One thing that I know everyone is looking to figure out is how my fiancée and I pay for our vacations. It seems like every few months we’re trekking out to explore more of the world.

So, I wanted to share with you how we paid for things in Milano! So, here’s everything from the planes we took, the trains we hopped, the places we stayed, and the things we ate!

Eating and Spending Money

So I’m going to let you in on how I budget money for my fiancée and I for daily spending. One thing we can’t live without is food and water. So, we cut down on our water spending by using Britta filter water bottles. No matter where we are in the world, the water is filtered and drinkable. Most countries in the world have perfectly potable water, but we like to stay cautious and prepared for any situation. They are not too expensive at Target and the replacement filters are affordable, too.

With water at our constant disposal, that means we get to splurge when we sit down to eat meals. We get sodas only when we eat, and occasionally Powerade, which is a product of Coca-Cola and available most places in the world.

It is important, which I learned the hard way, to replenish your electrolytes when possible. Water is great, but it is not the only thing you need. Buying in packs makes it an economic option as well. Even buying individually at a market instead of at a restaurant can save you 50%.

For food, we try to do street food during the day. Grab-n-Go food is easy and usually full of carbs, which are very helpful when you do the amount of walking and exploring we do on vacation. So, pizza by the slice and sandwiches were daily options for us in Italy.

To save money, don’t just eat at the first food stand you see near the main attractions though. Food prices are often hiked where tourism is prevalent. Going literally 2 or so streets over can save you a lot of money.

For dinners in Italy, we usually got plates of pasta. Since we were staying in an Airbnbs, hostels, and hotels, we had access to refrigerators that we could use to store our food and microwaves to reheat leftovers. We didn’t utilize this as much as a solo traveler might because it was just as easy for us to share a plate instead of keeping it for leftovers.

So here are some numbers for what I’ve noticed in my time in Italy.

Pizza by the slice can run you anywhere from a Euro and some change to 4 or 5 Euros. Sandwiches are about the same. They can be up to 8 Euros or so. Plates of pasta and risotto can be anywhere from 10 or so Euros to 25 or more. No meat means it will probably cost less money, and all of these prices are subject to how close they are to the tourist attractions. You will pay way more for a plate with meat at a restaurant that is on the corner of the Duomo di Milano than if you get a plate of Pasta Arrabbiata at the little restaurant down the street from your not centrally located Airbnb.

For budgeting and spending money, I try to budget about $50 per person per day. This usually covers the cost of food with a little extra for the set of playing cards with pictures of the city (which is what I collect) or the Roman helmet keychain that you just have to have.

Within that budget, I usually come out with extra for daily expenses, but that leaves you wiggle room for when seasickness causes you to not catch the first boat going to the train station in Venice and you miss your train to Rome and costs you about $200… (Sorry about that, Amanda).