Cost of Living: Miami vs Rome (2026)

United States vs Italy — relocation comparison

TL;DRRome is 55% cheaper on rent ($1355/mo vs $3010/mo). Rome is safer — homicide rate 0.5 vs 18.2 per 100k. Both are solid options for settling down — the spreadsheet won't save you from this one.
43
Livability Score
🇺🇸 Miami
United States
Full profile
69
Livability Score
🇮🇹 Rome
Italy
Full profile
Rome scores 69 to Miami's 43 on livability — the gap is real. Miami has its charms, but the numbers favor Rome.
💰
Cost of Living
Rome
$1656/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Rome
0.5 homicides per 100k
☀️
Weather
32°C vs 30°C summers
🗣️
English
Miami
higher proficiency score
Miami
Metric
Rome
$3010/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1355/mo
$583/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$635/mo
$9,841
🧳
Cost to land
$7,957
18.2 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
0.5 / 100k
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
47 / 100
32°C
☀️
Summer high
30°C
18°C
❄️
Winter low
3°C
Internet speed
75 Mbps
7.8 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
7.7 / 10
Very High (100/100)
🗣️
English ease
High (62/100)
$86k
💼
GDP per capita
$62k
2.9%
📈
Inflation
1.0%
43 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
69 / 100
Grid reliability
89/100 — Mostly stable
🗽
Freedom House
87/100
📋
Time to PR
5 years

For the Kids

Schools, pediatric care, and whether your children can actually enroll

489
PISA
country avg
477
1
Intl schools
3
Public school
Yes (Italian)
Pediatric care
Free pediatric care for all resident children under 14
Specialist wait
4–12 weeks public
$1870/mo
Childcare
full-day
$547/mo

Sources: OECD PISA 2022 · Wikipedia · Numbeo · official health systems

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
stable
Industries
governmenttourismmediaaerospace
Startup ecosystem
nascent
Grid reliability
89/100
Time to PR
5 yrs
EU visa
Easy
RU visa
Complex
UA visa
Easy
Spouse works
Your partner can also work

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

The Short Version

  • Rent is 55% cheaper in Rome ($1355/mo vs $3010/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Miami (32°C vs 30°C).
  • Rome is safer by homicide rate (0.5 vs 18.2 per 100k).
  • English is easier to get by in Miami (100/100 vs 62/100 English proficiency).

Miami vs Rome — Common Questions

Is Miami cheaper than Rome?

Rome is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1355/month in Rome vs $3010/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Miami or Rome?

Rome is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Miami has a rate of 18.20 per 100,000 and Rome has 0.55 per 100,000.

Should I move to Miami or Rome?

Rome scores 69 to Miami's 43 on livability — the gap is real. Miami has its charms, but the numbers favor Rome. 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 Miami or Rome?

Miami: 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, Miami or Rome?

Miami is warmer in summer (32°C vs 30°C). Rome 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 Miami or Rome without speaking the local language?

English is easier to get by in Miami (EF EPI score: 100/100) than in Rome (62/100). In Miami, daily life and professional settings often work in English. In Rome, learning some of the local language will make long-term settlement significantly smoother.

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

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