Italy can feel like a paradox. One minute you’re sipping a €3 glass of wine under a medieval archway, the next you’re paying €60 in tolls just to drive down the highway. After 20 years of living here, I’m breaking down exactly why Italy feels both cheap and expensive, and how to enjoy the best of it without blowing your budget.
We’ll cover where you’ll save (hello, €10 pizza and affordable train rides), where it adds up fast (rental cars, tolls, sneaky city taxes), and how to plan smarter—from picking the right towns and train routes to avoiding the worst tourist fees (yes, I once paid €10 just to stand near pigeons in Venice).
If you’re dreaming of Italy but don’t want to drain your wallet, this is your guide to making it work.
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15 Comments
The Italian Cities That Just Aren’t Worth It (Anymore): https://youtu.be/O1g_JgfnPKE?si=K9chdd7yFTuAMkXM
Napoli is very very affectionate
Another great video! What about coffee to go in a paper cup? Is there such a thing and is that more expensive than standing at the bar?
Gregor, when are you leaving Italy?
Im in italia now… 2 pasta dishes (no meat on dishes), 2 drinks = 60 dollars U.S 😅
Hmmm, Texas has some of the cheapest gas in the United States. You should have said the gas is way more expensive than California. I forgive you since you haven’t been here in a long time, but I thought everyone thought of oil and cattle when you think of Texas.
Awesome. Brilliant content. Grazie Italy 🇮🇹.
If did speak Italian they accept you Thomas Italy 🇮🇹.
Scotland don't like it grateful to Martin sellner Austrian.
Hi. Is it common to find hotels with air-conditioning, microwave ovens or hot and cold water or fridges in each room in Italy? Thank you.
We Pay 1.55 litre in Montreal. 1.85 is not that different
I think you need to re-examine the term 'shoulder-months' for getting a better price on hotel stays. It no longer exists for major cities in Italy. A four or five star hotel will maintain their price all throughout the year. I think once Covid was over, their rates have climbed even higher than ever before. And Air BNB is not the solution. Time to book a trip to Slovenia, Croatia or Albania.
City tax is a must pay not a scam. While in the city you utilise all things that residents must pay for. It is only fair that you pay for it on a daily basis After all somebody has to clean up fhe rubbish people leave around Residents do.
11:00 theres fees for staying overnight as well…
I've learned that you can only book the Italo trains about 90 days out… but it's worth it!. I got Rome to Florence for about 16 euro.