On this page you will find our estimated Italy cost of travel. Read on for suggested shoestring and more comfortable backpacking budgets for this popular European country. We also have info on the local currency and typical prices across Italy.
Italy Cost of Travel in 2023
Shoestring Backpacker Budget
- €60/day
For anyone backpacking Italy on a low budget, consider 60 Euros per day as a starting point when it comes to potential costs. This shoestring budget should cover all your daily travel expenses including the cost of accommodation (hostel dorm bed), transport and meals. Italy can be really expensive though so you will need to be a bit selective and savvy when choosing your daytime activities and evening entertainment to stick to this budget.
Even though Italy has experienced some pretty serious economic problems over the past 15 years like Mediterranean neighbours Spain and Greece, it hasn’t really got any cheaper as a result and is still overall one of the most expensive European countries to visit.
It is full of tourist traps and many of its finest cities are very hard to visit on anything like a shoestring budget. In somewhere like Venice for example, it is almost impossible to get by on just 60 Euros a day with budget accommodation alone taking up over 50% of that while eating out is also expensive in other northern tourist cities like Florence and Pisa.
However if you try and get out and spend more time in other less obvious Italian destinations and perhaps just visit those major destinations as part of a day trip or perhaps a one night stay, then a Italy backpacking budget of 60 Euros/day becomes much more realistic.
There is a fair degree of regional variation in prices to consider too and generally speaking, the further south you go, the cheaper things get. Even the capital Rome is a fraction cheaper than the likes of Milan in the north. Certainly if you head into the more rural south you should be able to see your money lasting longer while the best value is to be found on the island of Sicily.
More Comfortable Italy Backpacking Budget
- €80/day
As is the case in many countries, the expensive places are generally the ones that are most worth visiting. The problem with Italy is that there are so many of them and a city like Venice really doesn’t need budget travellers to make a huge amount from tourism and as such does little to cater for them. By pushing your budget up to 80 Euros a day, you can afford to spend more time in the pricier destinations but you will still have to be a bit smart with where you eat and drink in order to stick to that. Regularly preparing your own food and drinks in hostel kitchens is a good idea.
A slightly larger budget, could also be used to splash out on a better standard of accommodation. Italy is full of great options if you’re looking for a warm welcome with plenty of family-run guesthouses in the cities. For something a bit different in more rural areas, try staying in monastery accommodation to properly unwind and enjoy the peace and tranquillity.
How much do things cost in Italy?
| Approximate Price | |
| Train from Pisa to Rome (around 3 hours) | €15-40 |
| Flight from Milan to Palermo (1 hour 45 mins) | €15-50 + Baggage Fees |
| Meal in an affordable local restaurant | €12-20 |
| Local beer in bar/restaurant | €4-5.50 |
| Dorm bed in a hostel | From €25/night |
| Budget private room | From €40/night |
| Entrance to Rome Colosseum | €24 (EU citizens aged 18-25 can enter for €6) |
| Travel insurance for backpacking Italy | Depends on your age/circumstances – Get a quote from Heymondo in under a minute! |
Italy is perhaps a fraction more expensive when compared to the cost of travel in Germany and certainly the cost of travel in Portugal. Budget dorm beds are hard to find and start at around €30 in some cities which is a really big chunk taken out of your Italy backpacking budget each day.
Fortunately though, transport in Italy isn’t extortionate if you’re a bit flexible and plan in advance and there is a good train network with some fast, affordable connections between the major cities.
Money – Euros
Currency – Euros
£1 = €1.13
US$1 = €0.93
All exchange rates are correct as of March 2023. Euros are the only currency you will need in Italy and contactless payments via debit/credit card are widely accepted.
These estimates for the cost of travel in Italy were last updated in March 2023.
Pretty clever tips, thanks for sharing! It is really obvious that such popular tourist destination like Italy is full of tourist traps, scammers etc. Nevertheless, it is still worth visiting.