Prices in Venice

Actually, I'd expect lodging to be the area showing the greatest difference in percentage terms, though if tourism remains depressed that will definitely affect hotel rates. I noticed some comparatively reasonable rates when I casually explored booking.com a few months ago.

I haven't been to Venice recently so can't say how much more you should expect to pay for food there.

Rick's guide to Venice gives practical suggestions for avoiding excessive expenditures on food.

I think it depends what kind of traveler you are, and you can find ways to make it affordable. We have included a few days in Venice in every trip to Italy (5 so far, since I retired) and I don’t recall it being more per day than Rome or Florence, or Siena, but I typically book B&Bs or apartments, not posh hotels. I’m finding rates in Milan to be more expensive as we plan our next trip (March 2022). We rarely eat in restaurants more than once a day, but that meal is going to be at a quality- rated location to ensure it’s enjoyable and memorable, not necessarily based on price. Look for local places off the tourist trail, have a few meals from take out places (not US fast food, but some pasta to go or similar) or buy cheeses, meats, bread, fruit for a picnic (plus wine😊), which helps to balance out the budget. Fortunately, we aren’t used to extravagance, ha ha. We enjoy just walking around to discover the area, so little is required to entertain us.

That’s good news. We are budget travelers - produce from the street market, add a few picnic supplies and that’s most of what we eat except for budgeting a few great meals. We think we have reasonable accommodation lined up. Thanks for the input!

I was in Verona and at Lake Como as well as Venice this past August. I thought Venice was more expensive for restaurants but that groceries were not necessarily more. And to say it was more for restaurants is not to say it had to be more but that if you weren't careful it was. In other places, you could just wander in and the prices would be fine but could be a bit of a rude surprise in Venice, especially in touristy areas. Still, we had a very special last supper in Venice for our group of seven and it was not more than similar dinner we had in Bellano, Lake Como (165 Euros for 7 pasta/risotto dishes, wine, shared salads, vegetables, and desert with a beautiful view right on the water). But we were a distance from the tourist attractions.

The fish and vegetable market are great fun and well priced.

Prices for supermarket items in Venice are pretty much the same as anywhere in Italy. Street market prices are maybe a bit higher, but then you are buying often produce grown in the lagoon. Yep, the food miles may be short, but those miles are per boat.
Accomodation costs what it costs, and comprison is easy.
One thing you would note in Venice. There are a gazillion short stay visitors, not so many longer stay, so you are unusual. After a few days, the staff in yourclocal bar will recognise you, ditto street musicians. You might start to feel like a local.
Our first visit to Venice was six nights.
Our second visit was for two months.
Venice sort of grabbed us.

There are plenty of good restaurants in Venice (at least there were 3-4 years ago) that are reasonably priced, especially in the Dorsoduro and Cannaregio. Transportation and lodgings are very high compared to anywhere else. But, hey, it's Venice

I wrote a bit once about Venice.
https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/venice-a-sort-of-trip-report-867683/

You can find affordable lodging in the area close to the main train station. Siena is probably cheaper, but Venice is a very special place in Italy.

I don't remember Siena being particularly cheap, but then I wasn't scouting markets and supermarkets for food the way I do in Vicenza, Venice, and Rome.

Nothing about the markets or supermarkets in Venice surprised me and I have done my fair share of shopping there. We're also able to eat out quite reasonably (or at least up to covid-time) and it isn't absolutely necessary to overspend to sleep there either. In fact I've paid more at a place we stayed in Rome than in Venice... On the other hand my parents were able to stay fairy high on the hog and on special visits they certainly pushed the boat out... all what you're looking for...

Have you considered renting an apartment in Venice? I've been looking into that for an extended visit next spring. It will be my 14th visit but my first not staying in a hotel (my favorite is Hotel Ala). I'm surprised by the prices - actually less than I expected or budgeted. I love cooking with fresh vegetables, meats, seafood, cheese, bread, fruits. A few wonderful dinners, especially where there are few tourists, can be done without breaking the bank.

Siena is a wonderful place in so many ways. I've done both hotels and apartments there. I didn't find Siena costing more than other cities but I do go out of my way to not eat in 'tourist' places. A little homework helps me find lodging that has never disappointed (well, once in Rome). Do some searching on-line and it is possible to plan a wonderful trip to any place in Italy. Planning can be lots of fun!

There are grocery stores that are reasonable (especially the Coop chain), just ask the locals in the area you wish to stay. There are also produce and fish markets, basically farmers’ markets, but they are usually open in the morning only. The most famous is the Rialto market, next to the homonymous bridge. But there are 3 more in the various sestieri of historical center:
Mercato di Rio Terà San Leonardo (Cannaregio)
Mercato di via Garibaldi (Castello)
Mercato del Campo di Santa Margherita (Dorsoduro)
There is also one at the Giudecca, but that wouldn’t be convenient.

What tends to be pricey in Venice is the vaporetti and the hotels, but you can find reasonable accommodations especially if you stay a month and rent an apartment,

Siena is obviously cheaper, but don’t expect huge price differences in food.

Thank you everyone for your helpful responses! I do think transportation will probably be the make it or break it issue for us. Where are used to a lot of walking but normally of course it is nice to be able to hop on a bus or a metro and I know the vaporettos are quite expensive. We are still weighing our options but your input has been just what I needed. Thanks again.

While individual vaporetto rides are crazy expensive, there are passes that can bring down the cost if you are staying for several days:

Single ride: 7.50 euros
1 day: 20 euros
2 days: 30 euros
3 days: 40 euros
7 days: 60 euros

I agree that it is well worth getting vaporetto passes. You never know when a vaporetto will come in handy. We use them as mobile bridges. There are so few bridges crossing the Grand Canal that it can be inconvenient to get to one of the three. With a vaporetto pass just hop on the number 1 and its zigzagging the Grand Canal will take you across in a trice..... so even if you are walking (so do we, the best way to see La Serenissima) they are handy...

First, you can walk from one end of Venice to the other in an hour (lengthwise). In other words, nothing's really far.

On my 4 visits, I've stayed in the Dorsoduro, not far from the Academia, which is less convenient since most things are on the other side of the Grand Canal. So I've used the vaporetto a lot to get back and forth to my room. Since I get a pass, I'll sometimes take the boat just for the pleasure of sailing on the Grand Canal, or sailing into San Marco. Riding across the lagoon to Burano is also a lovely sail.