Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Saronno Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Saronno

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,031 in Rome versus $1,919 in Saronno.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,167 in Rome versus $2,966 in Saronno.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,304 in Rome versus $4,013 in Saronno.

Living in Rome is roughly 6% more expensive than in Saronno, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rome 48% above, Saronno 40% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rome
Saronno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.45 €15.06
$23.50 €20.28
-25.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.9 €61.2
$106 €91.8
-33.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 €10.17
$13.99 €12.08
-15.73%
Cappuccino
$2.26 €1.95
$2.23 €1.93
1.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 €2.68
$3.54 €3.05
-12.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 €1.34
$1.74 €1.50
-10.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.86 €5.05
$6.83 €5.89
-14.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82 €5.88
$6.26 €5.40
8.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rome
Saronno
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 €1.56
$1.81 €1.57
-0.55%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 €1.97
$2.50 €2.16
-8.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.25 €2.81
$3.15 €2.72
3.17%
Eggs
$4.74 €4.09
$4.40 €3.80
7.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.31 €13.21
$18.28 €15.78
-16.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.46 €10.75
$13.33 €11.50
-6.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.09 €16.47
$25.53 €22.03
-25.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.67 €2.31
$1.89 €1.63
41.27%
Banana (1kg)
$2.47 €2.14
$2.34 €2.02
5.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.56 €2.21
$3.05 €2.63
-16.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.44 €2.10
$3.91 €3.37
-37.60%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 €1.26
$2.78 €2.40
-47.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.61 €1.39
$1.68 €1.45
-4.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.24
$1.56 €1.35
-7.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 €0.44
$0.56 €0.48
-8.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.07 €6.10
$7.03 €6.06
0.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.54 €3.92
$8.15 €7.03
-44.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 €1.49
$1.82 €1.57
-4.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 €2.53
$1.63 €1.40
79.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Rome
Saronno
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.69 €1.46
$1.77 €1.53
-4.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.92 €35.31
$42.95 €37.06
-4.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.64 €6.59
$5.84 €5.04
30.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 €1.54
$2.35 €2.03
-24.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.61 €29.87
$40.17 €34.66
-13.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.05 €1.77
$2.11 €1.82
-2.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K €32.0K
$37.4K €32.2K
-0.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0K €31.0K
$36.1K €31.1K
-0.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome
Saronno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$220 €190
$227 €196
-3.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.41 €10.71
$14.08 €12.15
-11.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.36 €27.06
$32.44 €27.99
-3.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rome
Saronno
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.4 €59.0
$57.1 €49.29
19.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.35 €21.87
$25.15 €21.70
0.80%
Cinema Ticket
$11.50 €9.93
$12.40 €10.70
-7.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rome
Saronno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$504 €435
$468 €404
7.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K €15.0K
$7,315 €6,312
138.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rome
Saronno
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.4 €64.2
$114 €98.7
-34.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.93 €32.73
$40.04 €34.55
-5.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.3 €75.3
$130 €112
-32.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €107
$167 €144
-25.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rome
Saronno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,244 €1,074
$971 €838
28.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$887 €765
$594 €512
49.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,637 €2,276
$1,195 €1,031
120.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,795 €1,549
$932 €804
92.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,673 €7,484
$3,026 €2,611
186.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,283 €2,833
$2,084 €1,798
57.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rome
Saronno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,947 €1,680
$2,260 €1,950
-13.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.52
2.92
20.55%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Rome: August 31, 2026

Last update for Saronno: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,244 in Rome and $971 in Saronno. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saronno pays 16% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $71.0 in Rome vs $106 in Saronno for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $380 per month, with Rome 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 Saronno: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rome or Saronno?
Saronno wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Rome. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Saronno the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Rome or in Saronno?
On paper, salaries run 16% lower in Saronno. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rome compared to Saronno?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,244 in Rome versus $971 in Saronno. 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 Saronno?
All in, you'll spend $2,031 per month in Rome versus $1,919 in Saronno – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Rome compared to Saronno?
A monthly transit pass in Saronno 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 $2,000/month in Rome or in Saronno?
At $1,919 in Saronno versus $2,031 in Rome, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Saronno but tight or insufficient in Rome. The gap between the two cities makes Saronno the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rome or Saronno?
Both work as nomad bases, but Saronno delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,919 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Saronno hard to pass up.
How safe is Rome compared to Saronno?
Safety-wise, Rome and Saronno 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 Saronno gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Rome. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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