๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,446 in Sumter, SC versus $2,055 in Rome.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,485 in Sumter, SC versus $3,095 in Rome.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,524 in Sumter, SC versus $4,135 in Rome.
๐Living in Sumter, SC is roughly 19% more expensive than Rome, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sumter, SC83% above, Rome53% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Sumter, SC
Rome
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.85$17.85
$17.51โฌ14.93
1.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.5$59.5
$74.8โฌ63.8
-20.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.83$9.83
$11.70โฌ9.98
-15.98%
Cappuccino
$5.05$5.05
$1.76โฌ1.51
186.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93$1.93
$2.43โฌ2.07
-20.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38$1.38
$1.28โฌ1.09
7.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.06$6.06
$5.65โฌ4.82
7.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.18$7.18
$5.15โฌ4.40
39.42%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Sumter, SC
Rome
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.76$0.76
$1.76โฌ1.50
-56.82%
White Bread(500g)
$2.82$2.82
$2.08โฌ1.78
35.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.41$4.41
$2.99โฌ2.55
47.49%
Eggs
$4.41$4.41
$4.43โฌ3.78
-0.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.45$4.45
$17.38โฌ14.82
-74.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.69$7.69
$12.08โฌ10.31
-36.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.34$13.34
$20.52โฌ17.50
-34.99%
Apples(1kg)
$5.67$5.67
$2.36โฌ2.01
140.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61$1.61
$2.34โฌ2.00
-31.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.48$6.48
$1.92โฌ1.64
237.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.90$3.90
$2.59โฌ2.21
50.58%
Potato(1kg)
$2.01$2.01
$1.76โฌ1.50
14.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89$1.89
$1.91โฌ1.63
-1.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.71$1.71
$1.27โฌ1.09
34.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03$1.03
$0.52โฌ0.44
98.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.27$8.27
$7.09โฌ6.05
16.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.19$13.19
$5.18โฌ4.42
154.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15$2.15
$1.91โฌ1.63
12.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06$2.06
$2.69โฌ2.30
-23.42%
๐ Getting Around
Sumter, SC
Rome
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05$2.05
$1.72โฌ1.47
19.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$39.98โฌ34.11
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.05$3.05
$5.11โฌ4.36
-40.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.45$1.45
$1.58โฌ1.35
-8.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.10$30.10
$34.36โฌ29.31
-12.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81$0.81
$2.00โฌ1.71
-59.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K$35.3K
$28.9Kโฌ24.6K
22.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K$24.7K
$29.6Kโฌ25.3K
-16.59%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sumter, SC
Rome
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138$138
$219โฌ187
-37.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.6$55.6
$10.93โฌ9.32
408.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.73$45.73
$31.38โฌ26.77
45.73%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Sumter, SC
Rome
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.32$42.32
$64.4โฌ55.0
-34.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.05$5.05
$23.82โฌ20.32
-78.80%
Cinema Ticket
$8.30$8.30
$11.67โฌ9.96
-28.88%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Sumter, SC
Rome
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,337$1,337
$530โฌ452
152.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.4K$24.4K
$10.7Kโฌ9,134
128.27%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Sumter, SC
Rome
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.20$45.20
$72.8โฌ62.1
-37.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.61$36.61
$35.12โฌ29.96
4.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.4$59.4
$84.7โฌ72.2
-29.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151$151
$123โฌ105
22.59%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Sumter, SC
Rome
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,623$1,623
$1,366โฌ1,166
18.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,327$1,327
$874โฌ746
51.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$901$901
$2,608โฌ2,225
-65.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,187$2,187
$1,633โฌ1,393
33.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,498$1,498
$9,002โฌ7,679
-83.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,474$1,474
$3,563โฌ3,039
-58.63%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Sumter, SC
Rome
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,553$3,553
$2,139โฌ1,824
66.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.8
3.95
21.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sumter, SC: April 20, 2026
Last update for Rome: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,623 in Sumter, SC and $1,366 in Rome. 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: $59 in Sumter, SC vs $75 in Rome for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $317 vs $334 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
Sumter, SC vs Rome: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sumter, SC or Rome?
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 Sumter, SC or Rome?
Sumter, SC pays 66% more on average, 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 vs Rome?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,623 in Sumter, SC versus $1,366 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 Rome?
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 Sumter, SC compared to Rome?
All in, you'll spend $2,446 per month in Sumter, SC versus $2,055 in Rome 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 Sumter, SC or Rome?
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, Sumter, SC or Rome?
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 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 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.
Sumter, SC vs other spots: cost of living compared