After attending courses in both Paris and Rome, Luca offers a direct comparison of life in the two cities — from university quality and daily costs to food and public transport. With both cities as an excellent destination for studying abroad, find out which one takes the lead.
I’ve just completed a course at Sciences Po and, besides all the knowledge I gained and the incredible people I met, I couldn’t help but notice both the similarities and differences between Paris and the city where I study full-time, Rome, at LUISS Guido Carli University. So, in the lines below, I’ll share my personal perspective on what I discovered in each of these two cities.
Both Rome and Paris are home to some of the top European universities, especially in the fields of social sciences and the arts. Institutions like Sorbonne Université, Sciences Po, and École Polytechnique are among the leaders in a long list of Parisian universities that consistently rank high. Looking south to Italy’s capital, we find Sapienza, LUISS, and John Cabot as Rome’s top institutions. While both cities are excellent hubs for students, Paris takes the lead in this category due to its more international environment and stronger research centers.
From a student’s perspective, I was searching for places where I could experience both culture and entertainment — and both cities delivered, but in very different ways. Rome feels like an open-air museum. Especially in the central and northern parts of the city, art is everywhere. Whether it’s stunning fountains or breathtaking buildings, Rome is a fascinating place to walk through, and wherever you go, you’re bound to find a nice spot for aperitivo. Italians love going out, socializing, having a beer, a glass of wine, or some aperol — and the city is full of vibrant spots to do so.
Paris, on the other hand, has the most museums in the EU, followed immediately by Rome, and it houses the most famous museum and painting in the world — the Louvre and the Mona Lisa. In terms of nightlife, Paris leans more toward exclusivity and aesthetic appeal when it comes to bars and clubs, in contrast to Rome’s more casual vibe. Personally, I prefer Rome for its warm and relaxed atmosphere when it comes to socializing, so I’d call it a tie in this category.
The two cities have roughly similar populations (disregarding their wider metro areas), but their public transport systems are completely different. Paris boasts 14 metro lines, a vast bus network, and has invested a lot in becoming a bike-friendly city. Rome, on the other hand, only has three metro lines, limited bus coverage, and cyclists must be quite brave to share the roads with scooters and cars.
Having used both systems, Paris is clearly better organized, with plenty of signs, reliable schedules, and punctual buses and trains. Rome’s metro is decent, but when it comes to buses, unless you’re in a rush, you’re better off walking. With a clear win here, Paris pulls ahead — score: 2-1.
This is one category where the two cities couldn’t be more different: Paris is significantly more expensive. From groceries and coffee to rent and dining out, the French capital surpasses Rome in nearly every area — often with double the prices.
To illustrate, rent in Paris can easily go above €1,300 a month for less than 20 square meters (and chances are, it’s on the 5th floor with no elevator). In Rome, for around €1,200 a month, you can get a charming 40–50 square meter apartment that feels straight out of the Renaissance. No contest here — Rome takes this round and levels the score: 2-2.
This one might be even closer than the student life comparison. Food is definitely a strength for both cities. Local cuisine spots are fantastic and authentic, and both cities offer an impressive mix of Asian, Arab, and Indian food.
For lunch, Paris has more variety, while in Italy, people often grab something to go — like a panino. But for dinner, trying real Italian food — beyond the classic pizza and pasta — made me understand why so many people consider it the best cuisine in the world.
This is definitely a subjective category, but for me, Paris wins — even if Rome might have slightly better restaurants, the sheer variety of pastries and bakeries in Paris gives it a narrow edge. (No matter which city you’re in, avoid places with English menus.)
With a final score of 3–2, Paris takes the win in my book — although Rome comes incredibly close. I truly hope you get the chance to study in either city. Both are fascinating and full of opportunities.
PS: For both Paris and Rome, knowing or quickly learning French or Italian is a big plus.
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