The verdict
Rome is cheaper day-to-day than Florence once you leave the monument zone — Florence's small centre means almost everything is tourist-priced.
Rome — typical day
$55
Florence — typical day
$97
On an everyday basket of meals, drinks and local transport, Rome comes out roughly 44% cheaper on local prices, with 6 identical items tracked in both cities.
We look at what locals actually pay for everyday things — a typical meal, a coffee or beer, and a ride across town. Those add up to each city's "typical day" cost, converted to US dollars at today's exchange rates so the two can be compared fairly.
The "% cheaper" figure is simply the gap between those two daily costs. It uses local prices, not tourist prices, and leaves out hotels, tours and one-off splurges — they would make lively tourist cities look pricier than they actually feel day to day. When the same exact item is tracked in both cities, we tell you how many.
Choose Rome if you want scale, cheaper neighbourhoods to eat in and more free sights per day.
Choose Florence if you want Renaissance art in a city you can cross on foot, and you'll accept a higher cost per meal.
Rome has real residential neighbourhoods — Testaccio, Pigneto, San Lorenzo — where prices drop to local level within a 15-minute walk of the sights. Florence's historic centre is so compact that there is barely any 'off-strip' to escape to, so its average bill runs higher even though the city is smaller.
Local prices — what residents pay, not the tourist rate.
Cross-currency comparisons converted via USD at current rates.
Rome Fair Price Guide 2026
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Rome is cheaper day-to-day than Florence once you leave the monument zone — Florence's small centre means almost everything is tourist-priced.
Choose Rome if you want scale, cheaper neighbourhoods to eat in and more free sights per day. Choose Florence if you want Renaissance art in a city you can cross on foot, and you'll accept a higher cost per meal.
Rome has real residential neighbourhoods — Testaccio, Pigneto, San Lorenzo — where prices drop to local level within a 15-minute walk of the sights. Florence's historic centre is so compact that there is barely any 'off-strip' to escape to, so its average bill runs higher even though the city is smaller.
Coperto and servizio charges are standard in both; check the menu footer before sitting down.