Athens vs Rome: cost of living compared
Rent, prices, incomes and rent burden in Athens (Greece) and Rome (Italy), side by side. Every figure comes from official statistics and shows its source and year. No overall winner is declared: which city suits you depends on your income, job and lifestyle.
At a glance
- Lower rentAthens
- Lower overall pricesAbout the same
- Lower rent burdenRome
What residents say: Athens vs Rome
Share of residents who agree or are satisfied, asked the same questions in both cities in 2023. These are people's own views, not official measurements.
Source: European Commission and Eurostat, survey on quality of life in European cities, 2023 (Eurostat dataset urb_percep). Positive answers added (for example "strongly agree" + "somewhat agree", or "very satisfied" + "rather satisfied"). Survey areas: Athina (greater city); Roma. See all 27 capitals ranked
Rent in Athens and Rome
Rent in Rome is about 13% higher than in Athens.
A good-quality 1-bedroom flat costs €1,150 a month in Athens and €1,300 a month in Rome (Eurostat — Average rent per month in cities by type of dwelling, 2025).
These are rents for well-located, good-quality flats surveyed to set pay for EU staff, so cheaper local options exist in both cities. Use them to compare the two cities, not as the lowest rent you could find.
Overall prices
The overall price level is about the same in Athens and Rome.
On the Eurostat price-level index (Brussels = 100), Athens scores 87.0 and Rome scores 87.5 (2025). The index covers a full basket of goods and services, including housing, for a professional household.
Incomes and rent burden
Average household disposable income per person is €15,200 a year in the region around Athens (2023) and €22,800 a year around Rome (2024). This is income after tax averaged over every resident, including children and retired people, so it is lower than a typical salary.
Income per person in Rome is about 50% higher than in Athens.
Rent burden, one year of the rent above divided by income per person, is 90.8% in Athens and 68.4% in Rome. The lower the number, the less of local incomes a typical rent takes.
What this comparison does not tell you
These are city-wide official averages. Rents vary a lot between neighbourhoods, and the salary you can earn depends on your job, experience and contract. Taxes, social contributions, visa rules and healthcare costs also differ between countries and are not included here. Check the current rules with the official authority before you decide.
How each figure is collected and calculated is explained in our methodology. Spotted an error? See our corrections policy.
Full city profiles
Athens cost of living profile · Rome cost of living profile