Which place is cheaper, Rome or Tokyo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Tokyo or Rome? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Tokyo is a high energy, vibrant, and iconic city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include nightlife, live music, and food.
Rome is a bustling, fun-filled, and popular city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.
Travelers will generally find more things to do in Rome than Tokyo. While Tokyo is larger than Rome, Rome has more sights and attractions for tourists. Rome is more touristy than Tokyo and is popular for its iconic archaeological sites such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, as well as its gelato, Italian cuisine, and strong religious roots. It is also well known for The Colosseum. Tokyo is famous for its ultramodern skyscrapers, neon lights, historic temples, lively karaoke bars, and peaceful parks.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Rome and Tokyo. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
You'll find a number of terrific museums and attractions in both Rome and Tokyo.
With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Tokyo has many famous sights for visitors. This iconic city is filled with recognizable landmarks and world class museums including the Meiji Shrine, the Sensō-ji Temple, and the Tokyo Skytree.
Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Rome that are not to be missed. The historical sights around the city are among the most impressive in the world. Almost anywhere you look you'll find a notable landmark but some of the most famous include the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Vatican, and the Roman Forum.
There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at terrific restaurants in both Tokyo and Rome.
For foodies, Tokyo is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. With an astonishing number of Michelin star restaurants, this is one of the most interesting and impressive food destinations in the world. Not all restaurants are high end though. You'll find plenty of cheap eateries that offer their own rewarding culinary experience. Must try local dishes include okonomiyaki, ramen, and of course, sushi.
Rome has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. Homemade pasta, fresh sauces, and fine wine all make the food scene among the best. Also make sure you try the gelato.
The vibe at night is terrific in both Tokyo and Rome.
Tokyo is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. The professional urgency that you feel during the day morphs into a vibrant, laid back city at night. The neon lights turn on and locals head out to destress. There are karaoke bars, casual pubs, high energy nightclubs, and more. Popular areas for nightlife include Roppongi, Shibuya and Shinjuku.
Rome has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. You'll find a huge concentration of bars and clubs in the Testaccio area. There are late night clubs with salsa dancing, merengue, and live DJ's spinning every type of music.
Tokyo and Rome are both destinations where visitors can find terrific live music.
Tokyo has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. The music scene features both national and international artists and the music style is as eclectic as the city itself. You'll find many underground venues, vintage record stores, and local bars that have each created their own niche.
Rome is a world class music destination. Popular music venues include Live Alcazar, Atlantico Live, and Beba do Samba.
If you're looking to go shopping, Tokyo and Rome both offer plenty of terrific spots.
Many people travel to Tokyo specifically to go shopping. The city is known for its electronics, anime products, and trendy fashion brands. Many neighborhoods are also shopping districts with malls or markets throughout. Prices can be steep, but products are generally high quality. For some of the city's best shopping, head to Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Ginza.
Rome is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. For the biggest brand names, head to Via del Corso, which is near the Spanish Steps. Popular items to buy include Italian ceramics, shoes, leather goods, and jewelry.
Tokyo is an unbeatable place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Rome is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.
Tokyo is an extremely popular city to visit for families. This is an incredibly kid-friendly city. There's Disneyland, but there are also many other entertainment centers, amusement areas, a zoo, aquarium, and more. Kids will also enjoy experiencing the city's fascinating culture. They can visit temples, museums, and the Tokyo Tower. Another fun local experience is to go to a baseball game.
Rome is a very family-friendly destination. What kid wouldn't be thrilled to be surrounded by pizza and spaghetti restaurants? In addition to kid-friendly food options, there are also a number of great activities that the whole family can enjoy including exploring the Colosseum, taking a gladiator class, and eating gelato.
With fun activities for couples, both Tokyo and Rome make for a excellent place to visit.
Tokyo is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. This high tech city offers luxury hotels and spas, award winning restaurants, and unique date night opportunities like karaoke or sushi making classes. The city has many parks and gardens as well as malls, dynamic neighborhoods, and interesting museums.
Rome is a very popular place to visit for couples. With many beautiful buildings, world class restaurants, and world renowned sights, this city makes a great romantic destination.
Rome is renowned for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Tokyo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.
A large number of backpackers visit Rome, as it is a very popular city for budget travelers. Backpackers will find no shortage of hostels where they can stay, particularly near the main train station where accommodation is particularly cheap (but not always the best quality).
Tokyo is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. Known for it's high prices, it can be a bit difficult to visit this city on a budget. There are dorm rooms available but they still come with a high price tag. Food is a bit easier as the eateries are diverse with many options on the cheaper side.
For students, both Tokyo and Rome are terrific places to visit.
Many students frequent Tokyo. The city attracts many international students and there are a number of prestigious universities to choose from. Perhaps the biggest challenge is navigating the language difference, but that is all part of the experience when studying abroad.
Students come from all over the world to visit Rome. The city is a popular study abroad destination and you'll find plenty of international students here.
Tokyo and Rome both offer terrific public transit to get you around.
Tokyo has a great public transit system. Trains, subways, and buses make up the complex transportation system and, while it may seem overwhelming at first, the system is actually very clean, efficient, and reliable.
Public transit in Rome is top-notch. There's a metro system, trams, and a comprehensive bus system that goes around the city.
Tokyo and Rome are terrific when it comes to walkability.
Tokyo is a very easy city to get around on foot. Many neighborhoods are very easy to explore on foot, so it's fun to just wander without a plan, seeing where you end up.
It is easy to get around Rome on foot. You'll find many of the most popular sights in a compact area that's easily explored on foot. Do watch out for traffic, which can be a bit chaotic at times.
For even more information, also check out Is Tokyo Worth Visiting? and Is Rome Worth Visiting?.
Both Tokyo and Rome have a number of activities to choose from. You can spend a similar amount of time exploring either. However, 3-7 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.
Families should spend more time in Tokyo than Rome. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Tokyo, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Rome than Tokyo if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Rome.
Tokyo is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.
In Rome, many people enjoy the live music and food that this archeological big city offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.
Tokyo is a fun place to experience. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Rome. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.
Tokyo is a high energy big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.
Rome is a fun place to experience. In Rome, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this big city destination offers. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.
Tokyo is a high energy city where you can fill many days. Many people spend one week here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.
In Rome, many people enjoy the museums and nightlife that this popular big city offers. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is often enough time to do most activities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan, The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan, The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Tokyo is $157, while the average daily cost in Rome is $184. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Tokyo and Rome in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Tokyo or Rome? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Also for Tokyo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
Prices for flights to both Rome and Tokyo 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tokyo:
For Tokyo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tokyo.
Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Tokyo:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tokyo:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tokyo and Rome, we can see that Rome is more expensive. And not only is Tokyo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tokyo is in Asia and Rome is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Tokyo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tokyo 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 Tokyo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tokyo Expensive? and Is Rome Expensive?.
Tokyo has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Rome. When comparing the sizes of Tokyo and Rome, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
The summer brings many poeple to Tokyo as well as Rome. Many visitors come to Tokyo in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Rome for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Tokyo is around the same temperature as Rome in the summer. The daily temperature in Tokyo averages around 26°C (78°F) in July, and Rome fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rome. In the summer, Tokyo often gets less sunshine than Rome. Tokyo gets 137 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 338 hours of full sun.
Tokyo receives a lot of rain in the summer. Tokyo usually gets more rain in July than Rome. Tokyo gets 127 mm (5 in) of rain, while Rome receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Rome and Tokyo are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Tokyo for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Rome because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Tokyo is around the same temperature as Rome. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Tokyo in October average around 18°C (64°F), and Rome averages at about 17°C (63°F).
Tokyo usually receives less sunshine than Rome during autumn. Tokyo gets 129 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 198 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Tokyo. In October, Tokyo usually receives more rain than Rome. Tokyo gets 165 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Rome receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Rome and Tokyo during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Tokyo because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Rome this time of year.
In January, Tokyo is generally much colder than Rome. Daily temperatures in Tokyo average around 5°C (42°F), and Rome fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
In the winter, Tokyo often gets more sunshine than Rome. Tokyo gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 127 hours of full sun.
Tokyo usually gets less rain in January than Rome. Tokyo gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Rome receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Tokyo and Rome. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Tokyo this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Rome for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Tokyo is around the same temperature as Rome in the spring. The daily temperature in Tokyo averages around 14°C (58°F) in April, and Rome fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Rome this time of the year. Tokyo usually receives less sunshine than Rome during spring. Tokyo gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 204 hours of full sun in the spring.
Tokyo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Tokyo usually receives more rain than Rome. Tokyo gets 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Rome receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Tokyo | Rome | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 5°C (42°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
Mar | 9°C (47°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
Apr | 14°C (58°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
May | 19°C (66°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 42 mm (1.6 in) |
Jun | 22°C (71°F) | 186 mm (7.3 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
Jul | 26°C (78°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
Sep | 23°C (74°F) | 180 mm (7.1 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
Dec | 8°C (46°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |