Everywhere I look, I see that people say everything in Italy is more expensive than in the US. How true is this? One post I saw said that jeans in Italy are cheaper than in the US...so some conflicting info there.
I'm trying to get a good idea about spending money. I'm going to be staying with a host family this summer, so I'll probably be buying around one meal a day, but I also want to buy stuff to take home for family, myself, friends so on...
Not sure where you're seeing this, but it's not true across the board. Some things are, and some things aren't.
The reality is that what most people mean is that ...
"Italy is much more expensive today than it was just a few years ago."
What's changed is the exchange rate. From about 85 cents to buy a Euro, to $1.35 to buy a Euro. It's now settled back down to about $1.23 to buy a Euro.
So, if something was 1 Euro a few years ago, and is still 1 Euro today (like, let's say, a cappuccino), it went from 85 cents to $1.23 in no time flat. Huge change!
That's the mjaor problem when traveling to Europe or Italy today.
What's changed is the exchange rate. From about 85 cents to buy a Euro, to $1.35 to buy a Euro. It's now settled back down to about $1.23 to buy a Euro.
So, if something was 1 Euro a few years ago, and is still 1 Euro today (like, let's say, a cappuccino), it went from 85 cents to $1.23 in no time flat. Huge change!
(I think this all started from the lira to euro exchange....Italy really got that shaft on that. Their lire were really undervalued, thanks (in my opinion ONLY) to France and Germany.)
Now add to that the fee for exchanging your dollar to that euro....in some cases, it can go to 3%...the bank charges a rate, the ATM charges another 1%....now that $1.23 becomes $1.27. Not much for a cappuccino, but for a hotel at 150+ euros per day....that room now costs you $190 per day!
Also, add to the equation, that Italy does not have "outlet" store type places. They have department stores and individual clothing stores, but not mass merchandising outlets. And buying that "knock-off Gucci" purse on the street can carry a 500 euro fine to both the seller and the buyer!
So, I buy an item of linen or inexpensive jewelry as a souvenir, or even gifts for friends. Light to pack and doesn't take up much space. When I'm at the airport, I buy a bunch of chocolate, wine, and other duty free things as gifts to friends and also for myself. But, the point is, I don't buy purses, other leather goods, or expensive jewelry in Europe.
I'm sure you'll get many other replies on this subject. Especially from Italians who saw their cost of living greatly increase upon the change to the euro.
Louise
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This message has been edited. Last edited by: Colleen,
Posts: 249 | Location: Menasha, WI - USA | Registered: 15 February 2003
There are bargains in the local markets, and there are outlet stores and large hyper-markets. Most are just a bit hard to find (just like ours, in the middle of nowhere where the real estate is cheaper). Some are also single label (i.e. D&G only, Versace only).
Nothing is outrageous! Just go and enjoy! You can find bargins and you can also spend lots of money. You're a slow traveler - just look around - you'll find the places right for your budget.
Posts: 129 | Location: Fort Worth, Texas | Registered: 02 April 2006
Sure, things have gotten more expensive since the introduction of the Euro, because Italy can no longer adjust its own currency to keep real prices low. And there is the weak dollar which adds to the dilemma for visiors from the states.
But I find, for instance, food to be cheaper here. I am always in sticker shock when I have to pay for fresh groceries in the states. Fresh food is a bargain here in comparison...and often the quality is far higher.
Wine is one HECK of a lot cheaper especially here in Piemonte.
Just stay away from tourist traps and you will find local small restaurants where two can eat a feast with wine for well under 40 euros, or 50 dollars, try to do that in the States!!
Everything is relative. Salaries are lower here, they did not get adjusted when the Euro was introduced. But consumer prices did get adjusted, hurting working Italians alot. But nothing is outrageous as long as you stay out of the tourist traps....
Rooms and meals (inexpensive wine and no 20% tips)can run about the same as the USA.Rental cars and gas are more. Shopping really depends on how and where you shop. In a couple weekends my wife and I are staying 4 nights at a North Carolina B&B for $285/night. We'll have dinners that probably range $100+. On the whole, we never spend that much in Italy.
Originally posted by Jabez: In a couple weekends my wife and I are staying 4 nights at a North Carolina B&B for $285/night. We'll have dinners that probably range $100+. On the whole, we never spend that much in Italy.
Jim:
No fooling! Great comparison.
Can you imagine what $285 a night will get you in the smaller towns in Italy? In Fano, where we vacation, it would likely be hard to find any hotel room that expensive! Even with full board!
And, three of us have a hard time breaking E60 for dinner, with wine, in small towns. It's kind of a contest of sorts to see if we can eat and drink enough (without overdoing it of course) to break E60. I do have a 16 y/o daughter who does not eat much, but still ... we could pay $80 at PF Changs here in Columbus!
A bottle of wine with dinner in Canada will cost you $28-$35...for a very average wine...plus 15% tax and 15% tip. We were talking about this the other day. My car rental in Italy for 8 days cost $381 Canadian including all tax and insurance. That same rental in Florida would have cost me about $450 Canadian. The only thing I find more expensive in Italy is the gas and the water. I could not hope to have a 4 course meal with wine, tax and tip for an average of less than $100 Canadian at home. The airfare is a challenge but we were able to use our frequent flyer points this time around...last time it cost us $1200 per person for our tickets to Rome.
It's quite relative. We're still in sticker-shock because a pizza that used to cost 8,000 lira ($4) now costs 8 euro ($10). So you'll pay $10 for an entire pizza, and $3 for a liter of house wine that you can actually drink. Not a bad deal.
Some friends just came up from Florence, so five of us just treated ourselves to a spectacular all-out dinner at Vini da Gigio. Superb wine, 4 courses (fish), dessert, the works. 330 euro, or about $80 a head. And this was a big splurge, at an higher-end restaurant, in one of the more expensive cities. It's very easy to pay a third of that, and still eat very well.
(Good) wine is always cheaper than what you'll pay in the U.S. for it's equivalent.
Avoid restaurants with a waiter standing in the doorway, ushering you into the place.
The things that cost more probably won't be what you'll be buying (scissors, for example).
Just hope for a decent exchange rate at the time you go and you'll be fine!
We just outfitted an entire 2BR apartment, and we did not find the prices to be too much different than here. Of course, we went to IKEA in Bologna, and were careful about what we bought and how much we spent. We feel we received good value for our money.
In fact, some of the items (like a solid wood dining table, solid wood chairs, and solid wood buffet seemed to be less expensive than here. As well, we ordered a leather pull out sleeper couch (about E900) and a 2 seater leather love seat (about E700). Not sure we would see those prices here for similar quality.
Realizing that the IVA is already added, it was a pretty good deal.
Originally posted by Marco Ohio & Fano: We just outfitted an entire 2BR apartment, and we did not find the prices to be too much different than here. Of course, we went to IKEA in Bologna, and were careful about what we bought and how much we spent. We feel we received good value for our money.
In fact, some of the items (like a solid wood dining table, solid wood chairs, and solid wood buffet) seemed to be less expensive than here. As well, we ordered a leather pull out sleeper couch (about E900) and a 2 seater leather love seat (about E700). Not sure we would see those prices here for similar quality.
Realizing that the IVA is already added, it was a pretty good deal.
You mention staying with a host family. Are you a college student? The kinds of things that kids buy have gotten much more expensive. Beers, cigarettes, makeup, petrol for the vespa.
You specifically mention clothes. My 20 year old niece got some killer clothes for 8-10 euro each. Some of the stuff was just 3-5 euro. This was during the semi-annual sales where stuff does actually go on sale. Versus US sales where they inflate the price and then put it "on sale". Jeans in Rome were the exception to the rule and were definitely in the Nordstroms price range not Walmart or Target. If you are a size 0 or small you are going to make a killing. Bring lots of money!!
I OTOH find it difficult to find my size in Italy. I end up at Marina Rinaldi and while that designer is cheaper in Italy than the US when you add in all the "extras" like a 23 percent adverse exchange rate it is the same or more expensive.
Originally posted by Robert Rainey: I don't know where you are renting cars here but I can find a car here for 25 dollars/day here, way cheaper than Italy.
It's the insurance, and the fact that you're from another country. You can rent a Smart car in association with a TrenItalia ES reservation, for example, for 27 euro with 100km (and lots more fun to drive than a $25/day U.S. rental ). Still more expensive, but car rental is more expensive here...although the cars are much more fuel efficient, so you get to drive further on a tank, anyway.
Prices have certainly gone up since the change from Lira to Euro....that goes for Portugal, Spain and France as well. The Euro has lost some ground since the last time we were there...or should I say the Canadian dollar has also gained some ground. The exchange was almost 1.70 Canadian dollar to the Euro two and half years ago and now we pay 1.43...much better. I still think that I get more for my money in Italy than I do at home.
Originally posted by Robert Rainey: I don't know where you are renting cars here but I can find a car here for 25 dollars/day here, way cheaper than Italy.
It's the insurance, and the fact that you're from another country. You can rent a Smart car in association with a TrenItalia ES reservation, for example, for 27 euro with 100km (and lots more fun to drive than a $25/day U.S. rental ). Still more, although the cars are more fuel efficient overall, so you'll likely drive further on a tankful, anyway...
I know its the insurance.Here my auto ins and credit card covers me.Technically my card may cover me over there but its a hassle.They charge(if you get in an accident) and then you argue to get money back.RR
Originally posted by Robert Rainey: They charge (if you get in an accident) and then you argue to get money back.
See? It's actually the argument that costs extra.
(I had some friends in Italy last year who backed into a post behind them that was below their sightline. They didn't call the police, found out they should have, went to the police afterward to no avail, then fretted and fretted until they turned in the car over what they might have to pay. When they got the the rental office, the guy just took the keys and said ciao. Italy is nothing if not unpredictable.)
Someone asked if I was a college student, and I'm a high school student...I wont be buying a vespa because I'm only going to be there for 7 weeks. And I dont smoke, so I'll save money on that. Thanks for all the great answers!!
Hi, Just wanted to add a comment here. The answer is yes and no. It depends what you are buying and where. We found that food was more expensive, however we didn't go always to a supermarket in Italy, and Deli stores are more expensive. However, we don't go too often to these types of stores here in Montreal, which can be quite expensive too. Secondly, people often go to Italy for romantic type of vacation. Of course you spend more because you are on vacation and want to try some good restaurants and nice places and stay at a nice hotel. Another point is that many places in Italy attract tourists and the prices go up. If I compare prices here in Montreal to Niagara Falls (which is a tourist place), the difference is quite big for everything.
I would say that life in Europe is more expensive in general (homes and apartments, electricity, etc..., food is about the same).
One of my friends keep saying that vacations in Europe are expensive, so she never travels to Europe. However, it depends how you organize. I mean, when she is going to another city in Canada, she is not staying in a Ritz there, so I told her it is the same in Europe, it is possible to find good prices as well.It doesn't prevent you from sightseeing and visiting and having great time. But for some reason people imagine that in Europe there are only very luxurious hotels or restaurants.
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especially here in Piemonte.
). Still more expensive, but car rental is more expensive here...although the cars are much more fuel efficient, so you get to drive further on a tank, anyway.