🇮🇹 Living · Italy
Rome
Cost of living, housing, transport and neighborhoods in Rome.
City Overview
Rome is Italy's capital, the "Eternal City" spanning nearly three thousand years — ancient ruins, Renaissance art and modern life layered together. More affordable than Milan, with a mild climate and rich food culture, it is a showcase of the southern-European lifestyle; slow bureaucracy and patchy public transport are the common gripes.
Cost of Living Snapshot
Source: RichBay editorial estimate — indicative, not guaranteed
Getting Around Rome
Three metro lines (A/B/C) with limited coverage; the bus and tram network is denser but traffic-bound. The single BIT ticket covers 100 minutes of surface transport plus one metro ride. The Leonardo Express links Fiumicino Airport to Termini.
Main transport
- Metro ↗ Three lines (A, B, C) run by ATAC — fast but limited, since archaeology constrains digging; they cross at Termini and serve the main sights.
- Buses & trams The denser part of the network, reaching everywhere the metro doesn’t — but slowed by Rome’s traffic; the same BIT ticket covers them.
- Regional & airport trains Trenitalia FL regional lines and the Leonardo Express reach the suburbs and Fiumicino Airport; high-speed trains from Termini connect Florence, Naples and Milan.
- Taxis & scooters Licensed white taxis are metered (fixed fares to the airports); scooters and mopeds are a Roman institution for weaving through traffic.
Typical costs
Airport access
- Fiumicino (FCO) ↗ The main international airport ~30 km SW: Leonardo Express to Termini (~32 min, €14) or the cheaper FL1 regional; fixed-fare taxis (~€50) too.
- Ciampino (CIA) ↗ The smaller low-cost airport SE of the city — reached by shuttle bus to Termini or a bus-plus-train combination; no direct rail.
Good to know for newcomers
- One €1.50 BIT ticket lasts 100 minutes across buses, trams and urban rail (plus one metro ride) — validate it when you board.
- The metro only has three lines — expect to rely on buses and trams, which the city’s traffic can make slow and unpredictable.
- From Fiumicino the Leonardo Express is the simplest (€14 to Termini); ATAC passes are NOT valid on it, so buy a separate ticket.
- Only use licensed white taxis with a meter; fixed fares to the airports avoid surprises.
Commuting & where to live
- Rent inside the historic centre is highest and the flats are small and old; areas just outside (Prati, Ostiense, Pigneto) balance cost and access.
- Because the metro is thin, living near a metro stop or a busy tram/rail corridor matters a lot for a predictable commute.
- A scooter is a genuine Roman commuting choice — it beats sitting in bus traffic, though parking and weather are trade-offs.
- Commuting in from the Castelli Romani or coastal towns on the FL/regional lines is common and much cheaper on rent.
Official sources: ATAC (Rome public transport) · Aeroporti di Roma (Fiumicino & Ciampino)
Housing & Neighborhoods
Deep Dive Guides
Why Live Here
- Unmatched history and art (Colosseum, Vatican, Pantheon)
- Mediterranean climate; world-class food culture
- More affordable than Milan or Paris
- Note: slow bureaucracy and patchy public transport
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Frequently asked questions
How are the cost figures estimated?
Cost figures are RichBay editorial estimates of typical rent, food and transport, normalised to USD — indicative, not guaranteed. Verify locally before relying on them.
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