Townleap

Cost of Living: Brighton vs Rome (2026)

United Kingdom vs Italy — relocation comparison

Your passport:
66
Livability Score
🇬🇧 Brighton
United Kingdom
Full profile
68
Livability Score
🇮🇹 Rome
Italy
Full profile
Brighton
Rome
$1894/mo
Rent
$1355/mo
66/100
Livability
68/100
86/100
Safety
78/100
Healthcare
65/100
5 yr
PR path
5 yr
Internet
75 Mbps
Sole Trader
Freelance setup

Wise ✓ · Wise ✓

Regime Forfettario
Tax breaks

Open incentive regimes for newcomers

Impatriati Regime, Regime Forfettario, New Residents Flat Tax, 7% Retiree Flat Tax
TL;DRRome is 28% cheaper on rent ($1355/mo vs $1894/mo). Rome is safer — homicide rate 0.5 vs 1.1 per 100k. Both are solid options for settling down — the spreadsheet won't save you from this one.
Brighton and Rome are almost suspiciously well-matched. Flip a coin.
Household
Brighton
Metric
Rome
$1894/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1355/mo
$859/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$635/mo
🧳
Cost to land
$7,957
1.1 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
0.5 / 100k
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
47 / 100
20°C
☀️
Summer high
30°C
4°C
❄️
Winter low
3°C
Internet speed
75 Mbps
🌬️
Air quality (PM2.5)
12.7 μg/m³
8.5 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
7.6 / 10
100/100
🗣️
Street English
29/100
$62k
💼
GDP per capita
$62k
3.3% · Boringly steady
📈
Inflation
1.0% · Practically frozen
66 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
68 / 100
Grid reliability
89/100 — Mostly stable
🗽
Freedom House
87/100
5 years
📋
Time to PR
5 years
💰
Cost of Living
Rome
$539/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Rome
0.5 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Brighton
8.5/10 EIU index
☀️
Weather
20°C vs 30°C summers

Settler Essentials

Democracy trend
stable
Inflation trend
improving
Industries
governmenttourismmediaaerospace
Startup ecosystem
nascent
Grid reliability
89/100
5 yrs
Time to PR
5 yrs
Moderate
🇺🇸 Your visa
Moderate
Moderate
EU visa
Easy
Complex
RU visa
Complex
Moderate
UA visa
Easy
Spouse works
Partner can work immediately
Retiree visa
2,583/mo
Tax breaks
Impatriati Regime, Regime Forfettario, New Residents Flat Tax, 7% Retiree Flat Tax

Visa stamps:Easy <90 daysModerate 3–6 moComplex 6+ mo

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

Reproductive Rights

Because your body shouldn't need a visa too

Abortion access
On request
Gestational limit
12 wk

On request up to 90 days. 7-day waiting period. High rates of conscientious objection limit practical access.

Source: Center for Reproductive Rights

The Short Version

  • Rent is 28% cheaper in Rome ($1355/mo vs $1894/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are dramatically warmer in Rome (30°C vs 20°C).
  • Rome is safer by homicide rate (0.5 vs 1.1 per 100k).
  • Brighton scores higher on democracy (8.5 vs 7.6 / 10 EIU).
  • Street-level English is easier in Brighton (100/100 vs 29/100).

Brighton vs Rome — Common Questions

Is Brighton cheaper than Rome?

Rome is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1355/month in Rome vs $1894/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Brighton or Rome?

Rome is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Brighton has a rate of 1.12 per 100,000 and Rome has 0.55 per 100,000.

Should I move to Brighton or Rome?

Brighton and Rome are almost suspiciously well-matched. Flip a coin. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Brighton or Rome?

Brighton: no specific remote work visa. Rome: Italy Digital Nomad Visa (moderate requirements, 1 year (renewable)). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, Brighton or Rome?

Rome is warmer in summer (30°C vs 20°C). Brighton has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

Can I live in Brighton or Rome without speaking the local language?

Brighton is easier for street-level English (100/100) than Rome (29/100). That's the score that matters for doctors, landlords, and bureaucracy. Office English can still run higher than street English in both cities.

Don't agree? Take the quiz and see what fits you.

Factor in your salary, family size, weather preferences, and deal-breakers.