๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,055 in Rome versus $2,446 in Sumter, SC.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,095 in Rome versus $3,485 in Sumter, SC.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,135 in Rome versus $4,524 in Sumter, SC.
๐Living in Rome costs roughly 16% less than in Sumter, SC, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rome53% above, Sumter, SC83% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Rome
Sumter, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.51โฌ14.93
$17.85$17.85
-1.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.8โฌ63.8
$59.5$59.5
25.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.70โฌ9.98
$9.83$9.83
19.02%
Cappuccino
$1.76โฌ1.51
$5.05$5.05
-65.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43โฌ2.07
$1.93$1.93
25.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28โฌ1.09
$1.38$1.38
-7.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.65โฌ4.82
$6.06$6.06
-6.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.15โฌ4.40
$7.18$7.18
-28.27%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Rome
Sumter, SC
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76โฌ1.50
$0.76$0.76
131.58%
White Bread(500g)
$2.08โฌ1.78
$2.82$2.82
-26.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.99โฌ2.55
$4.41$4.41
-32.20%
Eggs
$4.43โฌ3.78
$4.41$4.41
0.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.38โฌ14.82
$4.45$4.45
290.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.08โฌ10.31
$7.69$7.69
57.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.52โฌ17.50
$13.34$13.34
53.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.36โฌ2.01
$5.67$5.67
-58.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34โฌ2.00
$1.61$1.61
45.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92โฌ1.64
$6.48$6.48
-70.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.59โฌ2.21
$3.90$3.90
-33.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76โฌ1.50
$2.01$2.01
-12.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.91โฌ1.63
$1.89$1.89
1.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.27โฌ1.09
$1.71$1.71
-25.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52โฌ0.44
$1.03$1.03
-49.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.09โฌ6.05
$8.27$8.27
-14.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.18โฌ4.42
$13.19$13.19
-60.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91โฌ1.63
$2.15$2.15
-11.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69โฌ2.30
$2.06$2.06
30.58%
๐ Getting Around
Rome
Sumter, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.72โฌ1.47
$2.05$2.05
-16.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.98โฌ34.11
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.11โฌ4.36
$3.05$3.05
67.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58โฌ1.35
$1.45$1.45
8.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.36โฌ29.31
$30.10$30.10
14.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00โฌ1.71
$0.81$0.81
146.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9Kโฌ24.6K
$35.3K$35.3K
-18.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6Kโฌ25.3K
$24.7K$24.7K
19.89%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome
Sumter, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$219โฌ187
$138$138
58.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.93โฌ9.32
$55.6$55.6
-80.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.38โฌ26.77
$45.73$45.73
-31.38%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Rome
Sumter, SC
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.4โฌ55.0
$42.32$42.32
52.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.82โฌ20.32
$5.05$5.05
371.68%
Cinema Ticket
$11.67โฌ9.96
$8.30$8.30
40.60%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Rome
Sumter, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$530โฌ452
$1,337$1,337
-60.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7Kโฌ9,134
$24.4K$24.4K
-56.19%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Rome
Sumter, SC
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.8โฌ62.1
$45.20$45.20
61.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.12โฌ29.96
$36.61$36.61
-4.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.7โฌ72.2
$59.4$59.4
42.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123โฌ105
$151$151
-18.43%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Rome
Sumter, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,366โฌ1,166
$1,623$1,623
-15.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$874โฌ746
$1,327$1,327
-34.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,608โฌ2,225
$901$901
189.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,633โฌ1,393
$2,187$2,187
-25.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,002โฌ7,679
$1,498$1,498
500.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,563โฌ3,039
$1,474$1,474
141.74%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Rome
Sumter, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,139โฌ1,824
$3,553$3,553
-39.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.95
4.8
-17.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rome: April 21, 2026
Last update for Sumter, SC: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,366 in Rome and $1,623 in Sumter, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐSumter, SC pays 66% 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 $59 in Sumter, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $334 vs $317 per month, with Sumter, SC 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 Sumter, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rome or Sumter, SC?
Rome wins on cost โ living expenses run 19% lower than in Sumter, SC. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rome the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Rome or Sumter, SC?
On paper, Sumter, SC earns 66% less. 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 vs Sumter, SC?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,366 in Rome versus $1,623 in Sumter, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Rome or Sumter, SC?
Shoppers in Sumter, SC pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Rome compared to Sumter, SC?
All in, you'll spend $2,055 per month in Rome versus $2,446 in Sumter, SC โ a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Rome or Sumter, SC?
At $2,055 in Rome versus $2,446 in Sumter, SC, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rome but tight or insufficient in Sumter, SC. The gap between the two cities makes Rome the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rome or Sumter, SC?
Both work as nomad bases, but Rome delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $2,055 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Rome hard to pass up.
How safe is Rome compared to Sumter, SC?
Safety-wise, Rome and Sumter, SC 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 Rome gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 19% less than in Sumter, SC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.