Should you visit Rome or Positano?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Rome and Positano can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
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.
Positano
Located on the Amalfi Coast in Campania, Italy, Positano is a very scenic town that offers spectacular coastal views. The town sits on the edge of a hill and flows down toward the sea. Because of its dramatic beauty, Positano attracts thousands of visitors year around.
The town dates back to medieval times when it was a port for the Amalfi Republic. It thrived throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries but by the mid-nineteenth century its prosperity was falling. During those times more than half of the population left, migrating predominantly to America. During the 1950s the town gained popularity as a tourist destination, in part because of John Steinbeck's essay about the area in Harper's Bazaar (May, 1953).
Which city is cheaper, Positano 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 Positano is €180. 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 Positano in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Rome is €134. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Positano, €240 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Positano, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is €120, such as in a hostel.
Food
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.
Positano food costs typically run travelers around €42 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Rome €37
Positano €42
Typical Food prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)
€14
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4 Ice Cream Sandwiches
€2.99
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Cafe e doce
€4.00
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Pizza (Fast Food)
€2.65
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)
€32
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Cheese and bread
€10
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Espresso
€2.00
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Dinner
€58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
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Tours from Home: Pizza Cooking Class with Italian Chefs:
$15
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Interactive Cooking Experiences with Renowned Chefs All Over the World (in EST):
$22
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Live from Tagliatelle & Chicken Fricassee Online Cooking Class:
$23
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Gelato Cooking Class:
$33
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Virtual Cooking Class: Carbonara, Amatriciana, Pesto & "pasta al dente":
$40
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5-Course Lunch or Dinner with Roman Jewish Dishes:
$44
-
Street Food Tour with Local Guide:
$44
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Rome by Night: Bike Tour with Pizza:
$45
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1.5-Hour Campo de' Fiori to Jewish Quarter Food Tour:
$48
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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
Typical Food prices in Positano
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Positano:
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)
€31
-
Pizza in a Restaurant
€9.32
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Sandwich in a Restaurant
€12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Positano
For Positano, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Positano for Foodies- The authentic food tour in Town:
$106
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Dining experience at a local's home in Positano & cooking demo:
$106
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Dining experience at a local's home in Positano with show cooking:
$106
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Small-group Street food tour in Positano:
$111
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Market tour and lunch or dinner at a local's home in Positano:
$173
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Private Pizza & Tiramisu Class at a local's home with tasting in Positano:
$180
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Private cooking class at a local's home with tasting in Positano:
$180
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Local market visit and private cooking class at a local's home in Positano:
$235
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Vico Equense: Market Tour, Home Cooking Class, and Dinner:
$240
-
Exclusive hands-on cooking class with a local in Positano:
$372
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €17 per day to get around in Rome.
Positano'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 €6.19 per person, per day on transportation in Positano.
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:
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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
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Direct Transfer from your Hotel in ROME to your Hotel in LUCCA:
$1,138
-
Private Transfer from Roma to Firenze (FLR) Airport:
$1,132
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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
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Private Transfer From Rome Apt To Positano:
$1,023
Typical Local Transportation prices in Positano
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Positano:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Positano
Also for Positano, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Direct Transfer from Hotel in POSITANO (AMALFI COAST) to Hotel in ROME:
$921
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Door-To-Door Private Transfer Fiumicino FCO Airport to Positano or viceversa:
$610
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Door-To-Door Private Transfer Fiumicino FCO Airport to Positano or viceversa:
$610
-
Door-To-Door Private Transfer Fiumicino FCO Airport to Positano or viceversa:
$610
-
Door-To-Door Private Transfer Fiumicino FCO Airport to Positano or viceversa:
$610
-
Door-To-Door Private Transfer Positano to Fiumicino FCO Airport or viceversa:
$610
-
Door-To-Door Private Transfer Positano to Fiumicino FCO Airport or viceversa:
$610
-
Door-To-Door Private Transfer Positano to Fiumicino FCO Airport or viceversa:
$610
-
Door-To-Door Private Transfer Positano to Fiumicino FCO Airport or viceversa:
$610
-
Door-To-Door Private Transfer Positano to Rome or viceversa:
$610
-
Door-To-Door Private Transfer Positano to Rome or viceversa:
$610
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Door-To-Door Private Transfer Positano to Rome or viceversa:
$610
Is it cheaper to fly into Rome or Positano?
Prices for flights to both Positano and Rome 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
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.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Positano can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €48 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Typical Entertainment prices in Rome
Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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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:
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“Roman Holiday” Filming Locations: Private Full-Day Tour:
$457
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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
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10-Night Italy Tour: Rome, Florence, Venice and Sorrento:
$1,661
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2 Days Full Train Tour in Florence and Venice:
$1,358
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2 Hour Private Tour Rome by Night by Car with an English speaking driver:
$299
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2 in 1 Entire Colosseum Tour & Fast Track Vatican Ticket:
$124
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2 in 1 Rome and Vatican Full Day Tour:
$123
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2-Day Best of Rome and Vatican - Luxury Private Tour:
$964
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2-Day Rome Highlights and Tivoli Private Tour with Pick Up:
$1,369
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2-Day Venice trip from Rome - private tour:
$908
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2-Hour Evening Segway Tour of Rome:
$60
Typical Entertainment prices in Positano
For Positano, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Positano
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Positano.
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Path of the Gods Guided Walking Tour:
$44
-
Positano Walking tour:
$50
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From Amalfi and Ravello Tour:
$56
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Half-Day Ancient Pompeii Tour from Amalfi Coast:
$56
-
Half Day Herculaneum Guided Tour from Amalfi Coast:
$56
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Sorrento & Amalfi Drive guided tour from Amalfi Coast - small group tour:
$62
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Pompeii and Vesuvius guided group tour from Amalfi Coast:
$65
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Napoli: Historic and Panoramic Amalfi Coast Tour:
$78
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Small Group Tour to Positano, Amalfi and Ravello with Lunch:
$81
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Pompeii and Herculaneum group tour from Amalfi Coast:
$81
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Amalfi Coast: Path of the Gods Private Walking Tour:
$88
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Naples: Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello Tour on a Luxury Bus:
$95
Alcohol
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.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Positano, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €12.
Typical Alcohol prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
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Bottle of Wine
€6.50
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Pint of Beer
€6.34
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Beer
€10
Sample the Local Flavors in Rome
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
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3.5-Hour Castelli Romani Wine Tasting Tour:
$50
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Roman Countryside Vineyards and Wine Tasting:
$67
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4-Hour Food and Wine Tasting Tour:
$69
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Campo De' Fiori Market and Trevi Food & Wine Tour:
$90
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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
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Small-Group Food and Wine Tour with Pickup:
$131
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Lunch, Diner and wine tasting in a shaby chic italian restaurant in Rome:
$135
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From Frascati 3-Hour Private Wine Tasting Tour:
$147
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Wine Tasting in Frascati from Rome:
$160
Typical Alcohol prices in Positano
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Positano:
Sample the Local Flavors in Positano
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Positano:
-
Pompeii & Vesuvius Wine Tour from Amalfi Coast - small group tour:
$162
-
Pompeii,Vesuvius with Lunch & wine tasting from Positano all inclusive:
$260
-
Private Irpinia Wine Tour from Positano, Amalfi or Ravello with Sommelier:
$301
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Pompeii-Vesuvius-Wine Tasting tour with licensed guide included:
$373
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Paestum Temples+Bufala Mozzarella Farm+Wine tasting in Cilento (from Positano):
$809
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rome and Positano, we can see that Positano is more expensive. And not only is Rome much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rome would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rome 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 Positano would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Positano than you might in Rome.
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