How much money will I spend on food each day in Italy?

Question

I'm going to Italy in September with school. Everything is paid for except our meals..! We're going to Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice and Bari.. how much money should I bring to spend on food each day? Also, are there any cheap, good clothes shops in any of those areas? Thanks!

Answer 1

Hotels usually have free breakfasts.  Sometimes you can make sandwiches from the food & take it for lunch. (I did this once)  So, take some baggies.  You can buy sandwiches at bars and cafes for around 3 euros for lunch and dinner.  I mostly bought these.  You have your choice of chicken, proscuito or caprese (cheese).  You probably will also want to buy water.  You have a choice of naturale or frizzante water.  Frizzante is con gas.  It's actually a lot better than the sparkling water that we have in the U.S.  It has less gas.  It also has electrolytes.  The water costs about 1-1.5 euro per small bottle.  You can also buy a big bottle for 2 euro and fill your small bottles up.  This will save you a little cash.

Answer 2

about 100 euros if its a nice place

Answer 3

I was in Italy for school as well. If you eat like the locals, you won't spend much. In Rome, you can get away with eating a panini, and drink for luch for about 4 euros. Italians tend to have small breakfast, cafe and maybe some sweet. That should cost you a lot. As for dinner, that would cost you more, depending on the restaurant. Watch out for water bottles at dinner in Florence could cost you up to 8 euros, I made that mistake. Take about 40 euros per day. It all depends on your eating habits. As for clothes, they are a bit expensive. If you want stores like H&M, that is relatively inexpensive, but you can find in the U.S. they are all over italy. Good Luck and have fun

Answer 4

wow with school and meals aren't included?  i went and dinner and breakfast was included.  its going to be atleast 30 Euros.  thats on the low side.  probably alot more u will need.  10 euros for lunch is not unheard of.

Answer 5

Absolutely not, you are talking about some of the most expensive and fashionable cities in the world, let alone italy!

Rome and Florence are centres for fashion, you will find beautiful clothes there but they will be extremely expensive. There are heaps and heaps of hawkers who will sell stuff extremely cheaply, but beware that it is against the law to buy from them and you could cop a really really stiff fine. If you are eating out, and buying three meals a day you are easily going to be spending 40 euros a day on food. Italy is NOT cheap.

What did i get voted down for? Excuse me for having a brain!

Answer 6

Be careful in Florence and particularly in Venice for tourist-traps.

Breakfast:  (cappuccino and brioche) 3.50 Euros

Light meal 20.00

Pizza and beer 15.00

Spaghetti, salad and meat 25.00

In Italy there are a lot of "Bar" or "Caffé" where you can have cheap, light meals (for istance, big salads with ham, cheese, onions,etc.) or "tramezzini" (sandwiches vith tuna, mayonnaise, ham, cheese, tomatoes) for about 2,50.

Two tramezzini is a good light meal.

Answer 7

Allow EUR40 per day and then take a bit extra, just in case.  You can find reasonably priced sandwiches for lunch if you look in the backstreets - if you eat in the cafes around the main piazzas in Florence, Rome, Venice & Milan you will pay a fortune just for the location.  As with anywhere, the cost of dinners will depend on where (and what) you eat; I found plenty of reasonably priced places, away from the tourist areas in Rome and Florence, but you may find yourself going where the crowd want to go or you may get taken to places that are not of your choosing.

Bear in mind that most places automatically add 10-15% to your bill as a service charge. And check your bills carefully to make sure that nothing has been added that you did not have.  

Buy bottles of water in supermarkets / larger shops, not small cafes or restaurants...it'll be a lot cheaper.

Also note that cafes will add a cover charge (between 1-5 Euros) just for you to sit down and have a coffee.

It may be worth asking your school if they can provide any suggested guidelines regarding money.

Answer 8

Try to eat where the locals do,that means off the beaten path. I usually go to local markets and get fresh fruit,bread,cold cuts and make a picnic if the weather allows. There are also some terrific deli style places. Only use McDonalds as a last resort.You can pack some energy bars when you travel. That way you won,t miss anything if you're short on time and you can eat on the go. I would take about 30 euros per day if you eat like this.You may spend less or more depending on your habits.