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Bologna vs Rome

Italy flagBolognaItaly flagRome

Bologna and Rome are compared across affordability, safety, healthcare, career, culture and food, and public life. Bologna has the broader all-round edge, while Rome leads on safety. The better fit depends on which of those relocation priorities matters most.

How they compare

AffordabilitySafetyHealthcareCareerCulturePublic life
  • Bologna
  • Rome
Affordability
69
68
Safety
68
69
Healthcare
66
61
Career
54
50
Culture & food
74
71
Public life & spaces
63
56
Overall
63
59

Objective 0–100 scores from source-backed CrossBorders data. Green marks the category leader; gold is the overall leader.

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Category by category

Is Bologna or Rome cheaper to live in?

Bologna 69Rome 68

Bologna has the lower open-market one-bedroom rent on a new lease, at about €694 per month, compared with €769 in Rome. Against one typical employee's mean net pay, Bologna is manageable solo at roughly 32%, while Rome is tight alone at roughly 38%.

Is Bologna or Rome safer?

Bologna 68Rome 69

Rome edges ahead narrowly. Serious violent crime is very low in both; Rome's honest sting is pickpocketing around its tourist sites, a shade worse than Bologna's more contained student-city petty crime.

Does Bologna or Rome have better healthcare?

Bologna 66Rome 61

Bologna leads, thanks to Emilia-Romagna's strong regional system, while Rome's care is solid but a notch behind on hospital access.

Is Bologna or Rome better for your career?

Bologna 54Rome 50

Bologna is ahead — its university and manufacturing economy against Rome's job market, which runs thin outside tourism, culture and government roles.

Does Bologna or Rome have a better food and culture scene?

Bologna 74Rome 71

Bologna edges out Rome narrowly, though both are exceptional: Bologna's pasta tradition against Rome's unmatched density of museums, monuments and deep local cuisine.

Does Bologna or Rome have better public spaces and street life?

Bologna 63Rome 56

The clearest gap favours Bologna. Rome's piazzas and ancient open spaces are glorious but visibly neglected, chronic litter included, while Bologna's porticoed centre stays more consistently sociable and walkable.

The verdict

Choose Bologna for the broader all-round balance, especially if affordability matters most. Choose Rome if safety matters more. Compare their rent burden and day-to-day strengths before deciding.

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Italy flagLiving in BolognaItaly flagLiving in Rome

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