
Rome is rightfully at the top of almost every visitor’s list. It’s no surprise because it offers so much to experience. Rome is also one of the more expensive cities in Europe but there are still plenty of ways to cut down on your travel expenses. In this Rome travel price guide, we’ve outlined the estimated travel expenses for food, accommodation, attractions, alcohol, and other common travel expenses to help you budget your trip to Rome.
This article is part of our City Price Guide Series — Click here to see all our city price guides.
Average Daily Cost For Visiting Rome

For budget-minded travelers, it costs around €45-€82/day to visit Rome. These prices are based on what you’ll need to visit the city comfortably as a budget traveler. If you want to upgrade your accommodations, add another €50-€120/night depending on your stay. These prices also don’t include things like big nights out at the bar/pub, club entry fees, souvenir/clothing shopping, tours, random purchases, nicer food, etc.
Daily Cost of Budget Travel in Rome: €72 ($82 USD)
- Attractions: €14 (one paid attraction + any free sights)
- Food: €25
- Breakfast: €3
- Lunch: €6
- Dinner: €12.50
- Treat (dessert/beer/wine): €3
- Transportation: €3
- Accommodation (hostel): €30
Daily Cost of Frugal Travel in Rome: €42 ($52 USD)
- Attractions: €5 (free walking tour + visit one of the free sights)
- Food: €14
- Breakfast: €1
- Lunch: €5 (ethnic street food, takeaway shop fare, or similar)
- Dinner: €7 (make your own meal in the hostel or grab something cheap)
- Beer: €1.50 (chill out at the park and have a cold one)
- Transportation: €1.50
- Accommodation (cheap hostel bed): €20
Rome Attraction and Museum Prices
Rome has a number of free things to do, but most of the paid attractions are fairly expensive. Rome is also known for its long lines and hoards of tourists, so get up early to beat the crowds.
- Pantheon: Free
- Saint Peter’s Basilica: Free (€5 to climb the stairs to the dome)
- Colosseum & Roman Forum (also includes Palatine Hill): €12
- Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel: €17
- Basilica of St. John Lateran: Free (cloisters: €8)
- Capitoline Museum: €15
- Galleria Borghese: €11
- Walking tour: Free (but you should tip the guides) or €25-€40+ (for paid tours)
- Bike tour: €35-€45
You might consider purchasing the Roma Pass which will get you into a couple of museums and includes unlimited travel on public transit. A 3-day pass is €36, and a 48hr pass is €28. Check out our Rome Pass Review for more in-depth details.
Rome Food Prices
Italy is known for its amazing food, and there is no shortage of it in Rome. However, you will have to do some research before you head out in order to ensure you get a quality meal at a good price — because there are PLENTY of overpriced tourist traps. Read more of our strategies for Eating and Drinking in Europe on a Budget.
Budget Breakfast Prices in Rome: €2-€7
- Many hostels will offer a free simple breakfast that normally consists of cereal, bread/croissant, and maybe milk, coffee, tea, or juice (some hostels will offer more and some less).
- Cappuccino & sweet roll: €2-€6
A Few Budget-Friendly Breakfast Spots:
- D’Angelo: Coffee, croissants, baked goods, and other nice breakfast options for a solid price.
- Homebaked: Pancakes, eggs, and bacon.
- Barnum Cafe: Lovely little cafe with plenty of breakfast options.
- Bar Fondi: Good coffee and croissants.
- Faro: Great coffee.
- Tazza D’Oro: Excellent coffee.
- La Casa del Caffe Tazza d Oro: Excellent coffee.
- Pasticceria Barberini: Excellent baked goods but a bit expensive (but so good).
- Bar il Maritozzaro: The place to go for traditional Roman maritozzo pastry. A bit expensive but worth the price.
Budget Lunch Prices in Rome: €5-€13
- Super budget travelers can make a super cheap lunch of bread, cheese, and fruit from any grocery store for a few dollars.
- Pizza for one: €4-€8
- No-frills, quick pasta: €5-10
- Cheap takeaway meals (like a kebab with fries): €4.
Budget Dinner Prices in Rome: €7-€18
- You can get some nice deals on pizza + drink during the “aperitivo” time of day (usually 6 pm-9 pm). Expect to pay around €7-€12.
- Pasta at a decent restaurant will run around €10-€12.
- You should be able to find dinner at a restaurant in a less touristy part of town for around €18.
- Many of the options from the Budget Lunch section above also apply to dinner.
A Few Budget-Friendly Lunch and Dinner Spots
- Il Pastaio di Roma: Cheap but delicious pasts to go.
- Pastasciutta: Cheap and fresh pasta.
- Pizza Zizza: Amazing pizza by the slice.
- Pizza E Mozzarella: More pizza by the slice.
- Pizza Florida: Even more great pizza by the slice.
- Pizzeria Loffredo: Excellent traditional Italian pizza.
- Sapori e Delizie: More excellent traditional Italian pizza.
- Pinsere: Even more amazing pizza!
- Pane e Salame: Excellent sandwiches. Always a line.
- I Panizzeri: Super tasty Italian sandwiches.
- Panino Divino: Great paninis served fast.
- Baguetteria del Fico: Lovely sandwich shop.
Drinks and Alcohol Prices in Rome
- A pint of standard beer out: €5
- A pint of beer from a grocery store: €1.50
- Bottle of (drinkable) wine from the grocery store: €5
- Cappuccino: €1
- Gelato: €2
- Tiramisu: €2.50-€3.50 (The best is from Two Sizes)
Rome Transportation Prices

Rome has an extensive network of subways, trams, and buses that will get you around the city easily.
Roman Metro (subway), Tram, & Bus:
- Single one-way ticket (BIT): €1.50
- 1-day pass (BIG): €6
- 3-day pass (BTI): €16.50
- Week pass (CIS): €24
Bus from airport to city: €4-€5
Train (Leonardo Express) from the airport to the city: €11
Taxi from airport to city: €48 (this is a set price)
Rome Hostel, Hotel, & Rental Apartment Prices
It is generally recommended that you book your accommodation in advance since the city is such a popular travel destination. Many people find that the Termini station can be a little dangerous at night, so you may consider avoiding hotels within the immediate vicinity.
Hostel Prices in Rome: €20-€50/Night
We suggest budgeting about €28/night per person for a decent hostel — although many hostels raise their prices on the weekend. Remember, these prices are for a bed in a shared dorm room. If you want a private room, expect to pay €100-€120. Check out the latest hostel prices at Hostelworld since prices are always fluctuating.
The Best-Rated Hostels in Rome
- Wiki Hostel & Green Village
- La Controra Hostel Rome
- Roman Holidays Hostel
- Legend R.G
- The Yellow
- Freedom Traveller
- Hostella Female Only**
- Orsa Maggiore for Women Only**
** Female-only hostel
Check out our guide to the Best Hostels in Rome for more in-depth hostel reviews.
Budget Hotel Prices in Rome: €70-€165/Night
Hotels in Rome are generally more expensive than other cities in Southern Europe — probably because it’s one of the most visited cities in Europe. At the low end, you shouldn’t expect much, but once you get around €90/night, the hotels get a bit better.
We suggest checking out Booking.com to see hotel prices for your dates since they’re always changing.
Rental Apartment Prices in Rome: €80-€160+/Night
Rome has a ton of rental apartments in all parts of the city. These rentals can be a good option for large groups or travelers who want a little more space (and a kitchen). On the other hand, there are a few downsides to rental apartments — like limited/inconvenient check-in processes and extra cleaning fees/service charges (which can make short stays quite a bit more expensive). For short stays, we prefer hotels/hostels but rental apartments can be a nice option for longer stays.
Airbnb is always popular but you can sometimes find cheaper/better options on our list of Airbnb Alternatives.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COST TO VISIT EUROPE
Check out our guide on How Much It Costs To Backpack Europe to learn more about budgeting your entire trip (including many more city price guides).


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