rome compared to San Martino in Rio?
Safety-wise, Rome and San Martino in Rio 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 Martino in Rio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Rome. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.