Per Day average cost

It also depends on WHEN you're going (peak v. off-peak) and WHERE you're going (Venice is lots more expensive than Naples.) Include that info here and you'll get better responses.

sorry sorry - I'd put that info in my last post, but yes should have put it here! We'll be in Italy in late July. Doing the main cities - Venice, Lake Como, Florence, Rome, Naples/Pompeii/Sorrento.

For two people we average about $240 a day for lodging, meals and transportation. That being said, we plan well in advance to get low fares on the train. We eat out at a decent sit down every 2-3 nights but most lunches are found in grocery stores. There is no upper limit and I think the lower limit for real cheapos would come out around $100 a day per person ground costs. Michael brings up a great point about where you stay. Venice will wipe out you money but its simply too great to miss. There are a handful of fine budget options. If you need specifics, I might be able to help when you itinerary is somewhat firm.

I think 100E for lodging is difficult in Italy as an average best up that to at least 150E or you may find yourselves close to hostel like accomodations. Project more like 400USD per day then if you come back with money-Congrats.
Venice, Florence are very expense or opt for hostels or convent stays.

You can come close to 100E a night for lodging in all those places except Venice if you rent an apartment and are willing to sacrifice on size, or location, or convenience. Naples won't be any problem staying under 100E. In 2011, we rented a TINY place in Rome right next to Campo de' Fiori for 89E a night in May. It was like living on a boat, but you couldn't beat the location. Use vrbo.com or airbnb.com to find places. In Verona, we've rented a wonderful apartment for about 95E a night just on the other side of the river from the historic center. You can save a chunk of money if you're willing to do some walking and/or use public transportation. That said, we're pretty much done with renting apartments. We find we like the more social aspect of a B&B where we can talk with other guests in the morning and also chat with the proprietors/front desk people. But we're willing/able to pay more now than in the past.

Actually, i'm finding very nice accommodation options for 60E - 80E a night through VRBO vacation rentals.

If you can live with budget accommodations in a 2 star hotel or a simple B&B you can find places in great locations in the historical center of Rome, Venice and Florence for no more than 100 euro/night, no problem. You can't wait for last minute accommodations however. You also need to know where to stay. Some areas are cheaper than others. For example in the area near the Piazza di Spagna in Rome you will pay much more than Trastevere or Termini. In Florence between the Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio you will pay the most. Piazza San Marco and San Frediano, or also Santa Croce, will be less. In Venice the price is high everywhere, but Cannaregio is cheaper than San Marco, for example. Just do a search on Venere.com and you can easily stay anywhere for under 100 euro and there is nothing wrong with 2 star hotels and B&B. You certainly can't find anything that cheap in Manhattan, I can tell you that much. Lodging is the biggest expense, but 100 euro/night per room is a good estimate for where you are going (stick to 2 star hotels though). Eating at a restaurant can be cheap too, if you go to the local cheap trattorie. You can get away for under 20 euro/pp even at a sit down restaurant. You need to research them. Of couse eating a sandwich on the go is even cheaper. I don't think I've paid more than 35-40 euro pp anywhere in Italy. I can't get away with less than $60 pp here in the SF Bay area at any Italian restaurant (and just 1 entre and 1 main course). Lodging and food can easily be under 200 euro FOR TWO PEOPLE. If you don't rent a car, you will save a lot. Also try to get discounted high speed train tickets if you can. Museums aren't really that expensive. You shouldn't skimp on those. That's what you are going there for.

Andra, $300.00 U.S. is plenty to average if you can keep food and lodging to €200/day for two. We do it ALL THE TIME. I wrote to you in your earlier post about how we do it. I think you are on the right track. AS others have said, buy your high-speed rail tickets in advance before you travel. Will will save lot.

Without city-to-city transportation, the following numbers are easy: Except for Venice and Lake Como: $200 per day for two. Venice: Up it to $250 for two. Lake Como: Beats me.

Don't know your exact dates, but I stayed at Hotel bel Sito and Berlino in Venice Italy a few years ago, and it's small, charming and about the least expensive place that I can find near San Marco. We loved it! For June 5 now, (with only 5 rooms left) it is 195eu per night. We really loved its old world charm and little Venician Glass chandeleirs, and the location was excellent. They recommended a hot bar lunch place a few streets over that seriously had the best food we ate in Venice, and it was really inexpensive picnic tables inside, with the point and order method. So if you like, check it out. I love Venice, but I think you can see it with 2 1/2 days. It IS the most expensive stop you have. Maybe you can start your trip there, it's an easy airport to land in, and fly out of Rome. After that, see the city of Florence and rent a car at your departure, since a car will be a nightmare in the city! I ALWAYS rent an apartment in Florence because it's so much cheaper, and have always used VRBO. You can stay there for 5 or 6 days and just use public transportation to see Siena. In my opinion, Siena is a good day trip, and the buses are frequent and inexpensive. For Rome, I usually stay near the Vatican or Trastevere. You're young and on your honeymoon, so for you I'd recommend Trastevere it's much younger! There are some BnB's, but the one we stayed in didn't afford any privacy - It was Arco dei Tolomei or something like that DONT recommend it for a honeymooning couple! P.S. just looked it up, and everyone seems to like it, so we must have gotten the only room with the computer desk right outside our door, but it's really expensive now.

I'm apparently bored, because I've been looking for hotel rooms/BnB's in June, and I'm seeing that many are booked! So, I'd advise you to get your schedule refined and get booking! (If June)

I've booked an amazing hotel not far from the Rialto Bridge (ranked in the top 10 on tripadvisor) in Venice for 150E a night including breakfast. We're travelling mid to late July into the beginning of August :)

GREAT! Is Venice your first stop? If not, my one last bit of advice is (coming from a person who uses apartments a lot) is on your first leg upon arriving, it's much better to stay in a hotel. BnB's and Apartments are much more trouble checking in on an early A.M. arrival and coming direct from the U.S., they're ALL early arrivals. I remember sitting on my suitcase outside of an apartment in Paris for over an hour waiting on the apartment key holder to show up, and another time the BnB room was not yet vacated and no "public area" or rest room in the office made it a very uncomfortable 2 hour wait. Hotels are much more likely to have the room ready or at least a place to freshen up available. I also never use an apartment for less than 4 nights. Too much wasted time getting introduced to the electricity, appliances, keys, etc.

I am in the middle of planning a 24 day trip to Italy covering most of your itinerary. Using mostly low-mid priced hotels and B&Bs in Rick's Italy book my average for a trip in May is 110 Euro.