For this reason, I\u2019ve asked an expert in financial matters to post some useful information on my blog.\u00a0 He has written an article which will appear here in a couple of days.\u00a0 In the meantime, I\u2019ll attempt to answer a few of the more pedestrian questions myself that arise from time to time.<\/p>\n
Credit is extended to Mamma, all others pay cash<\/h2>\n
First know that Italy is still very much a cash society.\u00a0 Credit cards are accepted reluctantly or not at all in many places.\u00a0 The average Italian citizen makes 26 credit card transactions a year<\/em>.\u00a0 According to the Bank of Italy, that\u2019s half the European average (which in itself is way below the US average).\u00a0 Rome is a big city and a major tourist destination, so it is easier here than the rest of the country.<\/p>\n But don\u2019t count on using your American Express to pay the barber or the butcher.\u00a0 Besides, most credit card companies charge a significant foreign transaction fee, so it would be to your advantage to get out of the habit of using plastic for every small purchase.\u00a0 Back in the States I hardly ever carried more than $20-30 in my wallet and I used to use a credit card for everything, even a $3.00 coffee at Starbucks.\u00a0 Here in Italy, I visit the Bancomat once or twice a week and use that money to pay for all my expenses, including my rent.<\/p>\n Why is this, you might wonder? \u00a0Well, Italy\u2019s culture of cash is deeply rooted in its history. Strong family traditions have made them great savers in order to ensure their children\u2019s financial future.<\/p>\n A reluctance to use credit cards has also made them the euro-region\u2019s least-indebted consumers. \u00a0They love owning a house, but at the same time the mortgage lending system is much more restrictive than in the US (you actually have to prove that you\u2019ll be able to afford the monthly payments). Consequently, Italy largely avoided the global real estate bubble during 2002-2007.<\/p>\n Great, but you might ask: how does that affect me?\u00a0 I tell you all of this just to underscore the important fact that you need to start thinking about using cash for almost everything, including your rent. \u00a0But watch out for your wallet in crowded places.\u00a0 Getting pick-pocketed by a gypsy on the Metro is almost a rite of passage to living in Rome.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n As far as the cost of living in Rome, it is equivalent to any big international city.\u00a0 In fact, it\u2019s much cheaper than New York, London, or Tokyo.\u00a0 Nevertheless, it\u2019s more expensive than living in a suburb or small town. \u00a0Some things are more expensive in Italy than in the U.S., notably energy costs; fuel, electricity, heating, etc.<\/p>\n On the other hand, some things are much cheaper, such as food and wine. \u00a0These items are not only cheaper in Rome than almost anywhere in the U.S., but as everyone knows, the quality is also much higher.\u00a0 Start your diet before you go and then leave your guilt at home.\u00a0 Life\u2019s too short to eat bad food and drink bad wine.<\/p>\n OK, let\u2019s talk about some specifics.\u00a0 Obviously, your greatest expense will be rent.\u00a0 Like in all cities, the cost of rent is relative to the size, condition, and location of the property. \u00a0If you choose to find a studio apartment or a (very) small one-bedroom by yourself, you\u2019ll likely pay 900-1100 Euros a month, including utilities.<\/p>\n If you find a flatmate to share an average two-bedroom place, you\u2019ll reduce your cost to 650-700 a month.\u00a0 I should mention that these figures assume that you will not<\/i> be living in Piazza Navona or on the Via Veneto.\u00a0 Rather, I am referencing the neighborhoods that are just outside of the historical center.\u00a0 Piazza Bologna, San Giovanni, EUR, etc.<\/p>\n As far as food, of course it depends\u00a0on how much cooking you do at home versus eating out.\u00a0 As a general rule, you can say that packaged foods cost about the same here as in the U.S.\u00a0 Fresh meat, fish, and produce are a little cheaper in Rome than in the average U.S. city, but of a much higher quality.\u00a0 And now here\u2019s the really good news: wine is about half the price! \u00a0Salute!<\/p>\n Having a car in Rome is not only expensive, but it\u2019s also inconvenient.\u00a0 It\u2019s a big headache that you just don\u2019t need.\u00a0 Gasoline costs 3-4 times as much as in the U.S. and there\u2019s nowhere to park. Using a scooter amounts to playing Russian Roulette by proxy.\u00a0 The so-called rules of the road are completely different here.\u00a0 Don\u2019t get me wrong, there are rules.\u00a0 But if they weren\u2019t programmed into your DNA at birth, then you\u2019ll never be able to understand them.\u00a0 Don\u2019t even try.<\/p>\n For these reasons, I strongly recommend using public transportation.\u00a0 The public transportation in Rome, while not perfect, offers many more choices than in the U.S.\u00a0 For 35 Euros you can buy a monthly pass (abbonamento mensile<\/i>) for unlimited use of all the buses, trams, subways, and commuter trains.<\/p>\n![\"cost](\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7017\/6629062223_6ed032f4d5_m.jpg\" "\\"Credit")
<\/a>The Cost of Living in Rome<\/h2>\n
![\"cost](\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/f\/f1\/Pincerna-roman.jpg\" "\\"A")
<\/a>![\"abbonamento](\"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/abbondamento-mensile-300x212.jpg\")
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