Seattle vs Rome

How to read the comparison chart

The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Seattle leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Rome where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Rome's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.

Seattle vs Rome: the short answer

Rome comes out ahead on overall livability (61/100), only marginally above Seattle (59/100). The two cities diverge most on cost of living. On affordability Rome is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Seattle 19 vs Rome 22, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Rome runs warmer in summer (about 24.4°C peak vs 18.6°C in Seattle), while winter lows sit near 4.5°C in Seattle and 7.7°C in Rome. On natural-disaster exposure Rome is the safer choice (safety 68/100); the dominant modelled hazard is wildfire for Seattle and wildfire for Rome.

Which city should you choose?

• On a tight budget → Rome — lower everyday costs.
• You want warmth → Rome — hotter summers.
• Safety is the priority → Rome — lower disaster risk.
• Best all-rounder → Rome — highest overall livability.

Data & methodology

Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.

Compiled by the CityLivably data team from open public datasets (World Bank, USGS, climate normals).

FAQ

Is Seattle or Rome better to live in?

Rome scores higher overall — 61 vs 59 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.

Which is cheaper, Seattle or Rome?

Rome has the lower cost of living (cost index 22 vs 19; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).

Which is warmer, Seattle or Rome?

Rome — summer highs reach about 24.4°C versus 18.6°C in Seattle.

Which is safer from natural disasters, Seattle or Rome?

Rome (disaster-safety 68/100). Main hazard: wildfire in Seattle, wildfire in Rome.

What is the main natural-disaster risk in Seattle?

wildfire is the dominant modelled hazard for Seattle on our risk index.

How is the Seattle vs Rome comparison calculated?

Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.