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LifeSkills city guide

Roma

Italy

Rome offers the widest university choice in Italy and a strong job market in public administration, media, tourism, research and international organisations. The neighborhoods are very different from each other and transport, although extensive, is less widespread than in Milan: the position in relation to the metro and stations matters more than the name of the neighbourhood.

Build your plan for Roma Explore neighborhoods
Safety 70/100
Affordability 64/100
Student-friendly 84/100
Nightlife 80/100
Transport 70/100

Last reviewed: Jul 19, 2026. Rent, scores and commute notes are indicative and should be verified before real decisions.

Quick answer

Living in Roma: what to know first

The essentials before you compare the details. A figure is marked as verified only when it is linked to a source.

Verified

Student budget

750-1,200 EUR/month

single room + utilities + groceries + subscription · excluding university fees

See details
Under review

Room rent

No locally sourced rent figure is available yet See details
Verified

Getting around

Rome has an extensive network - 3 metro lines (A, B/B1, C), trams, an extensive bus network, FL regional trains and the Rome-Lido line - but it is less widespread than Milan: choosing a house near a metro or station makes a big difference in terms of time.

See details

Neighborhoods to compare

16 neighborhoods compared

San Lorenzo · Garbatella · Marconi

See details

Universities

8 universities in this guide

Sapienza — Università di Roma · Università Roma Tre · Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata

See details

First steps

Where to start for Roma

Follow this order to narrow your options without taking in everything at once.

  1. Shortlist 2–3 neighborhoods

    Compare student life, safety and the real commute to campus.
  2. Check housing and budget

    Use estimates as a guide, then verify the listing, contract and current costs.
  3. Verify your documents

    Check registration, visa or permit requirements before making payments.

Interactive map

Zone Urbanistiche di Roma

Official administrative boundaries: Zone Urbanistiche. Select an area to view the available data.

Loading geographic boundaries…

Visible Zone Urbanistiche 0

Verified geographic dataset

Boundary source: Roma Capitale — Zone Urbanistiche (Open data di Roma Capitale). Base map © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Compare

Neighborhood ranking

Best neighborhoods for students

  1. San Lorenzo 92/100
  2. Garbatella 86/100
  3. Marconi 84/100
  4. Nomentano 84/100

Best neighborhoods for nightlife

  1. Trastevere 94/100
  2. Ostiense 88/100
  3. Testaccio 88/100
  4. San Lorenzo 92/100

Best neighborhoods for quiet living

  1. Parioli 88/100
  2. Monte Sacro 82/100
  3. Trieste 84/100
  4. Garbatella 86/100

Best neighborhoods for low rent

  1. Torpignattara ~420 EUR
  2. Centocelle ~420 EUR
  3. Tuscolano ~450 EUR
  4. Marconi ~470 EUR

Best neighborhoods for safety

  1. Parioli 88/100
  2. Prati 84/100
  3. Trieste 84/100
  4. EUR 82/100

Neighborhood cards

Where to live in Roma

San Lorenzo

Student hub

San Lorenzo: Historic student neighborhood close to Sapienza: bohemian, lively in the evening and with rents still accessible due to the central location

Room
~520 EUR
Studio
~850 EUR
Apartment
~1,600 EUR

~ editorial estimate to verify

Safety 62 Student-friendly 92 Nightlife 84 Commute 88
Pros
  • student-friendly: 92/100 in this guide.
  • Indicative room rent: ~520 EUR.
  • Useful for Sapienza — University of Rome.
Cons
  • Safety score is 62/100: inspect the exact street and building.
  • Busier profile: check noise and activity at different times.
  • Rent and commute are indicative and depend on the exact address.
student-friendlynear universitiesnightlife

Garbatella

Student hub

Garbatella: Popular and characteristic neighborhood near Roma Tre: historic lots, strong community identity and good quality/price ratio

Room
~480 EUR
Studio
~780 EUR
Apartment
~1,350 EUR

~ editorial estimate to verify

Safety 78 Student-friendly 86 Nightlife 66 Commute 82
Pros
  • student-friendly: 86/100 in this guide.
  • Indicative room rent: ~480 EUR.
  • Useful for Roma Tre University.
Cons
  • Check the exact block and building before signing.
  • Busier profile: check noise and activity at different times.
  • Rent and commute are indicative and depend on the exact address.
student-friendlynear universitiesbalanced

Marconi

Student hub

Marconi: Neat residential area on the other side of the Tiber from Roma Tre, much chosen by students due to price and connections

Room
~470 EUR
Studio
~760 EUR
Apartment
~1,300 EUR

~ editorial estimate to verify

Safety 74 Student-friendly 84 Nightlife 62 Commute 84
Pros
  • student-friendly: 84/100 in this guide.
  • Indicative room rent: ~470 EUR.
  • Useful for Roma Tre University.
Cons
  • Check the exact block and building before signing.
  • Busier profile: check noise and activity at different times.
  • Rent and commute are indicative and depend on the exact address.
student-friendlynear universitieslow rent

Nomentano

Balanced

Nomentano: Central-north neighborhood balanced between Sapienza and the center: residential, well connected and with a good mix of services

Room
~540 EUR
Studio
~900 EUR
Apartment
~1,650 EUR

~ editorial estimate to verify

Safety 80 Student-friendly 84 Nightlife 66 Commute 84
Pros
  • student-friendly: 84/100 in this guide.
  • Indicative room rent: ~540 EUR.
  • Useful for Sapienza — University of Rome.
Cons
  • Check the exact block and building before signing.
  • Busier profile: check noise and activity at different times.
  • Rent and commute are indicative and depend on the exact address.
balancednear universitiestransport

Study

Major universities in Roma

Sapienza — Università di Roma

General public

See on the map
MedicineEngineeringLettersJurisprudenceEconomyScience
Nearest neighborhoods
San LorenzoThey mentionEsquiline
Commute from top areas
  • San Lorenzo5-10 min walk
  • They mention10-15 min
  • Tusculan25-35 min

Università Roma Tre

General public

See on the map
ArchitectureEconomyJurisprudenceEngineeringLettersPolitical science
Nearest neighborhoods
OstienseGarbatellaMarconi
Commute from top areas
  • Ostiense5-12 min
  • Garbatella8-15 min
  • Marconi10-18 min

Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata

Publish campus

See on the map
MedicineEngineeringEconomyScienceLetters
Nearest neighborhoods
TusculanCentocelleCinecittà
Commute from top areas
  • Centocelle30-45 min (bus/train)
  • Tusculan35-50 min
  • Center45-60 min with FL/shuttle

LUISS Guido Carli

Private

See on the map
EconomyJurisprudencePolitical scienceBusiness and management
Nearest neighborhoods
TriesteParioliThey mention
Commute from top areas
  • Trieste5-12 min
  • Parioli8-15 min
  • They mention12-20 min

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Roma)

Private

See on the map
Medicine and surgery (Gemelli Polyclinic)Nursing sciences
Nearest neighborhoods
MeadowsTriumphalAurelio
Commute from top areas
  • Meadows15-25 min
  • Trieste30-45 min
  • Center25-40 min by metro A + bus

Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma

Private

See on the map
MedicineBiomedical engineeringNursing sciences
Nearest neighborhoods
EURLaurentinoTrigoria
Commute from top areas
  • EUR20-30 min by shuttle/car
  • Center40-60 min
  • Tusculan35-50 min

LUMSA — Libera Università Maria Ss. Assunta

Private

See on the map
JurisprudenceEducational sciencesCommunicationEconomy
Nearest neighborhoods
MeadowsTrastevereHistoric centre
Commute from top areas
  • Meadows5-12 min
  • Trastevere15-20 min
  • Esquiline20-30 min

John Cabot University

Private (in English)

See on the map
BusinessCommunicationArtPolitical scienceInternational studies
Nearest neighborhoods
TrastevereHistoric centreMonteverde
Commute from top areas
  • Trastevere2-8 min walk
  • Testaccio12-20 min
  • Meadows15-25 min

Rent analysis

Average rent by neighborhood

Indicative monthly asking levels for rooms, studios and apartments.

rent figure with a linked source editorial estimate to verify

Indicative monthly rent by neighborhood in Roma
Neighborhood cardsRoomStudioApartment
San Lorenzo~520 EUR~850 EUR~1,600 EUR
Garbatella~480 EUR~780 EUR~1,350 EUR
Marconi~470 EUR~760 EUR~1,300 EUR
Ostiense~520 EUR~860 EUR~1,600 EUR
Prati~630 EUR~1,050 EUR~2,000 EUR
Trastevere~650 EUR~1,100 EUR~1,950 EUR
Esquilino~500 EUR~820 EUR~1,550 EUR
Testaccio~580 EUR~980 EUR~1,800 EUR
Trieste~560 EUR~950 EUR~1,750 EUR
Parioli~650 EUR~1,150 EUR~2,200 EUR
Nomentano~540 EUR~900 EUR~1,650 EUR
Monte Sacro~470 EUR~780 EUR~1,250 EUR
Tuscolano~450 EUR~750 EUR~1,250 EUR
Torpignattara~420 EUR~680 EUR~1,150 EUR
Centocelle~420 EUR~690 EUR~1,150 EUR
EUR~560 EUR~950 EUR~1,750 EUR

Cheapest: Torpignattara, Centocelle, Tuscolano

Mid-range: Esquilino, San Lorenzo, Ostiense

Premium: Trastevere, Parioli, Prati

Safety

Safety notes

Safer neighborhoods

Parioli, Trieste, EUR, Meadows

Areas to be careful with

Termini and its surrounding streets in the evening, isolated areas of the eastern suburbs, very touristy areas (be careful of pickpocketing)

  • The most common risk for new arrivals is opportunistic petty crime (pickpocketing) on ​​crowded vehicles and in tourist areas.
  • The perception of safety changes a lot from street to street and between day and night: it evaluates the building, street and evening commute, not just the name of the neighborhood.
  • Prefer houses close to the metro or lit stations for late returns.

Student perspective: Students: favor simple routes to campus, illuminated stops and clear contracts; San Lorenzo, Garbatella and Marconi remain the most practical for university.

Nightlife

Where to go out

Trastevere

historic venues, aperitifs, international nightlife

Heart of Roman nightlife: alleys full of bars and restaurants, very touristy and alive every evening.

San Lorenzo

student life, pubs, concerts

Bohemian and university, with affordable prices a stone's throw from Sapienza.

Testaccio

clubs, discos, Roman cuisine

Monte Testaccio concentrates historic clubs and discos, including trattorias and the local market.

Pigneto / Torpignattara

independent bars, cocktails, alternative scene

The pedestrian Via del Pigneto is the creative and multicultural hub of the eastern nightlife.

Ostiense

clubs, street art, post-industrial evenings

Former industrial area with bars and clubs, near Roma Tre and Ostiense station.

Monti

wine bars, elegant aperitifs, boutiques

In the historic center near the Colosseum, fashionable and more intimate than the nightlife areas.

Transport

Getting around Roma

Rome has an extensive network - 3 metro lines (A, B/B1, C), trams, an extensive bus network, FL regional trains and the Rome-Lido line - but it is less widespread than Milan: choosing a house near a metro or station makes a big difference in terms of time.

Metro Metro A (orange)Metro B / B1 (blue)Metro C (green)
Tram / busTrams (lines 2, 3, 5, 8, 14, 19) and an extensive bus network cover areas without a metro; buses can be slow and crowded during rush hour.
TrainThe FL regional railways, the Rome-Lido (Metromare) and the Termini, Tiburtina and Ostiense nodes connect the suburbs, the coast and the metropolitan area; the FL1 reaches Fiumicino airport.
Pass info Ticket 100 min 1,50 EUR24 h 8,50 EUR48 h 15 EUR72 h 22 EURWeekly CIS 29 EURMonthly personal 35 EURAnnual 250 EUR
WalkabilityVery pedestrian-friendly and pleasant historic centre, with ZTL and Zone 30 which limit traffic; in the suburbs walkability drops and the car often becomes necessary.
Bike-friendlinessCycle network of approximately 331 km (of which ~100 km in parks and historic villas); the Biciplan aims to extend it, but traffic, cobblestones and some climbs remain obstacles. Bike sharing active in central areas.

Transport sources ATAC Roma — Biglietti e abbonamentiRoma Servizi per la Mobilità — Ciclabilità (rete e Biciplan)

Cost of living

Monthly budget estimate

Reference monthly budget 750-1,200 EUR/month

single room + utilities + groceries + subscription · excluding university fees

Spending items

Food around 250-350 EUR/month (personal spending) cheap meal ~15 EUR
Transport 35 EUR per month (personal Rome subscription, unlimited travel)
Utilities approximately EUR 180 for 85 m2 sharing 50-90 EUR per person
Coffee / bars cappuccino approximately EUR 1.90 cheap meal around 15 EUR

Budget sources LUMSA — Factsheet 2026-2027, cost of living in RomeATAC Roma — Abbonamento mensile personale RomaNumbeo — Costo della vita a Roma

Transparency

Roma data sources and updates

Check where the data comes from, which fields each source covers and when it was reviewed. One source does not automatically validate other figures.

Page reviewed

Next review by:

6 registered references

6/6 with a check date

Policy: review within 12 months. Status and date apply to the individual reference, not the whole city.

Budget and cost of living 3
Transport 2
Local rent 0

No specific source is registered yet: related figures remain indicative or under review.

Map and boundaries 1

Decision guide

Pros and cons of living in Roma

5 strengths

  1. Rome has an extensive network - 3 metro lines (A, B/B1, C), trams, an extensive bus network, FL regional trains and the Rome-Lido line - but it is less widespread than Milan: choosing a house near a metro or station makes a big difference in terms of time.
  2. Sapienza — Università di Roma, Università Roma Tre, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata: poli di studio rilevanti per la città.
  3. Students: favor simple routes to campus, illuminated stops and clear contracts; San Lorenzo, Garbatella and Marconi remain the most practical for university.
  4. The room is the main item: the editorial range goes from ~420 EUR in the eastern areas (Torpignattara, Centocelle) to ~650 EUR in the center and in the prestigious neighborhoods (Trastevere, Parioli, Prati).
  5. San Lorenzo, Garbatella, Marconi sono tra le zone analizzate nella guida.

5 drawbacks

  1. The most common risk for new arrivals is opportunistic petty crime (pickpocketing) on ​​crowded vehicles and in tourist areas.
  2. Rents for an entire apartment (two-room/three-room apartment) follow the Numbeo range for Rome: around EUR 1,150-1,350 in the suburbs, EUR 1,500-1,800 in the central areas and EUR 1,950-2,200 in the prestigious ones.
  3. Uneven urban quality
  4. Rent, scores and commute notes are indicative and should be verified before real decisions.

FAQ

Questions about moving to Roma

Is Rome a good city for students?

Yes: it has the widest university offering in Italy (Sapienza, Roma Tre, Tor Vergata, LUISS and several private universities). The critical point is rent in central areas: it is best to compare neighborhoods and metro lines and search in advance.

Is Rome a good city for workers?

Yes, especially for public administration, media and audiovisual (Cinecittà, RAI), tourism, research, healthcare and international organizations (FAO, WFP). The market is large, but transport times must be taken into account when choosing a house.

Which neighborhoods are worth looking at?

For students: San Lorenzo, Garbatella, Marconi and Ostiense, close to the universities. For those who work: Prati, Trieste, Nomentano and EUR, based on budget and location.

Which neighborhoods are cheapest?

Torpignattara, Centocelle and Tuscolano offer the lowest fares by metro; Garbatella and Marconi are a good compromise close to Roma Tre.

Is public transport convenient?

The network is extensive (3 metro lines, trams, buses, regional trains and Rome-Lido) but less widespread than Milan: choosing a house near a metro or station makes a big difference in terms of time.

How much budget is needed?

For a student approximately 750-1,200 EUR per month between room, utilities, expenses and subscription; university fees are extra. Those who work most often place themselves between 1,300 and 2,100 EUR.

Are the universities far from the centre?

Sapienza, Roma Tre, LUISS and the central universities are well served; Tor Vergata and the Bio-Medico Campus are peripheral and require train, shuttle or car: evaluate the location before choosing the house.