For one person, living is cheaper in Split: $1,822 a month against $1,998 in Rome, rent and utilities included – about $2,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Split and in Rome actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,822 in Split versus $1,998 in Rome.
Split $1,822
Rome $1,998
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,797 in Split versus $3,117 in Rome.
Split $2,797
Rome $3,117
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,771 in Split versus $4,236 in Rome.
Split $3,771
Rome $4,236
🌍
Living in Split costs roughly 9% less than in Rome, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both cities are pricier than the global median: Split35% above, Rome48% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Split
Rome
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.50€14.68
$16.69€14.84
-1.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.4€65.3
$65.8€58.5
11.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.32€10.07
$11.08€9.85
2.17%
Cappuccino
$2.74€2.44
$2.10€1.87
30.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10€3.65
$2.91€2.59
40.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87€2.55
$1.48€1.32
93.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.63€4.12
$5.62€5.00
-17.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.15€4.58
$6.68€5.94
-22.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Split
Rome
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.13
$1.72€1.53
-26.16%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.89
$2.27€2.02
-6.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.59€3.19
$2.99€2.66
20.07%
Eggs
$4.15€3.70
$4.75€4.23
-12.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.87€12.34
$14.53€12.92
-4.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.59€8.53
$12.63€11.24
-24.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.18€11.73
$19.86€17.67
-33.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.13€1.90
$2.64€2.35
-19.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.84€1.64
$2.28€2.03
-19.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89€1.68
$2.46€2.19
-23.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.86€2.54
$2.42€2.15
18.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59€1.42
$1.38€1.22
15.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.15€1.02
$1.55€1.38
-25.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30€1.15
$1.32€1.17
-1.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25€1.11
$0.55€0.49
127.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.72€5.09
$7.31€6.50
-21.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.09€8.08
$5.44€4.84
67.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.55
$1.58€1.40
10.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€2.05
$2.62€2.33
-11.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Split
Rome
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.65€1.47
$1.63€1.45
1.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.56€35.19
$39.26€34.92
0.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.59€3.20
$6.51€5.79
-44.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.10€1.87
$1.68€1.50
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.27€26.04
$33.24€29.57
-11.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.85€1.64
$2.17€1.93
-14.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K€25.1K
$35.3K€31.4K
-20.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K€22.1K
$35.4K€31.5K
-29.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Split
Rome
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$207€184
$203€181
1.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.93€17.73
$11.50€10.22
73.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.20€36.65
$32.03€28.49
28.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Split
Rome
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.2€55.3
$65.9€58.6
-5.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.92€11.50
$22.89€20.36
-43.56%
Cinema Ticket
$9.15€8.14
$11.23€9.99
-18.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Split
Rome
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$604€537
$484€430
24.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K€10.5K
$16.5K€14.7K
-28.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Split
Rome
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.3€82.1
$71.0€63.1
30.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.17€35.73
$36.51€32.47
10.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112€99.7
$84.9€75.5
32.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1€85.5
$122€108
-21.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Split
Rome
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,024€911
$1,222€1,087
-16.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$704€626
$881€784
-20.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,728
$2,537€2,257
-23.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,275€1,134
$1,721€1,530
-25.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,185€6,391
$8,274€7,360
-13.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,032€4,476
$3,084€2,743
63.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Split
Rome
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,576€1,402
$1,942€1,728
-18.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.44
3.52
-2.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Split: October 11, 2026
Last update for Rome: October 12, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Split
$704 38.6%
Rome
$881 44.1% ↑ 25.2%$177
🛒Groceries & Markets
Split
$296 16.3%
Rome
$329 16.5% ↑ 11.1%$33
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Split
$268 14.7%
Rome
$246 12.3% ↓ 7.9%$21
🍽Eating Out
Split
$260 14.3%
Rome
$251 12.6% ↓ 3.6%$9.3
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Split
$153 8.4%
Rome
$141 7.1% ↓ 7.8%$12
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Split
$80 4.4%
Rome
$88 4.4% ↑ 9.8%$7.9
🚌Getting Around
Split
$60 3.3%
Rome
$61 3% ↑ 0.8%$0.5
🏠Accommodation & Living
Split
$1.3K 33.8%
Rome
$1.7K 40.6% ↑ 35%$446
🛒Groceries & Markets
Split
$684 18.2%
Rome
$786 18.6% ↑ 14.8%$101
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Split
$288 7.6%
Rome
$258 6.1% ↓ 10.3%$30
🍽Eating Out
Split
$886 23.5%
Rome
$833 19.7% ↓ 6%$53
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Split
$341 9%
Rome
$314 7.4% ↓ 7.8%$27
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Split
$174 4.6%
Rome
$200 4.7% ↑ 14.8%$26
🚌Getting Around
Split
$124 3.3%
Rome
$125 2.9% ↑ 0.7%$0.9
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,024 in Split and $1,222 in Rome. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rome pays 23% 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: $73.0 in Split vs $66.0 in Rome. Groceries flip the comparison at $296 vs $329, with Split cheaper for home cooking.
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
Split vs Rome: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Split or Rome?
Split wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Rome. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Split the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Split or in Rome?
On paper, salaries run 23% lower in Rome. 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 Split compared to Rome?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,024 in Split versus $1,222 in Rome. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Split compared to Rome?
All in, you'll spend $1,822 per month in Split versus $1,998 in Rome – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Split compared to Rome?
A monthly transit pass in Split runs roughly 1% less than in Rome. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Split or in Rome?
At $1,822 in Split versus $1,998 in Rome, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Split but tight or insufficient in Rome. The gap between the two cities makes Split the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Split or Rome?
Both work as nomad bases, but Split delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,822 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Split hard to pass up.
How safe is Split compared to Rome?
Safety-wise, Split and Rome 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 Split gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Rome. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.