Rent to Income Ratio Rome: 2024 Benchmarks
How much of your income goes to rent in Rome? See 2024 rent-to-income ratio benchmarks, from median to high-cost scenarios, based on ISTAT data.
Understanding the rent to income ratio rome renters face is essential before signing a lease or planning a move. Based on 2024 ISTAT and Numbeo data, Rome's housing costs consume a significant share of take-home pay — and the burden varies sharply depending on where you fall in the income distribution.
Rome Rent Benchmarks at a Glance
Monthly rents in Rome span a wide range. At the lower end (10th percentile), renters pay around €650 per month. The median rent sits at €1,100, while higher-cost rentals at the 90th percentile reach €1,900 per month. These figures are drawn from ISTAT housing survey data combined with Numbeo crowdsourced data for 2024. Note that confidence in these benchmarks is rated low, so treat them as directional rather than precise.
What Share of Income Goes to Rent?
The rent-to-income ratio tells you what percentage of gross monthly income a household spends on rent. In Rome, the picture varies considerably across the income spectrum. Renters at the 25th income percentile spend around 26% of their income on rent — close to the commonly cited 30% affordability threshold. At the median, that figure rises to 36%, meaning the typical Rome renter is already in cost-burdened territory. For those at the 75th percentile of the rent-to-income distribution, the ratio climbs to 48%, a level that leaves little room for other essential expenses.
Is Rome Affordable? Reading the Numbers
The standard affordability benchmark is spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing. By that measure, only renters near the lower end of Rome's income distribution manage to stay within the threshold. The median ratio of 36% suggests that housing affordability is a real pressure point for most residents. A ratio of 48% at the 75th percentile indicates that a substantial portion of Rome's renters are significantly cost-burdened. For context on how this compares to other European capitals, see the Rent to Income Ratio Paris: What You Need to Know and Rent to Income Ratio Berlin: What Renters Need to Know guides.
How to Use These Ratios When Budgeting
If you are planning to rent in Rome, use the benchmarks as a sanity check against your own income. Divide your target monthly rent by your gross monthly income and multiply by 100. If the result exceeds 36%, you are above the Rome median burden and should factor in limited financial flexibility. If it exceeds 48%, you are in the highest-pressure tier. For a detailed look at what specific rent levels look like across the city, the Average Rent in Rome 2026 | Monthly Cost Benchmarks page breaks down costs by property type and neighbourhood.
Data Sources and Confidence
The figures on this page are sourced from ISTAT housing surveys and Numbeo crowdsourced data for 2024. The confidence rating for Rome's benchmarks is low, reflecting limitations in granular local data availability. Treat all figures as indicative ranges rather than precise market values. Rent levels and income distributions shift over time, so always cross-reference with current listings and official statistical releases before making financial decisions.
Use the SpendVerdict rent affordability calculator to see exactly what rent-to-income ratio you would face in Rome based on your own income.
Is your rent actually affordable?
Enter your salary, city, and rent — get an instant verdict in 30 seconds.
Check your verdict — it's free →