Should you visit Rome or Milan?
Should I visit Rome or Milan? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Milan
Milan, known to most of the world as the capital of fashion and style, is also the heart of Italian industry and economics. Between the stock exchange, cathedrals and boutiques, this metropolis is a city-lover's dream come true. It is an escape from the stresses of the real world, and provides a playground for all the world's most lavish luxuries.
Which city is cheaper, Milan or Rome?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Rome is €131, while the average daily cost in Milan is €114. 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 Rome and Milan in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about €134 for a double occupancy room in Rome.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around €142 in Milan For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
While meal prices in Rome can vary, the average travelers spends about €37 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Rome should cost around €15 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Rome is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
While meal prices in Milan can vary, the average travelers spends about €28 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Milan should cost around €11 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Milan is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Rome
€37
Milan
€28
Typical Food prices in Rome
Some typical examples of dining costs in Rome are as follows:
-
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.
-
Illuminated Rome Tour for Kids with Gelato & Pizza:
$56
-
Gourmet Pizza at Sunset Near the Colosseum:
$63
-
3-in-1 Fettuccine, Ravioli and Tiramisu Cooking Class:
$73
-
Rome 3-Hour Pizza-Themed Food & Colosseum Tour:
$78
-
Traditional Cooking Class in the Jewish Ghetto:
$82
-
From Market to Table: 4-Hour Cooking Class in Rome:
$118
-
Rome Cooking Class & Gourmet Lunch:
$137
-
Vineyard Visit by Minibus with Lakeside Dinner:
$142
-
Authentic Cooking Class:
$154
-
Rome Trastevere: Semi-Private Food Tour:
$79
Typical Food prices in Milan
For Milan, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Milan
For Milan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Homemade Tiramisu Cooking Class in Milan:
$72
-
Afternoon Food Tour with Evening Food Tour in Milan:
$78
-
Pasta, Pizza & Dessert Evening Cooking Class:
$89
-
Gourmet Food Tour:
$112
-
Italian Food Tour:
$143
-
Market Tour and Lunch or Dinner at a Cesarina's Home:
$162
-
Milan Private Home Cooking Class:
$162
-
Como: Half-Day Authentic Market Tour and Cooking Class:
$240
-
Milan 1-Day Private Sightseeing Tour and Cooking Class:
$280
-
Half-Day Italian Cooking Class in Milano:
$106
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Rome is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent €17 per person, per day, on local transportation in Rome.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Milan than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €12 on transportation in Milan on average per day.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Rome
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Rome are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
-
Private Transfer from Airport or Cruise Ship Port:
$38
-
Transfer from Fiumicino Airport With a Guided Tour of Rome:
$49
-
Pre-Cruise Rome Tour & Transfer:
$56
-
Fiumicino Airport – Civitavecchia Cruise Port Transfer:
$74
-
Private Transfer between Rome Ciampino and City Hotels:
$80
-
Rome Ciampino Airport: Private Luxury Limo Transfer:
$95
-
Transfer between Rome Fiumicino and Civitavecchia Port:
$181
-
Rome Airport: Positano Private Transfer:
$391
-
The Ruins of Pompeii: Round-Trip Transfer from Rome:
$503
-
Private Transfer from Sorrento to Rome and Vice Versa:
$513
Typical Local Transportation prices in Milan
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Milan:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Milan
Also for Milan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
From Luxury Transfers to Fidenza Village:
$22
-
Milan 1-Way VIP Linate Airport Transfer for 3 Persons:
$73
-
Bus Transfer Milan Bergamo Airport to Milan Central Station:
$6.71
-
Malpensa Airport to Milan VIP Transfers:
$168
-
Private One-Way Transfer from Malpensa Airport to Milan:
$162
-
Milan Linate Airport 1-Way Private Transfer:
$88
-
Private Transfer between Milan and Trentino South Tyrol:
$465
-
Milan Linate to Genoa City Private Minivan Transfer:
$474
-
Private Transfer between Siena and Milan City Center:
$705
-
Ultra - Milan Private Airport Transfer from city centre to Milan train station:
$9.41
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Rome typically cost an average of €29 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Sightseeing expenses in Milan, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €14 per day, per person.
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:
-
90-Minute Kickstart Tour with a Local:
$17
-
Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo Guided Tour:
$18
-
Guided Evening Walking Tour in French:
$40
-
Best of Squares & Fountains Walking City Tour:
$40
-
Rome Center: 4-Hour Bike Tour:
$42
-
Kid-Friendly Skip-the-Line Colosseum and History Tour:
$44
-
Early-Bird Streets, Piazzas and Fountains City Tour:
$44
-
1-hour Colosseum Guided Tour with Fast-Track Entry:
$45
-
Unusual Sights Bicycle Tour with Optional E-bike:
$47
-
Heart of Trevi Fountain & More Guided Tour:
$47
Typical Entertainment prices in Milan
Here are a few typical costs in Milan for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Stairs to Duomo Rooftop
€7.00
Tours and Activities in Milan
Here are a few actual costs in Milan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Milan Off the Beaten Path: 3-Hour Walking Tour:
$28
-
Milan's Modern Architecture: 3-Hour Bike Tour:
$45
-
Private Tour of Teatro alla Scala and Church of San Fedele:
$45
-
Milan 3–Hour Cultural Bike Tour:
$45
-
2-Hour Guided Walking Tour:
$49
-
Private 4-Hour Walking Tour:
$50
-
Porta Nuova Walking Experience:
$52
-
Navigli Walking Tour and Basilica of Sant'Eustorgio:
$55
-
Walking Fashion Tour:
$56
-
Bergamo Sightseeing Day Trip from Milan:
$60
Alcohol
The average person spends about €15 on alcoholic beverages in Rome per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
The average person spends about €9.64 on alcoholic beverages in Milan per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typical Alcohol prices in Rome
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Rome are as follows:
-
Bottle of Wine
€6.50
-
Pint of Beer
€6.34
-
Beer
€10
Sample the Local Flavors in Rome
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Rome:
-
Colosseum Fast Track and Wine Tasting Day Tour:
$119
-
Vintage Fiat 500 Driving Tour and Wine Tasting:
$204
-
4-Hour Food and Wine Tasting Tour:
$69
-
4-Hour Food and Wine Tasting Tour:
$91
-
Roman Countryside Vineyards and Wine Tasting:
$67
-
3.5-Hour Castelli Romani Wine Tasting Tour:
$50
-
Campo De' Fiori Market and Trevi Food & Wine Tour:
$90
-
Small-Group Food and Wine Tour with Pickup:
$131
-
San Gimignano & Siena: Small Group Wine Tour from Rome:
$177
-
Siena & San Gimignano Day Tour & Wine Tasting from Rome:
$215
Typical Alcohol prices in Milan
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Milan from other travelers:
-
Cocktail at a Bar
€8.40
-
Beer
€3.35
Sample the Local Flavors in Milan
Also in Milan, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Full-Day Barbaresco Wine Tour with Truffle Hunting and Lunch:
$302
-
Lugana Wine Tour w/ Private Panoramic Boat on Lake Garda:
$418
-
Barolo and Spumante VIP Wine Tour for Small Groups:
$223
-
Milan Wine Tasting Experience:
$45
-
Wine Tasting Experience:
$32
-
From Sparkling Wine Tasting Tour:
$100
-
Wine Tasting with an Italian Sommelier:
$83
-
From Franciacorta Wine Tasting and Shopping Tour:
$55
-
Brera Wine Tasting Tour:
$54
-
Gourmet Food and Wine Tasting Experience in Milan:
$52
When comparing the travel costs between Rome and Milan, we can see that Rome is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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