How much do you need to earn to live here, after Italy takes its share?
Here's the gross monthly salary that covers rent, food, transport, and utilities once Italy's tax system has taken its cut. (2026)
The floor in Rome is roughly €1,904/month gross, on a lean budget.
For something that feels comfortable, think €2,950/month gross (€2,083 net after ~29% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | €820 Cheapest neighborhood (Tor Bella Monaca) | €1,300 Median neighborhood | €1,800 Premium neighborhood (Flaminio) |
| Groceries | €320 | €384 | €480 |
| Transport | €35 | €35 | €35 |
| Utilities | €148 | €148 | €148 |
| Dining & Entertainment | €180 | €216 | €270 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | €1,503 | €2,083 | €2,733 |
€1,904/month gross
€2,950/month gross
€4,278/month gross
Second-hand 1BR rents across 12 neighborhoods in Rome.
Tor Bella Monaca
40 min by metro
€820 - €950
San Lorenzo
20 min by bus
€900 - €1,100
Esquilino
15 min by metro
€1,000 - €1,200
Flaminio
10 min by metro
€1,700 - €1,900
Monti
10 min by walk
€1,600 - €1,800
Coppedè
18 min by metro
€1,500 - €1,700
All 12 neighborhoods, the full expense sheet, and what you could save.
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We add up monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then work backwards to find the gross salary that lands on that number after Italy's income tax and social contributions. Rent data reflects second-hand listings, which is what expats actually pay. All figures come from 2026 official government statistics. Full attribution lives on our data sources page.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least €1,904/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Rome. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for €2,950/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Italy.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 12 neighborhoods in Rome is approximately €1,342/month. Rents range from €820 in Tor Bella Monaca to €1,900 in Flaminio.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Rome cost approximately €320. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in Italy are progressive. At the budget salary level of €1,904/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 21%. At the comfortable level of €2,950/month, it rises to approximately 29%. This includes income tax and social contributions.