Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Sumter, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Sumter, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,055 in Rome versus $2,446 in Sumter, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,095 in Rome versus $3,485 in Sumter, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,135 in Rome versus $4,524 in Sumter, SC.

Living in Rome costs roughly 16% less than in Sumter, SC, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rome 53% above, Sumter, SC 83% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Rome
Sumter, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.51 โ‚ฌ14.93
$17.85 $17.85
-1.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.8 โ‚ฌ63.8
$59.5 $59.5
25.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.70 โ‚ฌ9.98
$9.83 $9.83
19.02%
Cappuccino
$1.76 โ‚ฌ1.51
$5.05 $5.05
-65.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 โ‚ฌ2.07
$1.93 $1.93
25.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 โ‚ฌ1.09
$1.38 $1.38
-7.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.65 โ‚ฌ4.82
$6.06 $6.06
-6.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.15 โ‚ฌ4.40
$7.18 $7.18
-28.27%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Rome
Sumter, SC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 โ‚ฌ1.50
$0.76 $0.76
131.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.08 โ‚ฌ1.78
$2.82 $2.82
-26.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.99 โ‚ฌ2.55
$4.41 $4.41
-32.20%
Eggs
$4.43 โ‚ฌ3.78
$4.41 $4.41
0.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.38 โ‚ฌ14.82
$4.45 $4.45
290.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.08 โ‚ฌ10.31
$7.69 $7.69
57.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.52 โ‚ฌ17.50
$13.34 $13.34
53.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.36 โ‚ฌ2.01
$5.67 $5.67
-58.38%
Banana (1kg)
$2.34 โ‚ฌ2.00
$1.61 $1.61
45.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 โ‚ฌ1.64
$6.48 $6.48
-70.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 โ‚ฌ2.21
$3.90 $3.90
-33.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 โ‚ฌ1.50
$2.01 $2.01
-12.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.91 โ‚ฌ1.63
$1.89 $1.89
1.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 โ‚ฌ1.09
$1.71 $1.71
-25.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 โ‚ฌ0.44
$1.03 $1.03
-49.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.09 โ‚ฌ6.05
$8.27 $8.27
-14.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.18 โ‚ฌ4.42
$13.19 $13.19
-60.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 โ‚ฌ1.63
$2.15 $2.15
-11.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 โ‚ฌ2.30
$2.06 $2.06
30.58%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Rome
Sumter, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.72 โ‚ฌ1.47
$2.05 $2.05
-16.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.98 โ‚ฌ34.11
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.11 โ‚ฌ4.36
$3.05 $3.05
67.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 โ‚ฌ1.35
$1.45 $1.45
8.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.36 โ‚ฌ29.31
$30.10 $30.10
14.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.00 โ‚ฌ1.71
$0.81 $0.81
146.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K โ‚ฌ24.6K
$35.3K $35.3K
-18.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K โ‚ฌ25.3K
$24.7K $24.7K
19.89%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome
Sumter, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 โ‚ฌ187
$138 $138
58.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.93 โ‚ฌ9.32
$55.6 $55.6
-80.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.38 โ‚ฌ26.77
$45.73 $45.73
-31.38%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Rome
Sumter, SC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.4 โ‚ฌ55.0
$42.32 $42.32
52.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.82 โ‚ฌ20.32
$5.05 $5.05
371.68%
Cinema Ticket
$11.67 โ‚ฌ9.96
$8.30 $8.30
40.60%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Rome
Sumter, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$530 โ‚ฌ452
$1,337 $1,337
-60.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K โ‚ฌ9,134
$24.4K $24.4K
-56.19%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Rome
Sumter, SC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.8 โ‚ฌ62.1
$45.20 $45.20
61.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.12 โ‚ฌ29.96
$36.61 $36.61
-4.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 โ‚ฌ72.2
$59.4 $59.4
42.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 โ‚ฌ105
$151 $151
-18.43%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Rome
Sumter, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,366 โ‚ฌ1,166
$1,623 $1,623
-15.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$874 โ‚ฌ746
$1,327 $1,327
-34.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,608 โ‚ฌ2,225
$901 $901
189.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 โ‚ฌ1,393
$2,187 $2,187
-25.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,002 โ‚ฌ7,679
$1,498 $1,498
500.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,563 โ‚ฌ3,039
$1,474 $1,474
141.74%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Rome
Sumter, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,139 โ‚ฌ1,824
$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

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.

Sumter, 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.

Dining 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.

Rome vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities