Cost of Living: Perth vs Rome (2026)

Australia vs Italy — relocation comparison

TL;DRRome is 26% cheaper on rent ($1355/mo vs $1821/mo). Perth has milder winters (9°C vs 3°C lows). Both are solid options for settling down — the spreadsheet won't save you from this one.
66
Livability Score
🇦🇺 Perth
Australia
Full profile
69
Livability Score
🇮🇹 Rome
Italy
Full profile
Too close to call — 69 vs 66. Rome has a slight edge, but Perth might suit you better depending on your priorities.
💰
Cost of Living
Rome
$467/mo cheaper on rent alone
🗳️
Democracy
Perth
8.7/10 EIU index
🗣️
English
Perth
higher proficiency score
Perth
Metric
Rome
$1821/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1355/mo
$428/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$635/mo
$11,432
🧳
Cost to land
$7,957
0.8 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
0.5 / 100k
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
47 / 100
29°C
☀️
Summer high
30°C
9°C
❄️
Winter low
3°C
Internet speed
75 Mbps
8.7 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
7.7 / 10
Very High (95/100)
🗣️
English ease
High (62/100)
$72k
💼
GDP per capita
$62k
3.2%
📈
Inflation
1.0%
66 / 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

497
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
$2347/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 26% cheaper in Rome ($1355/mo vs $1821/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Rome (30°C vs 29°C).
  • Perth scores higher on democracy (8.7 vs 7.7 / 10 EIU).
  • English is easier to get by in Perth (95/100 vs 62/100 English proficiency).

Perth vs Rome — Common Questions

Is Perth cheaper than Rome?

Rome is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1355/month in Rome vs $1821/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Perth or Rome?

Rome is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Perth has a rate of 0.83 per 100,000 and Rome has 0.55 per 100,000.

Should I move to Perth or Rome?

Too close to call — 69 vs 66. Rome has a slight edge, but Perth might suit you better depending on your priorities. 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 Perth or Rome?

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

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

English is easier to get by in Perth (EF EPI score: 95/100) than in Rome (62/100). In Perth, 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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