How far do you think $8,000 will get me in Rome?

Question

Okay, lets see. My rent is 600 euro monthly (including all bills), the apartment is very close to the city center (about 15 minutes walking distance from the Spanish Steps), I'll be taking the bus if I must go long distances otherwise if I can walk it I'll be walking, I'm not high maintenance (meaning there won't be 20 beauty products I'll have to replenish every month)....hmm, I guess the only things I'll be buying much is food, personal products, and cleaning supplies (like laundry detergent).

Based on this information, how long do you think only $8,000 will last me in Rome?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Almost 3 years ago I moved to Athens Greece, (comparable in expense to Rome, but slightly less expensive). My apt. was 600 euro per month, plus small utilities fee. I took 10,000usd, which at the time got me about 8000 euro....it lasted me about 6 months (rent, food, travel around, basic expenses, and things you buy on the go.). It's easy to say that you plan on living very cheaply and not buying anything, but believe me, once you are there, you will spend and it will add up. Unless you planning on living like a hermit (whats the point in moving to Rome if you want to live like that anyway?), you will be spending money practically everyday. Also, the exchange rate right now will only get you roughly 6200 Euro.
My advice, do it, live as meagerly as you can, but still enjoy it. With any luck, you can do like I did and find a job and one that will support your stay for as long as possible. I am going on my third year here in Athens, and love it!

P.S. Remember, unless you have a work visa, you can only stay in an EU country for 90 days without a Visa. You can get one extended (with good reason), but be prepared to go through the insane headache of the beauracracy system in Italy (Greece too!) as well as the cost of several hundred Euro for the visa extension.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Many countries in the world use dollars, but I'm going to assume that only an American would forget that fact. Thus, I'm assumign you're referring to American dollars. As stated above, $8000 US dollars is just over EUR 6000.

I think you've got about enough money for five months. This would be with you mainly cooking your own food (which is purchased OFF the tourist track in a neighbourhood grocery store) and going to a few museums or attractions each month. Going to nightclubs will eat up a huge chunk of that money because drinks can often be upwards of EUR 10 each (and some places charge you no admission but "make" you pay for two drinks, whether you drink or not). Another big expense is having a cell phone- you can end up spending EUR 100 a month if you use it to make international calls. If you go with five months, that wouldn't include ANY hotel or hostel stays in other cities. It also doesn't include buying clothes or other things to bring home with you.

Answer 3

I'll do it in Euros. US$8000 = approx E6150.
Food: Pizza sitting down is E5-7 or about 4-5 with a soda takeout. Pasta is about the same or a little more. 1.5L of water is E0.35 in grocery or E1-2 sitting down. Coffee is E1 standing at the bar. Groceries are about 20% higher than the US, except wine, which is about E3 for 0.75L of decent wine. Beer is on the expensive side but affordable.
Laundry: at a laundomat E5 for wash and E5 to dry for a 6 Kilo load...or you can do it at your residence for much less.
Monthly expenses:
Rent = E600 (kitchen/kitchenette will save a lot of E)
Food = Depends on how much and what you eat, see above.
Transportation = Metro (only 2 lines) is E1/75 min or E5/day. B us is similar.
Sites = Roma pass is E18 for three days and includes transportaiton. It covers (or heavily discounts) admission to Colosseum, Palantine Hill, Borghese Gallery, Capitol Hill Museum, all four National Museums of Rome, Castel Sant'Angelo, Montmartini Museum, Altar of Peace and so on. Far more than you can see in three days. Most churches are free or cheap. For 7 days, get an Archeologia Card for E22.
Trains to other cities = www.trenetalia.com Probably less than you think it would be. Depends on time of day and class of service.
I'd really like to throw out a number but it would only be a guess since I don't know how you like to eat/drink/relax/sightsee, etc. Add it up using my numbers then add about 25% for the non-rent items for incidentals and you'll come close.

Enjoy! You are doing something that will stay with you for the rest of your life. A great experience!

Buono Vacanza!

Answer 4

if you buy your food in some other district and not around the spanish steps (where everything is much more expensive), and if you don't party every day, i guess you can reach 6 or 7 months

Answer 5

find a job there