Melbourne vs Rome Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Melbourne vs Rome: everyday costs favor Rome (~15% CPI gap), housing index favors Rome, wage stretch favors Melbourne. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Rome
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Utilities (63% gap, Rome ahead); Salary (56% gap, Melbourne ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $681 lower in Rome than in Melbourne (~37% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $681 (favoring Rome).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Rome | CPI 62.6 vs 73.7 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Rome | Rent index 29.5 vs 48 (lower is better) |
| Food | Rome | Groceries index 62.6 vs 75 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Rome | One-way ticket 1.3 vs 2.85 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Rome | Utilities (85m²) 54.28 vs 144.96 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Rome | Internet 55.64 vs 86.67 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Rome | Restaurant index 58 vs 70 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Melbourne | Avg net salary 10110.96 vs 4471.94 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Melbourne | PP index 108 vs 78.4 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Utilities: Rome leads with a 63% gap.
Utilities (85m²) 54.28 vs 144.96 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Rome — Lower housing / rent index (39% gap).
- Families: Rome — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Rome; purchasing power favors Melbourne.
- Remote Workers: Rome — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Rome (~15% gap).
- Budget Living: Rome — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Rome is the overall cost winner on CPI (~15% lower everyday-cost index than Melbourne).
- Housing: Rome leads on rent index (39% gap).
- Food / groceries: Rome is lower (17% gap).
- Purchasing power: Melbourne scores higher (27% gap).
- Largest category gap: Utilities (63%), favoring Rome.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$681 cheaper in Rome.
Analysis
Melbourne versus Rome is not a single number. With a 15% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Rome, while housing follows Rome's rent index. Purchasing power (108 vs 78.4) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-21
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Real
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Real · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.