🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,955 in Sumter, SC versus $2,031 in Rome.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,872 in Sumter, SC versus $3,167 in Rome.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,789 in Sumter, SC versus $4,304 in Rome.
🌍Living in Sumter, SC costs roughly 4% less than in Rome, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sumter, SC42% above, Rome48% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sumter, SC
Rome
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.76$17.76
$17.45€15.02
1.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.9$59.9
$70.9€61.0
-15.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.98$10.98
$11.79€10.14
-6.87%
Cappuccino
$5.71$5.71
$2.26€1.94
152.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88$1.88
$3.10€2.67
-39.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43$1.43
$1.55€1.33
-7.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.97$5.97
$5.86€5.04
1.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.00$7.00
$6.82€5.86
2.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sumter, SC
Rome
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.93$0.93
$1.80€1.55
-48.33%
White Bread(500g)
$3.29$3.29
$2.28€1.97
44.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.52$3.52
$3.25€2.80
8.31%
Eggs
$4.67$4.67
$4.74€4.08
-1.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.39$16.39
$15.31€13.18
7.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83$9.83
$12.46€10.72
-21.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05$13.05
$19.09€16.43
-31.64%
Apples(1kg)
$5.38$5.38
$2.67€2.30
101.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48$1.48
$2.47€2.13
-40.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.53$4.53
$2.56€2.21
76.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.63$4.63
$2.44€2.10
89.75%
Potato(1kg)
$3.70$3.70
$1.46€1.25
153.42%
Onion(1kg)
$3.05$3.05
$1.61€1.39
89.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03$2.03
$1.44€1.24
40.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.34$2.34
$0.51€0.43
358.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.12$10.12
$7.07€6.09
43.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.58$15.58
$4.54€3.91
243.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.46$2.46
$1.73€1.49
42.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69$3.69
$2.93€2.52
25.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Sumter, SC
Rome
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.69€1.46
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$40.92€35.22
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.93$2.93
$7.64€6.57
-61.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.83$1.83
$1.78€1.53
2.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.85$29.85
$34.61€29.78
-13.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84$0.84
$2.05€1.77
-59.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K$34.9K
$37.1K€31.9K
-5.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K$25.4K
$36.0K€30.9K
-29.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sumter, SC
Rome
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171$171
$220€189
-22.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.4$67.4
$12.41€10.68
442.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.75$40.75
$31.36€26.98
29.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sumter, SC
Rome
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.12$15.12
$68.4€58.9
-77.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.97$4.97
$25.35€21.81
-80.39%
Cinema Ticket
$7.09$7.09
$11.50€9.90
-38.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sumter, SC
Rome
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,475$1,475
$504€434
192.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.9K$24.9K
$17.4K€15.0K
43.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sumter, SC
Rome
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3$51.3
$74.4€64.0
-31.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.89$36.89
$37.93€32.64
-2.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.9$92.9
$87.3€75.1
6.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143$143
$124€107
15.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sumter, SC
Rome
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,028$1,028
$1,244€1,071
-17.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$806$806
$887€763
-9.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,308$1,308
$2,637€2,269
-50.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238$1,238
$1,795€1,545
-31.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,484$1,484
$8,673€7,463
-82.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,461$1,461
$3,283€2,825
-55.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sumter, SC
Rome
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,065$4,065
$1,947€1,675
108.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.4
3.52
53.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sumter, SC: August 31, 2026
Last update for Rome: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,028 in Sumter, SC and $1,244 in Rome. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sumter, SC pays 109% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $60.0 in Sumter, SC vs $71.0 in Rome. Groceries flip the comparison at $394 vs $332, with Rome cheaper for home cooking.
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
Sumter, SC vs Rome: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sumter, SC or Rome?
Sumter, SC wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Rome. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sumter, SC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Sumter, SC or in Rome?
Average pay runs 109% higher in Sumter, SC, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Sumter, SC compared to Rome?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,028 in Sumter, SC versus $1,244 in Rome. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Sumter, SC or in Rome?
Shoppers in Rome pay roughly 19% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Sumter, SC compared to Rome?
All in, you'll spend $1,955 per month in Sumter, SC versus $2,031 in Rome – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Sumter, SC or in Rome?
At $1,955 in Sumter, SC versus $2,031 in Rome, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Sumter, SC but tight or insufficient in Rome. The gap between the two cities makes Sumter, SC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sumter, SC or Rome?
Both work as nomad bases, but Sumter, SC delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,955 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Sumter, SC hard to pass up.
How safe is Sumter, SC compared to Rome?
Safety-wise, Sumter, SC 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 Sumter, SC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Rome. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Sumter, SC vs other spots: cost of living compared