Study abroad in Rome
Housing, Erasmus groups, universities, costs and student life for exchange students in Rome.
Country
ItalyStudent Budget
EUR 850 – 1,400/month
Transport Card
ATAC monthly pass €35 for under-26 (Metrebus Under 26) — unlimited bus, metro, tram, and urban rail
Population
2.75M city / 4.3M metro (ISTAT, 2024 estimate)
City Vibe
Live inside a 2,700-year-old open-air museum: big public universities, affordable student life, subsidised canteens, and a rhythm that treats long lunches and late dinners as daily infrastructure.
Who loves this city?
Students who want a southern-European semester with deep historical texture, large public campuses, strong community neighbourhoods, and affordable mensa-centred daily life.
What makes it special
Rome is one of the few European capitals where student rent is actually affordable in central neighbourhoods, and where daily life (coffee €1.20, pizza al taglio €3, mensa €3-5) remains genuinely cheap inside a world-class cultural setting.
Newcomer shocks
- Bureaucracy (permesso di soggiorno, codice fiscale) takes weeks — start week one.
- Public transport can be unreliable; locals build 15-minute buffers into every commute.
- Dinner at 20:30 is early. Restaurants fill up after 21:00.
Before You Land
A few practical setup details students usually sort before arrival
Connectivity, insurance, and secure public WiFi are the boring things you only notice when you need them. Keep them on your checklist, but keep the guide itself front and centre.
Arrival Connectivity
Sort an eSIM before you land
Maps, ride apps, 2FA codes, and WhatsApp are usually the first things students need from the airport.
Coverage Check
Confirm your travel insurance
Even when the university gives guidance, students usually need to double-check what is covered before departure.
Public WiFi
Have a backup for shared networks
Campus halls, airports, and cafés are convenient, but many students prefer an extra privacy layer when they first arrive.
Weather & Packing
| Season | High / Low | Conditions | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12°C / 3°C | Cool with frequent rain | Dark by 17:00; layer up. |
| February | 13°C / 4°C | Cool, rainy spells | Days stretching back out. |
| March | 16°C / 6°C | Mild with showers | Good walking weather returns. |
| April | 19°C / 8°C | Warm and mostly dry | Peak outdoor month. |
| May | 24°C / 12°C | Warm and dry | Perfect terrace season. |
| June | 29°C / 16°C | Hot, dry | Plan outdoor visits before 11:00 or after 17:00. |
| July | 32°C / 19°C | Very hot and dry | City empties mid-month; locals head for the coast. |
| August | 32°C / 19°C | Hot, some storms | Many shops close 2-3 weeks for ferragosto. |
| September | 28°C / 16°C | Warm, dry start of academic year | Classic arrival month. |
| October | 22°C / 12°C | Mild, occasional rain | Evenings cooling fast. |
| November | 16°C / 7°C | Wet and grey | Shortest and rainiest month. |
| December | 13°C / 4°C | Cool, rainy spells | Christmas markets open early December. |
Rome winters are mild (5-13°C), rain is the main nuisance. No snow to plan for. Metro lines A and B run until 23:30 (01:30 Fri/Sat); night buses cover the gap.
Packing checklist
- Waterproof shoes for autumn-winter — Roman streets flood after heavy rain.
- Light layers for autumn and spring; a warm jacket only for December-February mornings.
- Summer arrivals: breathable clothes, refillable water bottle (Rome's nasoni public fountains are free and drinkable), sun hat.
- Comfortable walking shoes — most of the historic centre is cobblestones and walking is the default.
Cost of Living
Cost of Living Index
59.6 / 100
Mid-range · World avg ≈ 44
| Category | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Room Rent | EUR 400 – 650/month | Typical double-shared or single room in a shared flat. San Lorenzo, Pigneto, and Tiburtina are best-value central options. |
| Studio Rent | EUR 750 – 1,200/month | Central studios are scarce; Monti and Trastevere command a premium. Look outside the ring road for better deals. |
| Transport Monthly Pass | EUR 35 – 35/month | Metrebus Under 26 monthly pass covers all ATAC buses, trams, metro, and urban rail inside Rome. |
Going out & dining
Supermarket basket
Source: Numbeo · Prices approximate, updated periodically.
Housing
San Lorenzo
Varies by street, room type, and season.Sapienza students; the default student district, lively and cheap.. Commute: Walking distance to Sapienza; trams 3 and 19 into the centre.
Pigneto
Varies by street, room type, and season.Creative, alternative scene with cheap rent and strong bar/food culture.. Commute: Tram 5/14 and Termini-Giardinetti line; 20 min to Sapienza.
Trastevere
Varies by street, room type, and season.Students who want the picture-postcard Rome with the best social buzz.. Commute: Tram 8 to Largo Argentina; bus H to Termini; 30 min to Sapienza.
Monti / Cavour
Varies by street, room type, and season.Walkable central living, close to the Colosseum and metro line B.. Commute: Metro B Cavour stop; 15 min to Sapienza by metro + walk.
Bologna / Tiburtina
Varies by street, room type, and season.Quieter residential base with the best metro connection north.. Commute: Metro B to Termini or Tiburtina; short tram to Sapienza.
Where to search
Documents to prepare
Passport or national ID
Admission or exchange confirmation
Proof of funds or guarantor details if requested
Deposit funds and signed lease
Health insurance or local registration documents if required
Timing
Start with university housing as soon as the host opens applications.
Keep temporary accommodation for arrival if the private market is tight.
For one-semester stays, confirm minimum term and cancellation rules before signing.
Red flags
Never transfer money or deposits before signing a written rental contract and verifying the landlord's identity.
Always request a live video tour or physical viewing of the property to confirm it exists and matches the description.
Be extremely suspicious of listings priced significantly lower than the local market average for that neighborhood.
Safety
Safety Index
53.2 / 100
Moderate — stay alert
Crime Index
46.8 / 100
Moderate crime
Source: Numbeo · Lower crime = safer. Higher safety = safer.
Rome is generally safe for students. Pickpocketing is the main concern, especially on bus 64 (Termini–Vatican), around Termini station, and in crowded tourist zones. Violent crime is rare. Student districts like San Lorenzo and Pigneto stay active late but require normal urban awareness.
Top risks
- Pickpocketing on bus 64 and 40 (Termini–Vatican), around Termini station, and in crowded tourist clusters (Colosseum, Trevi, Pantheon).
- Phone snatching by scooter near Trastevere and central nightlife corridors — keep phones out of hands at curb level.
- Housing scams on Facebook groups demanding deposits before viewing — always visit in person or video-call before paying.
Transport
🚇 Metro (ATAC)
Lines A (orange) and B (blue) cross the city; line C still expanding. Fastest option for student commutes from Tiburtina, Bologna, or Cavour to the centre.
Metrebus Under 26 monthly pass at €35.
🚊 Trams and buses (ATAC)
Tram 3 and 19 serve Sapienza; tram 8 links Trastevere to Largo Argentina. Bus network is dense but less punctual than metro.
Covered by the Metrebus monthly pass.
🚆 Regional trains (Trenitalia)
FL1 and FL3 regional lines reach Fiumicino airport, Ostia, and Lazio day-trip destinations cheaply. Validate ticket before boarding.
Trenitalia 'Carta Verde' under 26: €49.50/year for 10% off regional and 10-30% off high-speed.
🚲 Cycling / e-scooter
Rome is hilly and cobblestoned; cycling is harder than in Milan or Bologna. E-scooters (Dott, Lime, Bird) are widely used in the centre.
Scooter apps often run first-ride and monthly-pass promos.
Events & Activities
Natale di Roma (city birthday)
April 21
Free public programming
Historical parades in costume across the Forum and free evening events — Rome's annual founding celebration.
Estate Romana (summer festival)
June-September
Free to low-cost
Outdoor cinema on Tiber Island, open-air concerts, and street markets run all summer at student-friendly prices.
Free first Sunday at state museums
First Sunday of every month
Free
All state museums — including Colosseum, Forum, Borghese, and Castel Sant'Angelo — are free. Queue early.
Day trips by regional train
Year-round
€3-12 round trip
Tivoli (Villa d'Este), Ostia Antica, Orvieto, Naples — all reachable in under 2 hours on regional trains.
medium
Rome Film Festival (Festa del Cinema)
October
€7–15 per screening; industry passes
Rome's international film festival at Auditorium Parco della Musica — major premieres, director talks, affordable tickets
medium
Trastevere Food & Nightlife Crawl
Year-round (Thursday–Saturday evenings)
€3–8 per drink/snack
Rome's most atmospheric neighbourhood — cobblestone streets fill with students, buskers, wine bars and trattorias
Borghese Gallery
Tuesday–Sunday (pre-booking essential)
€15; student discount
World's greatest private sculpture collection — Bernini masterpieces in a villa set in a public park; stunning and uncrowded
Student Perks
Museums & Culture
ISIC (International Student Identity Card) Discounts
Get international student discounts at main museums, galleries, cultural sites, and tourist attractions.
VisitLocal Museum Youth/Student Days
Many national and municipal museums offer free or highly discounted entry for students and young residents under 26.
VisitFood Savings
Verify the student transit pass option for the ATAC monthly pass €35 for under-26 (Metrebus Under 26) — unlimited bus, metro, tram, and urban rail to save on daily commuting costs. Fares & passes
Universities
Sapienza University of Rome
Europe's largest university by enrollment (QS ~220, founded 1303) — 130,000 students in the heart of Rome across law, medicine, humanities, architecture, and science. One of Erasmus Italy's top destinations with 3,000+ inbound partners.
Social Life
What Students Usually Get Wrong
Student Associations
Meeting Places 5
Public Groups 4
ESN Sapienza
Main Erasmus network section for Rome's largest university. First stop for welcome weeks, buddies, and citywide trips.
ESN Roma Tre
Active section for students at Roma Tre with its own trips, language tandems, and events calendar.
Erasmus Roma Facebook group
Large public group where students find rooms, sell Interrail passes, and organise meetups.
Rome Language Exchange Meetup
Recurring Italian-English tandem meetups in central bars; very popular with internationals.
Forums & Advice 2
Erasmus+ Community
Official network for exchange students — forums, contacts, and city guides.
Reddit: best neighbourhoods for Erasmus in Rome
Recent thread comparing San Lorenzo, Pigneto, Trastevere, and Monti for exchange students.
Reddit: Sapienza international student experience
Discussion on course registration, mensa, and bureaucracy timelines for incoming students at Sapienza.