Should you visit Athens or Rome?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Athens and Rome. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
Athens
Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.
Rome
Rome is the capital and largest city in Italy. It is also a common entry point for most visitors flying into the country. Rome has been a center of power, culture, and religion for the last millenium, making it one of the most famous and popular destinations in not only Europe, but the world. The influence of the Roman Empire can be seen across continents.
Which city is cheaper, Rome or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €103, while the average daily cost in Rome is €131. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Athens and Rome in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Athens, €102 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Athens, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is €51, such as in a hostel.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Rome is €134. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
In Athens travelers spend around €30 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
In Rome travelers spend around €37 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Athens €30
Rome €37
Typical Food prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
-
Ice cream
€3.00
-
Souvlaki
€2.20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Athens
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Online 1hr Cooking Class: Santorini Tomato Fritters:
$6.22
-
Flavors and Memories Self-Guided Mobile Food Tour:
$9.21
-
Hard Rock Cafe Dinner Menu with Priority Seating:
$23
-
Greek Meatballs Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
-
Withlocals the 10 Tastings: Athens Private Food Tour with a Local:
$42
-
Online Cooking Class: Greek mini cheese pies:
$45
-
Favorite Food Tour - 10 Tastings w/ a Local:
$47
-
Athens Food Tour and Lunch:
$52
-
3.5-Hour Traditional Greek Cooking Class:
$54
-
1.5-Hour Greek Cooking Class in Downtown Athens:
$54
-
3-Hour Private Food Tour with Tastings:
$55
-
Taste of Athens 3-Hour Walking Food Tour:
$56
Typical Food prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
-
Casual Lunch (for Two)
€14
-
4 Ice Cream Sandwiches
€2.99
-
Cafe e doce
€4.00
-
Pizza (Fast Food)
€2.65
-
Sitdown Lunch (for Two)
€32
-
Cheese and bread
€10
-
Espresso
€2.00
-
Dinner
€58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
-
Tours from Home: Pizza Cooking Class with Italian Chefs:
$15
-
Interactive Cooking Experiences with Renowned Chefs All Over the World (in EST):
$22
-
Live from Tagliatelle & Chicken Fricassee Online Cooking Class:
$23
-
Gelato Cooking Class:
$33
-
Virtual Cooking Class: Carbonara, Amatriciana, Pesto & "pasta al dente":
$40
-
5-Course Lunch or Dinner with Roman Jewish Dishes:
$44
-
Street Food Tour with Local Guide:
$44
-
Rome by Night: Bike Tour with Pizza:
$45
-
1.5-Hour Campo de' Fiori to Jewish Quarter Food Tour:
$48
-
2.5-Hour Self-Guided Food Tour in Trastevere:
$48
-
Private Italian dinner in Rome with a selection of local wines:
$51
-
Bitemojo Self Guided Food Tour Artisian Rome:
$55
Local Transportation
Athens's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend €22 per person, per day on transportation in Athens.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €17 per day to get around in Rome.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
ATHENS AIRPORT to ATHENS or vice versa PRIVATE LUXURY TRANSFERS:
$62
-
Airport Transfer:
$77
-
Airport Transfer/ Athens Greece:
$59
-
Airport pick up taxi and minivans transfers ,tours and trips:
$60
-
Airport transfer:
$156
-
Ancient Olympia Taxi Transfer from Athens:
$539
-
Arrival Private Transfer Luxury Van Athens Rafina Port to Athens City:
$100
-
Athens & Sounio Taxi Multiple Destination Transfer:
$311
-
Athens 6-Hour Guided Tour with Transfers:
$184
-
Athens Airport Departure Private Transfer. Depart in Style!:
$62
-
Athens Airport Departure Transfer (Athens Hotels to Athens Airport):
$66
-
Athens Airport Departure Transfer: Athens Hotels to Athens Airport Shuttle Bus:
$34
Typical Local Transportation prices in Rome
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
-
Private Transfer by Mercedes and private boat from Rome to Capri all included:
$1,991
-
Private Transfer by Mercedes and private boat from Rome to Capri:
$1,991
-
Private Transfer from Roma to Bologna (BLQ) Airport:
$1,466
-
Transfer From Rome To Amalfi Coast Via Pompei:
$1,365
-
Private Transfer from Roma to Rimini (RMI) Airport:
$1,291
-
Assisi & Orvieto, one day, private transfer:
$1,244
-
Direct Transfer from your Hotel in ROME to your Hotel in LUCCA:
$1,138
-
Private Transfer from Roma to Firenze (FLR) Airport:
$1,132
-
Private Transfer by luxury Mercedes and private boat from Rome to Capri:
$1,120
-
Private Transfer from Rome to Florence: stops in Orvieto, Siena & Monteriggioni:
$1,058
-
Private Transfer from Roma to Pisa (PSA) Airport:
$1,043
-
Private Transfer From Rome Apt To Positano:
$1,023
Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Rome?
Prices for flights to both Rome and Athens change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Athens can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €28 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €29 per person, per day in Rome. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
-
Athens virtual History, Philosophy and Democracy Tour:
$6.22
-
Skip the Line: Frissiras Museum Entrance Ticket:
$7.46
-
Skip the Line: War Museum of Athens Entrance Ticket:
$7.46
-
Private Tour with a Local Guide:
$8.07
-
Skip the Line: Temple of Olympian Zeus Entrance Ticket:
$8.09
-
The Acropolis Museum Ticket & Access to Ancient Excavation:
$8.24
-
Skip the Line: Roman Agora of Athens Entrance Ticket:
$8.71
-
Athens Museum of Cycladic Art Admission Ticket:
$8.71
-
Cats of Self-Guided Mobile Tour in Plaka:
$9.21
-
Hellenic Motor Museum Entrance Ticket:
$9.22
-
Temple of Olympian Zeus Skip-the-Line and Audio Tour:
$9.22
-
Skip the Line: Admission Ticket for Acropolis Museum:
$9.33
Typical Entertainment prices in Rome
Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)
€69
-
Coliseum Tickets (for Two)
€33
-
Roma Pass
€30
-
Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)
€20
-
Segway Tour
€75
Tours and Activities in Rome
Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
“Roman Holiday” Filming Locations: Private Full-Day Tour:
$457
-
1 Day in 10 Iconic Sights, Luxury Car, Skip the line, Lunch, 100% Private:
$785
-
1 hour Little Ancient Tour of Rome by Mini Vintage Cabriolet with Cappuccino:
$156
-
10-Night Italy Tour: Rome, Florence, Venice and Sorrento:
$1,661
-
2 Days Full Train Tour in Florence and Venice:
$1,358
-
2 Hour Private Tour Rome by Night by Car with an English speaking driver:
$299
-
2 in 1 Entire Colosseum Tour & Fast Track Vatican Ticket:
$124
-
2 in 1 Rome and Vatican Full Day Tour:
$123
-
2-Day Best of Rome and Vatican - Luxury Private Tour:
$964
-
2-Day Rome Highlights and Tivoli Private Tour with Pick Up:
$1,369
-
2-Day Venice trip from Rome - private tour:
$908
-
2-Hour Evening Segway Tour of Rome:
$60
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Athens, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €18.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Rome may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €15 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
-
Wine Tasting:
$35
-
Athens Walking Tour with Food and Wine Tasting:
$37
-
The Greek Wine Tasting Beginner's Class:
$46
-
1-Hour Wine Tasting:
$46
-
Athens Old City: Wine Tasting Experience:
$52
-
Greek Wine Tasting Experience:
$56
-
Greek Wine Tasting Experience:
$58
-
Private Wine Tasting Experience in Athens:
$63
-
Local Greek Wine Tasting and Meze:
$68
-
Wine Tour and Tasting in a 19th-Century Tower:
$78
-
Food and Wine Tasting Tour at Night:
$80
-
From Wine Tasting Tour to a Greek Winery:
$83
Typical Alcohol prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
-
Bottle of Wine
€6.50
-
Pint of Beer
€6.34
-
Beer
€10
Sample the Local Flavors in Rome
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
-
3.5-Hour Castelli Romani Wine Tasting Tour:
$50
-
Roman Countryside Vineyards and Wine Tasting:
$67
-
4-Hour Food and Wine Tasting Tour:
$69
-
Campo De' Fiori Market and Trevi Food & Wine Tour:
$90
-
4-Hour Food and Wine Tasting Tour:
$91
-
Private Rome Food & Wine Tour with Aperitif on Private Roof Top Terrance:
$100
-
Colosseum Fast Track and Wine Tasting Day Tour:
$119
-
Wine Tour Experience from Rome factory Giglio:
$123
-
Small-Group Food and Wine Tour with Pickup:
$131
-
Lunch, Diner and wine tasting in a shaby chic italian restaurant in Rome:
$135
-
From Frascati 3-Hour Private Wine Tasting Tour:
$147
-
Wine Tasting in Frascati from Rome:
$160
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Rome, we can see that Rome is more expensive. And not only is Athens much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Athens would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Athens and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Rome would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rome than you might in Athens.
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