🇮🇹 Rome vs 🇪🇸 Barcelona
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Rome is 11% cheaper than Barcelona
Quick answer
Comparing Rome, Italy and Barcelona, Spain: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $2,528 in Rome versus $2,839 in Barcelona. Rome is roughly 11% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $1,228/mo (Rome) vs $1,539/mo (Barcelona). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $2,528/mo in Rome single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $2,839/mo in Barcelona single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $1,228/mo in Rome · $1,539/mo in Barcelona.
- Cheaper overall: Rome ~11% cheaper than Barcelona.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics + item-level price snapshots · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇮🇹 Rome | 🇪🇸 Barcelona | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $1,750/mo | $2,000/mo | +14% |
| Moderate | $2,528/mo | $2,839/mo | +12% |
| Comfortable | $3,800/mo | $4,250/mo | +12% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇮🇹 Rome | 🇪🇸 Barcelona | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $1,228/mo | $1,539/mo | +25% |
| Groceries & Food | $400/mo | $400/mo | 0% |
| Dining Out | $200/mo | $200/mo | 0% |
| Transport | $200/mo | $200/mo | 0% |
| Utilities & Internet | $200/mo | $200/mo | 0% |
| Healthcare | $160/mo | $160/mo | 0% |
| Leisure & Personal | $140/mo | $140/mo | 0% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Housing (1-bed, center)
Rome
$1,228
Barcelona
$1,539
Groceries & Food
Rome
$400
Barcelona
$400
Dining Out
Rome
$200
Barcelona
$200
Transport
Rome
$200
Barcelona
$200
Utilities & Internet
Rome
$200
Barcelona
$200
Healthcare
Rome
$160
Barcelona
$160
Leisure & Personal
Rome
$140
Barcelona
$140
Detailed Price Comparison
Sources: ISTAT (Italy), Eurostat / INE (Spain), Eurostat. Updated Jan 2026.
Groceries
| Item | 🇮🇹 Rome | 🇪🇸 Barcelona | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (500g) | $1 | $1 | 0% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | -27% |
| Eggs (12) | $3 | $3 | -18% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $9 | $7 | -22% |
| Mozzarella (125g) | $1 | $1 | +8% |
Restaurants & Cafes
| Item | 🇮🇹 Rome | 🇪🇸 Barcelona | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pizza margherita | $9 | $13 | +49% |
| Pasta primo (trattoria) | $11 | $9 | -20% |
| Espresso (bar) | $1 | $2 | +69% |
| Cappuccino | $2 | $4 | +153% |
| Beer (0.5L, restaurant) | $5 | $1 | -80% |
Housing
| Item | 🇮🇹 Rome | 🇪🇸 Barcelona | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (Trastevere) | $1,228 | $1,539 | +25% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside | $873 | $1,196 | +37% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, center | $2,100 | $2,100 | 0% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside | $1,300 | $1,500 | +15% |
Transport
| Item | 🇮🇹 Rome | 🇪🇸 Barcelona | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly transit pass (ATAC) | $38 | $45 | +18% |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $2 | $4 | +79% |
Utilities & Internet
| Item | 🇮🇹 Rome | 🇪🇸 Barcelona | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $170 | $130 | -24% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $28 | $38 | +36% |
Leisure & Fitness
| Item | 🇮🇹 Rome | 🇪🇸 Barcelona | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $40 | $45 | +13% |
| Cinema ticket | $10 | $10 | 0% |
Personal Care
| Item | 🇮🇹 Rome | 🇪🇸 Barcelona | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $16 | $16 | 0% |
Quick Facts
🇮🇹 Rome
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $2,528
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $1,228/mo
- Cappuccino
- $1.50
- Inexpensive meal
- $12.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $38
- Internet speed
- 95 Mbps
- Safety index
- 62/100(moderately safe)
- Healthcare index
- 100/100
- Country
- Italy
🇪🇸 Barcelona
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $2,839
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $1,539/mo
- Cappuccino
- $2.10
- Inexpensive meal
- $13.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $52
- Internet speed
- 185 Mbps
- Safety index
- 68/100(moderately safe)
- Healthcare index
- 100/100
- Country
- Spain
Explore more: Rome city guide | Barcelona city guide | Italy | Spain
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rome or Barcelona cheaper to live in?
Rome is approximately 11% cheaper than Barcelona overall.
How much does it cost to live in Rome per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Rome is approximately $2,528 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
How much does it cost to live in Barcelona per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Barcelona is approximately $2,839 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
What is the rent difference between Rome and Barcelona?
A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $1,228/month in Rome and $1,539/month in Barcelona.