About

  • About Tech Cities Index
  • Methodology
  • FAQ

Tools

  • Salary Converter
  • LinkedIn Network

Built with ❤️ by Mohamed Oun

Tech Cities Index LogoTech Cities Index
Salary ConverterLinkedIn NetworkAbout
Rome
#116 of 124
Europe

Rome

Italy

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Rome compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Rome is 73% worse off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Rome compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$41,272
-$231K (-85%) vs San Francisco
Based on 601 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$25,754
-$147K (-85%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 38%

Community Insights

New

Rome offers a polarizing experience for software engineers: it is a lifestyle choice rather than a career accelerator. While the tech scene is smaller and pays less than Milan, the city offers an unparalleled quality of life in terms of culture, food, and weather. The local market is dominated by consultancy firms and public sector IT, often with rigid hierarchies and lower pay. However, for remote workers earning a foreign salary, Rome can be a paradise, offering a relatively low cost of living with high-end leisure. The daily reality involves navigating chaotic infrastructure and slow bureaucracy, which requires a high level of patience.

Resident Sentiment

Expats and transplants often have a love-hate relationship with the city. They love the weekends, the food, the beauty, and the social warmth of the people. However, they frequently express frustration with the lack of civic maintenance (trash, potholes), the inefficiency of public offices, and the difficulty of simple tasks like setting up utilities or renting an apartment. Many agree that Rome is "magical to visit, but hard to live in" unless you have a remote job and a high tolerance for chaos.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Comfortable Weather

Top 19%

#23

of 124 cities

80/100 weather score

Current value

Cost of Living

Middle of the pack

#60

of 124 cities

50/100

Current value (lower is better)

Pollution Score

Middle of the pack

#63

of 124 cities

48.7/100

Current value (lower is better)

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Rome compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$6,170 / m²
39% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Rome to maintain the same standard of living.

$

Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
44% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Rome

Intesa Sanpaolo logo
Intesa Sanpaolo
Reply logo
Reply
Capgemini logo
Capgemini

The Good

  • Lower cost of living compared to Milan and other major Western European capitals, allowing for a decent quality of life on a mid-level tech salary.
  • Unmatched cultural heritage and history; living in an "open-air museum" with world-class art, architecture, and food available daily.
  • Weather is generally mild and sunny, with significantly better climate than tech hubs like London, Berlin, or Amsterdam.
  • Growing availability of fiber optic internet (FTTH) and a decent number of coworking spaces catering to the increasing digital nomad population.
  • Strategic location with excellent rail connections to the rest of Italy (Florence, Naples) and two international airports for easy travel within Europe.
  • Food culture is exceptional and affordable; high-quality dining is accessible without an exorbitant tech salary.

The Bad

  • Salaries for local tech jobs are significantly lower than in Northern Europe or the US, and often lower than in Milan, limiting savings potential.
  • Bureaucracy is described as legendary and nightmarish; obtaining documents like the Permesso di Soggiorno can take months (or over a year) of delays.
  • Public transportation is notoriously unreliable compared to other European cities; buses often run late, and strikes are common.
  • Waste management issues persist; overflowing trash bins and dirty streets are a frequent complaint among residents.
  • Rental market is extremely difficult for foreigners; landlords are often hesitant to rent to non-residents, and finding a quality apartment can be a long, frustrating process.
  • Traffic and driving are chaotic; commuting by car is stressful, and parking is scarce.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

Remote workers with a US or Northern European salary who want to maximize their purchasing power while enjoying the "La Dolce Vita" lifestyle. Junior developers who prioritize cultural immersion and life experience over immediate savings. History and art enthusiasts willing to trade efficiency for beauty.

Skip it if...

Career-driven engineers looking for rapid advancement, cutting-edge tech stacks, or top-tier compensation (FAANG-level salaries are rare). People who need efficiency, punctuality, and order in their daily environment. Non-EU citizens who are not prepared for significant stress and uncertainty regarding visa/residency processing.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather8.0/10-8% vs San Francisco
Safety53+34%
Pollution49-1%
Events3-94%
8.0/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
21°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
Average Low
10°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
Sunshine Hours
2,473h/yr-589h/yr(-19%)
Hottest Month High
31°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
Coldest Month Low
3°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
Rainy Days
77/yr+28/yr(+58%)

Community & Quality

Rome community pulse

Rome has 3 Luma events listed.

94% fewer events than San Francisco.

Safety Index

Middle of the pack

#68

of 124 cities

52.6/100

Current value

Community Events

Middle of the pack

#69

of 124 cities

3 events on luma

Current value

Tax Rate

Bottom 20%

#100

of 124 cities

38%

Current value (lower is better)

Net Income

Bottom 19%

#102

of 124 cities

$25,754/yr

Current value

Home Affordability

Bottom 10%

#113

of 124 cities

≈19.2 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Purchasing Power

Bottom 7%

#116

of 124 cities

SWE Affordability
19.2 years
14.5 years longer than San Francisco
Muggy Days
41/yr+41/yr(+20550%)
Cloud Cover
37%(vs 34% in San Francisco)