Cost of living in Rome — is your salary enough?
Rome median rent is around €1,200/month, lower than Milan but high relative to local salaries. Rome's income-to-cost ratio is weaker than Milan — lower wages with moderate but still significant housing costs.
Rent in Rome
Other monthly costs
How different incomes stack up
At typical Rome costs (€1,200 rent)
See your personal verdict for Rome
Cost figures are estimates based on reported median rents and typical spending patterns. Savings benchmarks from Istat HBS 2022. Figures in EUR.
Frequently asked questions — Living in Rome
How much does it cost to live in Rome?+
Core monthly costs in Rome run about €2,400 — roughly €1,200 for rent and €1,200 for other living expenses (food, transport, utilities, basics). Rome median rent is around €1,200/month, lower than Milan but high relative to local salaries.
What is the median rent in Rome?+
The median rent in Rome is around €1,200 per month. Rome is classified as a high cost cost-of-living city in Italy.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Rome?+
Using the 70%-rule (core costs ≤ 70% of gross), you need roughly €41,143 per year before tax to live comfortably in Rome. That leaves room to hit the 8% savings benchmark for Italy.
Is Rome expensive compared to the rest of Italy?+
Rome sits in the high cost tier within Italy. Rome's income-to-cost ratio is weaker than Milan — lower wages with moderate but still significant housing costs.
How much of your income should rent take in Rome?+
The standard rule is no more than 30% of gross income on rent. At €1,200/month in Rome, that means a gross income of at least €48,000 per year to stay under the 30% threshold.
Can you still save money living in Rome?+
Yes — the Italy benchmark for mid-income earners is 8% of gross income. In a high cost city like Rome, hitting that rate is tighter but achievable with disciplined budgeting.
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