Milan vs Rome
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Rome is approximately 28% less expensive than Milan based on cost of living including rent. This makes Rome a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Rome has a FIRE Score of 67/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is N/A, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Rome is best suited for digital nomads who prioritize experience over savings.
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Milan
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Rome
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Italy
Retirees with steady income fare better here than remote workers chasing savings. Rent outside the center runs $660.88/mo, cheap by European standards, but income tax climbing to 43% erodes any freelance upside fast. The Elective Residence Visa requires $2,895/mo in passive income, and citizenship stays complex even after years of residency.
Rome costs roughly 24% less than Milan. Beyond cost, the two cities are closely matched — lifestyle fit and visa options are likely the deciding factors. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Rome is approximately 28% less expensive than Milan based on cost of living including rent. This makes Rome a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Rome has a FIRE Score of 67/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is N/A, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Rome is best suited for digital nomads who prioritize experience over savings.
About Milan
Milan is a pricey first-world city with a small-town salary problem: the average monthly net salary of $2,144/mo barely clears a mid-range budget of $2,081/mo, and a comfortable life at $2,877/mo is out of reach for most locals. Rent is the killer, with a city-center one-bedroom at $1,710/mo, though moving outside the center drops that to $1,162/mo and makes the math survivable. Excellent healthcare, a large active expat community, and a strong digital nomad score of 77/100 make it a smart landing spot for remote workers earning foreign currency, but the humid summers, foggy winters, and air quality index of 68 are real trade-offs. Come for the career and the culture, not for the savings rate.
About Italy
Retirees with steady income fare better here than remote workers chasing savings. Rent outside the center runs $660.88/mo, cheap by European standards, but income tax climbing to 43% erodes any freelance upside fast. The Elective Residence Visa requires $2,895/mo in passive income, and citizenship stays complex even after years of residency.
$848/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Italy
Retirees with steady income fare better here than remote workers chasing savings. Rent outside the center runs $660.88/mo, cheap by European standards, but income tax climbing to 43% erodes any freelance upside fast. The Elective Residence Visa requires $2,895/mo in passive income, and citizenship stays complex even after years of residency.
$1,265/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
Compare income thresholds, fees and residency paths for routes in these countries.
Compare visa routes in this countryBattle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Milan | Rome |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1710.14 | $1336.07 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $1162.13 | $898.79 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $3471.18 | $2649.32 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $2010.19 | $1718.4 |
| Safety Index | 45.89 | N/A |
| Internet Speed | 150Mbps | 179.61Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Milan | Rome |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $2,149/mo | $1,735/mo |
| Excluding rent | $987/mo | $836/mo |
| Rent | $1,162/mo | $899/mo |
| Groceries | $295/mo | $253/mo |
| Dining out | $224/mo | $179/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $131/mo | $119/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $293/mo | $246/mo |
| Transport | $44.00/mo | $39.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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