What a Two-Week Trip to Italy Cost: $3,079 per person

Every expense — door to door.

Piedmont, Tuscany, Le Marche, and Rome

Air Travel · Stays · Food · Transport · Other

Flights$1,654
Airport Parking & Travel Day Food$243
Lodging$1,420
Food & Drink$1,173
Ground Transport$800
Other Expenses$868
Total for Two$6,158

Every traveler, except the truly wealthy, has a budget.

This budget includes actual expenses for a 13-night trip for two, in May 2026, through Alta Langhe (Piedmont), the hills outside Pistoia (Tuscany), Recanati (Le Marche), and Rome. Lodging was family-run and well-located; travelers ate and drank very well, but without tourist-trap prices; the rental car was a small economy class vehicle, because narrow roads make anything larger impractical.

It is entirely possible to spend less than this cost breakdown shows or more depending on your travel style.

The Question: How do I experience Italy authentically, independently, and within my means, if I'm not familiar with the country?

The Answer: Italy Within Reach does this for you. Our services pay for themselves in the form of avoided mistakes and better choices.

Affordable travel isn’t “budget travel.” It’s better travel.

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Air Travel Costs (Airfare, Airport Parking, Travel Day Expenses)

$1,897 for two, $948.50 per person

Airfare influences every other planning decision—from arrival city to rental cars to lodging. We help clients evaluate those tradeoffs before they book. Learn more about affordable airfares and our services.

Flights
DepartureNew York (JFK/EWR) to Milan
ReturnRome to New York (JFK/EWR)
AirlineUnited Airlines
Cost$827 per person
TicketEconomy class. Changeable without a fee, cancelable for a credit. One free checked bag per passenger with an airline credit card.

Airport Parking
LocationOff-airport lot with shuttle
Shuttle Wait~10 minutes
Travel Time~5 minutes
Cost$162 for 13 nights
NoteOff-airport lots are typically less expensive than airport garages and as convenient. A parking aggregator usually gets you a better rate.

Departure Day Food
What Was PurchasedSandwiches packed from home plus a drink at the airport bar. Airport food is expensive and often mediocre.
Cost$60 for two
NoteIf you eat a full meal at the airport, budget $15–75 per person depending on whether you sit down and/or drink alcohol.

Return Day Food
What Was PurchasedTwo espressos, one macchiato, and two sandwiches at the Rome airport.
Cost$21 for two
NoteItalian airports serve real food at reasonable prices — a fraction of what you’d pay in the US.

Talk to a travel planner.

Lodging

$1,420 for two, $109 per night, $710 per person

Region & LodgingNightsPer NightTotal
Piedmont — Agriturismo3$125$375
Tuscany — Agriturismo3$95$285
Le Marche — Studio Apartment4$85$340
Rome — Guest House3$140$420
Total13$1,420
All lodging is for two people in a queen or king room with a private bathroom.

View from Tuscan agriturismo outside Pistoia

View from the breakfast table. Agriturismo Il Belvedere, Tuscany.

Italy has a wide range of lodging options, and affordability does not come at the cost of comfort, beauty, and cleanliness. Learn how our custom travel planning services help you get beyond the crowds and the tourist prices and experience the real Italy.

Eating and Drinking in Italy

$1,173 for two, $586.50 per person

Piedmont Agriturismo (3 Nights)

Food & DrinkTotal DaysCost for Two
Breakfast33 days · Included
Mid-Day Coffee33 days · $3.18
Lighter Lunch11 day · $10.50
Sit-Down Lunch22 days · $50.50
Early Evening Drink33 days · $10.43/bottle
Farmstay Dinner22 days · $52.00
Takeout Dinner11 day · $16.50
Total~$253

Tuscany Agriturismo (3 Nights)

Food & DrinkTotal DaysCost for Two
Breakfast33 days · Included
Mid-Day Coffee33 days · $3.18
Lighter Lunch11 day · $12.50
Sit-Down Lunch22 days · $53.00
Early Evening Drink22 days · $9.00
Farmstay Dinner22 days · $48.50
Pizza Dinner11 day · $33.00
Total~$276

Le Marche Apartment (4 Nights)

Food & DrinkTotal DaysCost for Two
Breakfast at Pasticceria22 days · $6.83
Breakfast from Grocery22 days · $9.47
Mid-Day Coffee44 days · $3.18
Sit-Down Lunch44 days · $47.00
Early Evening Drink — Bar22 days · $8.37
Early Evening Drink — Lodging22 days · $10.43/bottle
Pizza Dinner11 day · $30.00
Takeout Dinner22 days · $16.00
Full Restaurant Dinner11 day · $62.00
Gelato22 days · $5.25
Total~$395

Rome Apartment (3 Nights)

Food & DrinkTotal DaysCost for Two
Breakfast at Pasticceria22 days · $6.83
Breakfast from Grocery11 day · $9.47
Mid-Day Coffee33 days · $3.18
Lighter Lunch22 days · $12.00
Sit-Down Lunch11 day · $48.00
Early Evening Drink — Bar11 day · $9.50
Early Evening Drink — Lodging22 days · $10.43/bottle
Pizza Dinner11 day · $34.00
Full Restaurant Dinner11 day · $58.00
Takeout Dinner11 day · $16.00
Gelato11 day · $6.25
Total~$249

Eating Well and Affordably in Italy

What You’ll Eat and Drink at These Prices

MealWhat You’ll Eat and Drink
Breakfast — AgriturismoEggs, cured meats, local cheeses, fresh bread, house-made jams, seasonal fruit, cakes, and coffee. All from the farm or nearby.
Breakfast — PasticceriaEspresso or cappuccino and a cornetto — plain, or filled with cream or jam — at the counter.
Breakfast — GroceryFruit, yogurt, and fresh bread from a local alimentari or small supermarket, eaten at the lodging.
Mid-Day CoffeeEspresso at a local bar. You can order a cappuccino or macchiato, but Italians typically do not drink milk-based coffee after noon.
Lighter LunchA panino from an alimentari — prosciutto, arugula, and mozzarella on fresh bread — with a large bottle of water.
Sit-Down LunchA pasta course — wild boar ragù, fresh seafood, or handmade tagliatelle with local truffles, depending on the region — half liter of house wine, coperto, and espresso.
Early Evening DrinkCampari, Aperol spritz, or a glass of local wine — at a bar or from a bottle purchased at a nearby shop and enjoyed at the lodging.
Farmstay DinnerFour courses: a local cheese or cured meat appetizer, handmade pasta, a secondi of pork, chicken, or rabbit, and a house-made digestivo — grappa, limoncello, or an amaro of the zone. House wine included.
Pizza DinnerTwo pizzas at a local pizzeria, a shared bottle of wine, and dessert.
Takeout DinnerPrepared dishes from a rosticceria — roasted chicken, farro salad, braised chicory, roasted potatoes — eaten at the lodging.
GelatoTwo scoops from a gelateria that makes its own — look for produzione propria on the sign.

Getting around Italy

$800 for two , $400 per person

Car Rental — Driving Tour (Not Including Rome)
CarŠkoda compact, full coverage, two drivers
CompanyOK Mobility, a European car rental company
Duration10 days
Rental Cost$370
Gas$267
Tolls$78
NoteDropped before Rome. You don’t want a car in Rome — parking is difficult and expensive, and driving in the city can be challenging.
Total$715

Public Transportation in RomeCost for Two
Airport Transfer$52
Tram & Metro$33
Total$85

Read more about getting around Italy affordably and comfortably.

Other Expenses

$868 for two, $434 per person

Other CostsCost for TwoNotes
Travel Insurance$137Covers all non-refundable expenses. Highly recommended.
Phone Plan Upgrade$30For two people — international calls, texts, and data at 15GB each.
Museums & Sites$289Major Rome sites — Colosseum, Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel, Galleria Doria Pamphilj, and Ostia Antica — plus smaller museums in Tuscany and Le Marche.
Parking in Towns$56Free parking spots are outlined in white; paid spots in blue. Payment is made at street kiosks, which can be switched to English.
Beach Umbrellas$50Two days. Beach chair and umbrella rentals are not free in Italy — most beaches are privately managed, with limited free access in some areas.
Groceries & Pharmacy$100
Other Incidentals$206
Total$868

Learn more about experiencing Italy without overspending.

Interior of the Basilica della Santa Casa, Loreto. The marble encasement of the Holy House, designed by Bramante, begun in 1509.

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