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Catania vs Rome cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ฎ๐น Catania
๐ฎ๐น Rome
At a glance
- Where Rome is clearly cheaper: Laundry (56%โ), SIM card (35%โ), Half-day tour (31%โ)
- Where Catania is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (60%โ), Street food (56%โ), Studio rent (month) (48%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Both cities are about equally easy to travel. Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Catania 2 vs Rome 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Catania | Rome | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | โฌ 13$15.1 | โฌ 15$17.4 | Catania โ13% |
| Street food1 item | โฌ 3$3.49 | โฌ 6.8$7.91 | Catania โ56% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | โฌ 30$34.9 | โฌ 30$34.9 | similar |
| Coffeeone cup | โฌ 1.8$2.09 | โฌ 1.8$2.09 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | โฌ 4.5$5.23 | โฌ 6$6.98 | Catania โ25% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | โฌ 6.5$7.56 | โฌ 9$10.5 | Catania โ28% |
| Bottled water | โฌ 0.8$0.93 | โฌ 1$1.16 | Catania โ20% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | โฌ 1.5$1.74 | โฌ 1.8$2.09 | Catania โ17% |
| Taxi5 km in town | โฌ 13$15.1 | โฌ 14$16.3 | Catania โ7% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | โฌ 8$9.3 | โฌ 9$10.5 | Catania โ11% |
| Transitone ride | โฌ 1$1.16 | โฌ 1.5$1.74 | Catania โ33% |
| Scooter rentalper day | โฌ 40$46.5 | โฌ 50$58.1 | Catania โ20% |
| Hotel night3-star | โฌ 80$93 | โฌ 130$151 | Catania โ38% |
| Studio rent (month) | โฌ 550$640 | โฌ 1,050$1,221 | Catania โ48% |
| Laundry | โฌ 8$9.3 | โฌ 3.5$4.07 | Rome โ56% |
| SIM card1 week data | โฌ 20$23.3 | โฌ 13$15.1 | Rome โ35% |
| Haircutcut | โฌ 13$15.1 | โฌ 20$23.3 | Catania โ35% |
| Massage1 hour | โฌ 45$52.3 | โฌ 55$64 | Catania โ18% |
| Half-day tourper person | โฌ 65$75.6 | โฌ 45$52.3 | Rome โ31% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | โฌ 6$6.98 | โฌ 15$17.4 | Catania โ60% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Catania or Rome?
Catania is 24% cheaper than Rome. Daily budget $221 vs $290; a month $3,605 vs $4,804.
Which is easier to travel, Catania or Rome?
About the same: Catania 2.6/5, Rome 2.6/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Catania and Rome?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Catania is about $3,605 and Rome about $4,804 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.