Rome is cheaper than Paris. It's cheaper than London. But it's not cheap in the way a lot of travel blogs imply.
There's a wide gap between the Rome experience tourists get — overpriced restaurants near the Colosseum, tourist menus near the Vatican — and what visitors who do a bit of research actually pay.
This is the full breakdown, with real 2026 prices.
1. Getting There
Rome's main airport is Fiumicino (FCO), about 30km southwest of the city. Ciampino (CIA) handles most Ryanair and budget routes.
From the UK: budget return flights run £40–£120 depending on season. From North America: $500–$1,000 round trip. From elsewhere in Europe: €30–€150 typically.
The Leonardo Express train from FCO to Rome Termini runs every 15 minutes, costs €14, and takes 32 minutes. Don't take a taxi — they'll charge you €60+ for the same journey.
2. Accommodation
| Option | Cost/night | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm | €20–€40 | Good options in Termini area |
| Budget B&B / guesthouse | €60–€100 | Near Termini or Pigneto |
| Mid-range hotel (Historic Centre) | €120–€220 | Expensive for location |
| Mid-range (Trastevere/Prati) | €90–€160 | Better value, still central |
| Boutique hotel | €180–€350 | Best Rome has to offer |
The best value area: Prati (near the Vatican) and Trastevere. Both are genuinely central, beautiful, and 30–40% cheaper than the Historic Centre. Testaccio is the cheapest central option with the best food market.
3. Food
This is where Rome trips can either be excellent or terrible depending purely on where you eat.
A full sit-down lunch at a proper trattoria — pasta, main, wine — runs €18–€30. The same meal at a tourist restaurant near the Colosseum or Trevi Fountain runs €35–€55 and is significantly worse.
What Romans actually eat for cheap
- Supplì (fried rice balls) — €2 each, street food staple
- Pizza al taglio (by the slice) — €2.50–€4 per 100g slice
- Espresso at the bar — €1–€1.50 (sitting down: €2.50–€4)
- Aperitivo hour (6–8pm) — pay €8–€12 for a drink, free food buffet included
- Mercato di Testaccio — best food market in the city, €8–€15 for a full meal
The tourist menu trap
Any restaurant displaying a "menù turistico" sign (set tourist menu, typically €15–€20) is to be avoided. It's cheap-looking but the food is usually mediocre reheated pasta. Walk past it and find somewhere with a handwritten chalkboard menu instead.
4. Attractions
| Attraction | Cost | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine | €18 | Combined ticket. Book weeks ahead — queues are brutal |
| Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel | €17 | Book online months ahead. Skip-the-line mandatory |
| St. Peter's Basilica | Free | Queue for the dome (€6–€8). Book early for dome access |
| Borghese Gallery | €15 | Must book in advance — strict visitor limits |
| Pantheon | €5 | Free on first Sunday of month. No booking required |
| Trevi Fountain | Free | Go at 7am. By 10am it's a sea of people |
| Piazza Navona, Campo de' Fiori | Free | Best in evening when lit up |
5. What Your Budget Buys
Budget: €70–€100/day
- Hostel or budget B&B near Termini
- Supplì, pizza al taglio, market lunches
- One paid attraction every 2 days
- Bus/metro card
Mid-range: €130–€180/day
- 3-star hotel in Trastevere or Prati
- Trattoria lunches, restaurant dinners
- Main paid attractions
- Occasional aperitivo, glass of wine
5-day Rome estimate: Budget: €500–€700 (exc. flights). Mid-range: €900–€1,400. The Vatican and Colosseum booking fees add €35–€40 per person — factor this in early.
FAQ
Absolutely. The Colosseum, Vatican Museums, and Borghese Gallery all require advance booking — especially from April to October. The Vatican can sell out 2–3 weeks in advance. Book before you leave home.
Generally slightly cheaper — especially for food and accommodation. The main expensive categories in Rome are the major attractions (Vatican, Colosseum) and staying in the Historic Centre. Paris is more expensive for hotels across the board; Rome food is typically cheaper.
Three things: eat at the bar (standing at a cafe counter costs half what sitting down costs), eat where there's no English menu displayed outside, and stay in Prati or Testaccio instead of the Historic Centre. These three changes alone can reduce your daily spend by 30–40%.