Rome vs Paris: which is better to live in?

Cost of living: Rome or Paris?

By our estimates, a comfortable mid-range life costs about €2,100 a month for one person in Rome and €2,500 in Paris, rent included. For a couple it’s €3,200 vs €3,700, and for a family of four €4,600 vs €5,200.

Rent drives most of the gap: a one-bedroom in the center runs about €1,300 in Rome against €1,550 in Paris, while a monthly transit pass costs €35 vs €91. Want to plug in your own lifestyle? Use the cost of living calculator.

Climate and weather

Winters average highs of about 13°C (55°F) in Rome and 8°C (47°F) in Paris. In summer it’s roughly 30°C vs 25°C. Rome gets about 2,724 hours of sunshine a year and Paris about 1,717.

Daily life

Rome is a capital / metropolis; Paris is a capital / metropolis. Rome is the Italian city with the biggest expat community and the most direct flights home, and it is heavy on history and light on efficiency. Expect a one-bed in the center to run about €1,300 a month, a comfortable single budget of about €2,100, and plenty of bureaucracy. Best for people who want big-city Italy more than ease. Paris offers the best transit, culture and international community in our France set, and the highest costs. A center one-bed runs about €1,550 a month, a comfortable single budget about €2,500, and the Navigo pass is €91 a month. Best for career movers, culture lovers and anyone who can handle small flats and gray winters.

Living in Rome: the upsides and downsides

• Largest international community in Italy and many English-friendly services
• Direct flights to the US and Canada from Fiumicino
• World-class museums, food and neighborhood markets at every turn
• Downside: Rome's hot August, plus crowds year-round in the center
• Downside: Patchy public transit with only three metro lines

Living in Paris: the upsides and downsides

• Metro, RER and trains reach almost everywhere for a flat €91 a month
• Unmatched museums, food, theater and events
• Most international schools, employers and English-speaking services in France
• Downside: Highest rents in our set; flats are small
• Downside: Gray, damp winters and very little sunshine

Visas and residency

Rome is in Italy and Paris is in France. The main routes for each:

• Italian Citizenship by Descent (Jure Sanguinis) — Citizenship by descent, changing
• Italy Digital Nomad Visa (Remote Worker Visa) — Digital nomad visa, open, €2,125/mo income
• Italy Elective Residency Visa — Retirement visa, open, €2,583/mo income
• Italy Investor Visa (Golden Visa) — Golden visa, open, €250,000 investment
• France Freelance and Entrepreneur Visa (Profession Libérale) — Freelance visa, open, €1,867/mo income
• France Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur) — Retirement visa, open, €1,478/mo income
• France Talent Passport (Passeport Talent) — Work permit, open, €3,299/mo income

Read the full guides: living in Rome and living in Paris.