Rome vs Florence
The short answer
Florence is the cheaper trip, by roughly 12% a day — $85–155 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 | 🇮🇹 Florence | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budgetmid-range, per person | $95–170 | $85–155cheaper |
| Cheap meallocal staple | €6–12 ($6.50–13) | €6–12 ($6.50–13) |
| Mid-range hotelper night | €100–200 ($108–216) | €90–180 ($97–194) |
| Transit ridesingle trip | €1.50 ($1.60)cheaper | €1.70 ($1.85) |
| Avg. monthly salarylocal, for context | ≈ $2,100 | ≈ $1,950 |
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$$Restaurants
🇮🇹 Florence
The cradle of the Renaissance — Michelangelo's David, Brunelleschi's dome, and more world-class art per square mile than almost anywhere on earth.
- La Terrazza Lounge Bar$$$Nightlife
- All'Antico Vinaio$Restaurants
- Teatro della Pergola$$Theater & shows
- Le Volpi e l'Uva$$Nightlife
- Trattoria Mario$$Restaurants
Practicalities
| Rome | Florence | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Italian. English is common around major sights and hotels, less so in neighborhood trattorias. | Italian, with the Florentine dialect historically the basis of standard Italian. English is common near the main sights. |
| Tap water | Safe to drink — including from the city's public nasoni drinking fountains | Safe to drink |
The same in both:
- Currency
- Euro (€). US$1 ≈ €0.93
- Time zone
- CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer
- Power
- Type C/F/L plugs, 230V
- Emergency
- 112 general emergency (EU-wide)