In short
To live in Rome, Americans get a long-stay visa from the Italian consulate for their US state — usually the digital nomad visa (at least €24,789 a year) or the elective residence visa (about €31,000 per adult in passive income, no work). Within 8 working days of arriving you file for your residence permit, then get a codice fiscale and register at the town hall. A central 1-bedroom costs about €1,085 a month (€780 outside the centre) and a single person spends about €845 without rent, so about €1,650–1,950 in total. A monthly ATAC pass is €35, and the Leonardo Express reaches Fiumicino in about 32 minutes for €14.
Rome: key facts
Last verified 28 September 2026| Visa-free stay | 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area; the Entry/Exit System registers entries since April 2026; ETIAS (€20) not yet running# Source: Polizia di Stato: entry and short stays · French Foreign Ministry: the EU Entry/Exit System live from 10 April 2026 · European Commission: ETIAS |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | Long-stay (D) visas come from the Italian consulate for your US state of residence; a tourist stay cannot be turned into a residence permit in Italy# Source: Consulate General of Italy in New York: digital nomad / remote worker visa · Italian Foreign Ministry: rights and duties of D-visa holders (Jun 2026) |
| Digital nomad / remote worker visa | At least €24,789 a year; a degree, licensed profession or 5 years' experience (3 for IT); 6 months of remote work; insurance of at least €30,000; 1 year, renewable# Source: Consulate General of Italy in New York: digital nomad / remote worker visa · Embassy of Italy in Washington: digital nomad / remote worker visa |
| Elective residence visa | About €31,000 a year of passive income per adult (US consulates ask about €62,000 for a couple); registered lease or deed; no work of any kind, including remote work# Source: Consulate General of Italy in Houston: elective residence visa checklist (Dec 2025) · Embassy of Italy in Washington: elective residence visa |
| Residence permit | Apply within 8 working days of arrival, usually with the post-office kit; about €116–176 in fees# Source: Italian Foreign Ministry: rights and duties of D-visa holders (Jun 2026) · Money.it: residence permit costs |
| Healthcare | Workers are enrolled in the national health service (SSN) for free; retirees and others not working in Italy pay at least €2,000 a year to join voluntarily (since 2024)# Source: Arletti Partners: voluntary national health service enrolment (€2,000 minimum) |
| Population | Italy 58.9 million (ISTAT, 1 Jan 2026); Rome 2.75 million, metropolitan city 4.22 million# Source: ISTAT: demographic indicators (Mar 2026) · Il Sole 24 Ore: Rome, Italy's most populous municipality (ISTAT data) |
| 1-bed apartment, Rome | about €1,085/month in the centre, €780 outside (Numbeo, Sep 2026) estimate# Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Rome (Sep 2026) |
| Living costs, single person (Rome) | about €845/month without rent estimate# Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Rome (Sep 2026) |
| Rome transport | Monthly pass €35, annual €250; 100-minute ticket €1.50; Leonardo Express to Fiumicino €14, about 32 minutes# Source: ATAC: Rome tickets and passes · Trenitalia: Leonardo Express to Fiumicino |
| Rome surcharges | Lazio region 1.73% up to €28,000 and 3.33% above (2026), plus Rome's municipal surcharge# Source: CGIL Lazio: Lazio regional income-tax surcharge 2026 |
| Safety | US travel advisory Level 2 (exercise increased caution, terrorism); pickpocketing in tourist areas# Source: US Department of State: Italy travel advisory |
Not American?
Canadians, Australians, Brits and other non-EU citizens: the same rules apply
Italian visas work the same for all non-EU citizens, so Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and Brits move to Rome exactly as described here. Only a few points differ:
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom
- Japan
- South Korea
- + other visa-free countries
| Short stays | 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area; the Entry/Exit System registers entries since April 2026; ETIAS (€20) not yet running. |
|---|---|
| Flights home | Rome Fiumicino has nonstops to many US cities; from Australia and New Zealand you connect via a Middle Eastern or Asian hub. |
| Documents from abroad | Need an apostille; the US, Canada (since 11 Jan 2024), the UK, Australia and NZ issue them.Source: HCCH: Apostille Convention status table |
Overview
Living in Rome as an American
Rome combines ancient monuments, neighbourhood markets and trattorias with the institutions of a capital — ministries, embassies, the FAO and the Vatican next door. Rents are well below Milan, and everyday costs are among the lowest of Western Europe's capitals. Daily life runs in Italian, and paperwork takes patience.
City at a Glance
Rome — Quick Facts
2.75 million
City (ISTAT); 4.22 million in the metropolitan city (1 Jan 2026).
Italian
English is common in tourism and international jobs, much less in offices and shops.
Euro (€)
Italy has used the euro since 1999.
CET (UTC+1)
CEST (UTC+2) in summer — 6 hours ahead of New York.
3 metro lines, trams, buses
Lines A, B and C — Line C reached Colosseo in December 2025. Monthly pass €35; 100-minute ticket €1.50.
Fiumicino (FCO)
Nonstops to many US cities. The Leonardo Express to Termini takes about 32 minutes (€14); taxis to the historic centre cost a flat €55.
Mediterranean
Hot, dry summers (July highs around 31°C), mild winters and about 2,500 hours of sunshine a year.
Level 2 (Italy)
US advisory "exercise increased caution"; pickpocketing on buses and around monuments is common.
Cost of Living
How Much Does It Cost to Live in Rome?
Rome is cheaper than Milan, Florence, Paris or Lisbon for a single person including rent, though prices in the historic centre are much higher than the city average.
| Item | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, city centre | about €1,085 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside centre | about €780 |
| Utilities (85 m² apartment) | about €185 |
| Broadband internet | about €28 |
| Inexpensive restaurant meal | about €15 |
| Mid-range dinner for two | about €60 |
| Cappuccino | about €1.90 |
| Monthly transport pass (ATAC) | €35 |
| Single person, everyday costs without rent | about €845 |
Estimates from Numbeo (September 2026); fares from ATAC and Trenitalia. Source: Numbeo: Rome · ATAC fares · Leonardo Express
Neighborhoods
Best Neighborhoods in Rome for Americans
Rents below are Idealista's average asking rents per square metre (August 2026) for each zone, converted to a 50 m² flat; the city average is about €19 per m². Furnished and central flats cost more.
Trastevere & Testaccio (about €1,275 for 50 m²)
Cobbled lanes, trattorias and nightlife in Trastevere; the Testaccio market and a more local feel across the river. Idealista prices them as one zone — the second most expensive after the historic centre. John Cabot University is in Trastevere.
Prati (about €1,170 for 50 m²)
Elegant streets and good shopping next to the Vatican, on Metro A — popular with professionals and families.
Parioli & Flaminio (about €1,190 for 50 m²)
Leafy, quiet and upscale in the north, with embassies and parks such as Villa Ada; several international schools are in the north of the city.
Monteverde (about €950 for 50 m²)
A green, residential hill above Trastevere with Villa Doria Pamphili, one of Rome's largest parks — good value close to the centre.
Pigneto & Centocelle (about €735–805 for 50 m²)
The creative east — street art, bars and a younger crowd, on Metro C. The most affordable of these areas.
Expat Life
Practical Life in Rome for Americans
Codice fiscale
Italy's 16-character tax code, needed for leases, bank accounts, phone contracts and healthcare. Free from the tax office (Agenzia delle Entrate) with your passport.
Permesso di soggiorno
File within 8 working days of arriving, usually with the post-office kit (about €116–176 in fees). Keep the receipt — it proves your legal stay while the card is processed by the Questura.
Healthcare
Enrol with your local health authority (ASL) to choose a family doctor. Workers are enrolled free; elective residence holders and others pay at least €2,000 a year.
Residence registration
Register at the town hall (anagrafe) once you have your permit or receipt and a home — it is needed for many services and for your ID card.
Bureaucracy
Appointments can be hard to get and rules are applied differently from office to office. Keep copies of everything, and consider help from a local agency or lawyer.
Visas & Residency
To Live in Rome You Need an Italian Residence Permit
Digital Nomad Visa
At least €24,789 a year from remote work, plus qualifications and insurance; 1 year, renewable.
Expat guide →Elective Residence Visa
About €31,000 a year per adult in passive income; no work of any kind.
Expat guide →Investor Visa
From €250,000 in an innovative startup; 2-year permit, renewable for 3.
Investor visa guide →Work Visa & Blue Card
For a job with an Italian employer, within the yearly quotas or with a Blue Card.
All routes →Expat Tips
Essential Tips for Americans Moving to Rome
Get your codice fiscale first
Almost every contract asks for it. You can get it on your first days in Rome at the tax office.
Expect things to take longer
A residence card can take months. Plan your travel and your first lease around that.
Learn Italian
Landlords, doctors and offices mostly work in Italian — and you need A2 for permanent residence.
Eat where Romans eat
Neighbourhood trattorias away from the big monuments give better food for less; a simple meal is about €15.
Use the trains
High-speed trains reach Naples in about 1 hour 10 minutes and Florence in about 1½ hours.
Compare Cities
How Does Rome Compare?
Comparing Southern European capitals? See our city comparison or the cost of living comparison, and our guides to Athens and Portugal.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is a codice fiscale?
Italy's tax code — 16 letters and numbers used for leases, bank accounts, contracts and healthcare. It is free from the tax office in Italy, and consulates issue it in some cases.
Can I live in Rome on the digital nomad visa?
Yes. You need at least €24,789 a year from remote work, a degree, licensed profession or 5 years' experience (3 for IT), 6 months of remote work, insurance of at least €30,000 and a registered home.
What is the permesso di soggiorno?
The residence permit for non-EU citizens staying more than 90 days. You file within 8 working days of arriving, usually through the post office, and collect the card from the Questura.
How expensive is Rome for Americans?
About €1,650–1,950 a month for a single person including rent — about €845 for everyday costs plus €780–1,085 for a 1-bedroom (Numbeo, September 2026).
How do I get from Fiumicino to the city?
The Leonardo Express runs nonstop to Termini in about 32 minutes for €14. Taxis to the historic centre charge a flat €55.
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