Rome vs Athens
The short answer
Athens is the cheaper trip, by roughly 23% a day — $70–130 against $95–170 mid-range per person. Both are at their best in Apr–May, Sep–Oct, so one trip can take in both.
Side by side
Mid-range, per person, in US dollars. Both guides were costed the same way — see how we work these out.
| 🇮🇹 Rome | 🇬🇷 Athens | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budgetmid-range, per person | $95–170 | $70–130cheaper |
| Cheap meallocal staple | €6–12 ($6.50–13) | $4–8cheaper |
| Mid-range hotelper night | €100–200 ($108–216) | $70–130cheaper |
| Transit ridesingle trip | €1.50 ($1.60) | $1.30cheaper |
| Avg. monthly salarylocal, for context | ≈ $2,100 | ≈ $1,450 |
When to go
Filled months are the ones each guide recommends; hollow ones it warns off.
What you'd actually do
A few of each guide's picks, one per category before seconds — the full lists are on the guides themselves.
🇮🇹 Rome
The Eternal City — ancient ruins, Renaissance piazzas, and some of the world's best food, all stacked on top of 2,700 years of history.
- Freni e Frizioni$$Nightlife
- Roscioli$$$Restaurants
- Teatro dell'Opera di Roma$$$Theater & shows
- Jerry Thomas Speakeasy$$$Nightlife
- Da Enzo al 29$$Restaurants
🇬🇷 Athens
Twenty-five centuries of history under a hill you can see from almost anywhere in the city. Scruffier and far more alive than the ruins suggest, and one of the cheapest capitals in the eurozone.
- The Acropolis$$$Ancient sites
- Acropolis Museum$$Museums
- Plaka$Neighbourhoods & views
- Varvakios Central Market$Food & nightlife
- Ancient Agora$$Ancient sites
Practicalities
| Rome | Athens | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Italian. English is common around major sights and hotels, less so in neighborhood trattorias. | Greek, in its own alphabet. English is widely spoken in the centre and by younger Greeks generally |
| Currency | Euro (€). US$1 ≈ €0.93 | Euro (€) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer | EET (UTC+2), EEST (UTC+3) in summer |
| Power | Type C/F/L plugs, 230V | 230V, Type F — standard European two-pin |
| Tap water | Safe to drink — including from the city's public nasoni drinking fountains | Safe and good in Athens. On many islands it is not — check locally |
| Emergency | 112 general emergency (EU-wide) | 112 general · 166 ambulance · 100 police |