Rome is one of the most popular Italian cities for foreigners to move to.

The capital is home to some 511,332 foreign nationals (around 12.1 percent of Rome’s total population), including ​​a sizeable group of native English speakers.

But Rome is better known for its cultural treasures and government institutions than for its thriving economy. 

If you’re thinking of moving to the city, one of the first things you’ll likely consider is local wages, and how much money you’ll really need to be able to live there.

Average salaries

Though it is Italy’s capital, Rome is not the city with the highest average salaries: that honour goes to Milan, often referred to by the media as ‘Italy’s wage capital’. 

In Milan, the average gross yearly income is around €37,200 per year, while the average figure across Italy stands at around €23,650, according to data from Italy’s finance ministry.

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By comparison, in Rome the average gross personal income is €33,472 per year, which corresponds to a net monthly income of around €2,092, according to a recent report published by financial site partita.iva.

But average salaries are not equal across Rome. According to data from Italy’s Economy Ministry analysed by Sky News, residents of the city centre declare an average income of €55,000-€66,000 per year, whereas for people in the Ostia Antica suburb, for example, the figure is €14,771.

Cost of living

While wages in Rome are slightly higher than in the rest of the country on average, you’ll also need to consider the higher cost of living in the capital. 

According to online investment platform Moneyfarm, Rome is Italy’s second-most expensive city to live in after Milan.

Rent is generally the biggest expense for Rome residents, as prices have grown steadily in recent years. 

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In 2023, Rome’s average rental rate rose by €576 a year to €10,776, and came in 5th place overall in the country. 

The current monthly average price for a one-bedroom apartment in the centre of Rome is €1,098. Though this pales in comparison to Milan, where you can expect to pay from €1,400 for a central one-bedroom flat, it is important to remember Milan’s average salary is higher than Rome’s.

Though you are likely to earn slightly more than the national average, you are also likely to spend a little bit less or the same price for recreational activities than in Milan. 

A ticket for the cinema is 10 euros in both cities, whereas there is a three euro difference between the two cities in renting a tennis court for an hour.

The monthly fee for public transportation is only four euros higher in Milan, which is curious when you compare the quality of public transportation between the two cities, with Milan’s system far surpassing Rome’s.

So what’s a ‘good’ income in Rome?

With the cost of living showing few signs of slowing down and Rome’s average salaries not among the country’s highest, life in the capital can be financially tricky.

According to recent data published by investment advisor site Moneyfarm, the average single person in Rome needs a monthly take-home salary of €1,500 to cover rent or mortgage, utility bills, food, and some recreational activities.

A family needs €3,000 net per month to cover the same expenses, the data showed. However, they did not specifically outline how many members are in the family.

It goes without saying that Rome will be even more expensive for larger families, and that costs will depend on where exactly in the city you live, among other factors.