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Ghent vs Rome cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ง๐ช Ghent
๐ฎ๐น Rome
At a glance
- Where Rome is clearly cheaper: Laundry (61%โ), Transit (50%โ), Coffee (49%โ)
- Where Ghent is clearly cheaper: Scooter rental (70%โ), Half-day tour (33%โ), Street food (26%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Ghent is easier to travel (1.6 vs 2.6). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Ghent 1 vs Rome 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Ghent | Rome | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | โฌ 18$20.9 | โฌ 15$17.4 | Rome โ17% |
| Street food1 item | โฌ 5$5.81 | โฌ 6.8$7.91 | Ghent โ26% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | โฌ 38$44.2 | โฌ 30$34.9 | Rome โ21% |
| Coffeeone cup | โฌ 3.5$4.07 | โฌ 1.8$2.09 | Rome โ49% |
| Beerone bottle | โฌ 5$5.81 | โฌ 6$6.98 | Ghent โ17% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | โฌ 10$11.6 | โฌ 9$10.5 | Rome โ10% |
| Bottled water | โฌ 0.8$0.93 | โฌ 1$1.16 | Ghent โ20% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | โฌ 1.8$2.09 | โฌ 1.8$2.09 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | โฌ 15$17.4 | โฌ 14$16.3 | Rome โ7% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | โฌ 10$11.6 | โฌ 9$10.5 | Rome โ10% |
| Transitone ride | โฌ 3$3.49 | โฌ 1.5$1.74 | Rome โ50% |
| Scooter rentalper day | โฌ 15$17.4 | โฌ 50$58.1 | Ghent โ70% |
| Hotel night3-star | โฌ 120$140 | โฌ 130$151 | Ghent โ8% |
| Studio rent (month) | โฌ 900$1,047 | โฌ 1,050$1,221 | Ghent โ14% |
| Laundry | โฌ 9$10.5 | โฌ 3.5$4.07 | Rome โ61% |
| SIM card1 week data | โฌ 15$17.4 | โฌ 13$15.1 | Rome โ13% |
| Haircutcut | โฌ 25$29.1 | โฌ 20$23.3 | Rome โ20% |
| Massage1 hour | โฌ 70$81.4 | โฌ 55$64 | Rome โ21% |
| Half-day tourper person | โฌ 30$34.9 | โฌ 45$52.3 | Ghent โ33% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | โฌ 15$17.4 | โฌ 15$17.4 | similar |
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, Ghent or Rome?
Rome is 7% cheaper than Ghent. Daily budget $305 vs $290; a month $5,241 vs $4,804.
Which is easier to travel, Ghent or Rome?
Ghent is easier: Ghent 1.6/5 vs Rome 2.6/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Ghent and Rome?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Ghent is about $5,241 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.