Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rome and Toowoomba

For one person, living is cheaper in Rome: $1,998 a month against $2,110 in Toowoomba, rent and utilities included – about $1,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Toowoomba outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Rome
🇮🇹 Italy
$1,998
/mo nomad
Toowoomba
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,110
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rome and in Toowoomba

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Rome and in Toowoomba actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,998 in Rome versus $2,110 in Toowoomba.

  • Rome $1,998
  • Toowoomba $2,110

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,117 in Rome versus $2,921 in Toowoomba.

  • Rome $3,117
  • Toowoomba $2,921

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,236 in Rome versus $3,732 in Toowoomba.

  • Rome $4,236
  • Toowoomba $3,732

Living in Rome costs roughly 5% less than in Toowoomba, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rome 48% above, Toowoomba 56% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rome
Toowoomba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69 €14.84
$16.56 A$23.82
0.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.8 €58.5
$72.1 A$104
-8.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.08 €9.85
$9.30 A$13.38
19.14%
Cappuccino
$2.10 €1.87
$3.81 A$5.48
-44.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 €2.59
$2.71 A$3.90
7.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 €1.32
$2.34 A$3.37
-36.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.62 €5.00
$6.78 A$9.75
-17.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.68 €5.94
$7.10 A$10.22
-5.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rome
Toowoomba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 €1.53
$1.50 A$2.16
14.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 €2.02
$2.27 A$3.27
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.99 €2.66
$1.94 A$2.80
54.12%
Eggs
$4.75 €4.23
$4.55 A$6.55
4.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.53 €12.92
$8.62 A$12.40
68.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.63 €11.24
$8.89 A$12.79
42.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.86 €17.67
$11.73 A$16.87
69.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.64 €2.35
$3.15 A$4.53
-16.19%
Banana (1kg)
$2.28 €2.03
$1.79 A$2.58
27.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.46 €2.19
$1.37 A$1.97
79.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.42 €2.15
$2.15 A$3.09
12.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 €1.22
$2.49 A$3.59
-44.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.55 €1.38
$2.23 A$3.20
-30.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 €1.17
$2.39 A$3.45
-44.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.49
$0.99 A$1.42
-44.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.31 €6.50
$34.77 A$50.0
-78.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.44 €4.84
$13.72 A$19.75
-60.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.40
$4.59 A$6.60
-65.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 €2.33
$6.53 A$9.39
-59.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Rome
Toowoomba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.63 €1.45
$3.04 A$4.38
-46.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.26 €34.92
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.51 €5.79
$2.22 A$3.20
193.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.68 €1.50
$1.61 A$2.31
4.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.24 €29.57
$34.11 A$49.08
-2.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.17 €1.93
$1.32 A$1.90
64.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €31.4K
$26.7K A$38.4K
32.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K €31.5K
$23.3K A$33.5K
51.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome
Toowoomba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$203 €181
$74.5 A$107
172.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.50 €10.22
$30.11 A$43.33
-61.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.03 €28.49
$54.1 A$77.8
-40.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rome
Toowoomba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.9 €58.6
$41.16 A$59.2
60.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.89 €20.36
$17.69 A$25.46
29.40%
Cinema Ticket
$11.23 €9.99
$13.85 A$19.92
-18.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rome
Toowoomba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$484 €430
$2,039 A$2,934
-76.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.7K
$6,996 A$10.1K
136.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rome
Toowoomba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.0 €63.1
$75.1 A$108
-5.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.51 €32.47
$53.8 A$77.4
-32.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.9 €75.5
$74.8 A$108
13.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €108
$122 A$176
-0.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rome
Toowoomba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 €1,087
$1,215 A$1,748
0.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$881 €784
$1,130 A$1,626
-22.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,537 €2,257
$1,618 A$2,328
56.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,721 €1,530
$1,409 A$2,028
22.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,274 €7,360
$3,392 A$4,881
143.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,084 €2,743
$2,674 A$3,847
15.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rome
Toowoomba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,942 €1,728
$3,869 A$5,567
-49.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.52
5.69
-38.14%

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

Last update for Rome: October 12, 2026

Last update for Toowoomba: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rome
$881
Toowoomba
$1.1K 28.2% $249
Groceries & Markets
Rome
$329
Toowoomba
$309 6.3% $21
Eating Out
Rome
$251
Toowoomba
$274 9.3% $23
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rome
$246
Toowoomba
$159 35.6% $88
Clothing & Footwear
Rome
$141
Toowoomba
$147 3.8% $5.3
Sport & Entertainment
Rome
$88
Toowoomba
$69 22.1% $19
Getting Around
Rome
$61
Toowoomba
$22 * 63.1% $38

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,222 in Rome and $1,215 in Toowoomba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toowoomba pays 99% 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: $66.0 in Rome vs $72.0 in Toowoomba. Groceries flip the comparison at $329 vs $309, with Toowoomba cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇮🇹 Rome
🇦🇺 Toowoomba
🕒 Local time
18:40 6:40 PM
02:40 2:40 AM
8 h ahead of Rome
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,848,084 Capital
108,398
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rome Toowoomba 16,030 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rome
  • Toowoomba

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Toowoomba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rome or Toowoomba?
Rome wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Toowoomba. 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 in Toowoomba?
On paper, salaries run 99% lower in Toowoomba. 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 Toowoomba?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,222 in Rome versus $1,215 in Toowoomba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Rome or in Toowoomba?
Shoppers in Toowoomba pay roughly 7% 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 Toowoomba?
All in, you'll spend $1,998 per month in Rome versus $2,110 in Toowoomba – a 6% 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 in Toowoomba?
At $1,998 in Rome versus $2,110 in Toowoomba, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rome but tight or insufficient in Toowoomba. 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 Toowoomba?
Both work as nomad bases, but Rome delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,998 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 Toowoomba?
Safety-wise, Rome and Toowoomba 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 – expenses run 6% less than in Toowoomba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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