As a fair and balanced travel writer, I’m here to help you navigate the Eternal City and the Floating City. Backpackers, let’s compare Rome and Venice to help you make an informed decision for your next European adventure.

Which City Has a Lower Daily Budget?

Rome generally offers a slightly lower daily budget for backpackers, typically ranging from €30-45 per day, excluding major paid attractions. Venice usually runs a bit higher, with backpackers often spending €45-55 per day, mainly due to higher transport and accommodation costs. These estimates cover basic hostel accommodation, food, and local transport.

How Do Accommodation Costs Compare?

For a hostel dorm bed:

• In Rome, you can typically find options ranging from €15-25 per night, with choices available in various neighborhoods.
• In Venice, a dorm bed often falls into the €25-30 per night range for central locations, or lower if you opt to stay on the mainland in Mestre and commute.

What About Food and Drink Expenses?

For daily food and drink:

• Rome offers great value. Backpackers can realistically budget €10-20 per day by utilizing supermarkets, abundant street food options (like pizza al taglio), and budget-friendly local trattorias. Meals at local restaurants typically cost €8-15 in European cities.
• In Venice, achieving a €10-20 per day food budget is more challenging but possible. Focus on supermarkets for groceries and seek out traditional cicchetti (small snacks) bars off the main tourist routes for more affordable options.

How Do Transportation Costs Differ?

• Rome boasts an extensive and relatively affordable public transport network (metro, bus, tram). A daily transport pass can cost around €7, making daily transport manageable within a €5-10 per day budget. Walking is also widely used.
• Venice primarily relies on Vaporetto (water buses), which are more expensive. A single ride is costly, so a multi-day pass is essential. Even with a pass, daily transport costs can easily exceed €10 per day, depending on usage. Walking is your primary free mode of travel.

Which City Offers More Free Activities?

• Rome excels with numerous free attractions: exploring vast areas of ancient ruins from the outside, St. Peter’s Basilica (free entry, but security lines are common), the Pantheon, countless beautiful churches, and picturesque piazzas.
• Venice also provides many free experiences: wandering its unique labyrinthine streets, crossing iconic bridges like Rialto, enjoying St. Mark’s Square, and visiting smaller churches. The city itself is a living museum, best explored on foot.

What’s the Best Time to Visit for Budget Travelers?

Both Rome and Venice experience higher prices and larger crowds during peak summer months (June-August). For backpackers, visiting in the shoulder seasons (April-May and September-October) typically offers a better balance of pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and potentially lower prices for accommodation. Winter (November-March) can also be budget-friendly, outside of holiday periods.

For finding free amenities like public restrooms, water fountains, and free Wi-Fi spots in both cities, handy tools like AllInMap can be very useful for budget-conscious travelers.