Where To Stay In Rome On A Budget 2025 - Affordable Areas
Wondering where to stay in Rome on a budget?
When visiting Rome, one of Europe’s most iconic cities, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by accommodation costs, especially if you’re on a tight budget.
But don’t worry: Rome offers several vibrant neighborhoods where you can enjoy the city’s historic charm, local flavors, and easy access to top attractions without spending a fortune.
In this guide, we’ll show you the best areas to stay in Rome on a budget, highlighting neighborhoods that balance affordability, convenience, and authenticity.
Whether you’re traveling solo or with your family looking for value for money, our tips will help you make the most of your stay without sacrificing comfort or experience.
In short: the best areas to stay in Rome on a budget are San Giovanni, Pigneto, Testaccio, and Trastevere.
Of these four, San Giovanni is the most affordable. It is located a little outside the city centre, but has excellent transport links to the heart of the city.
Trastevere is an area that is always in high demand, so it is best to stay on the outskirts if you want to find something affordable.
Pigneto and Testaccio are both great options thanks to the metro connection.
A short metro ride will take you to several of the city’s main attractions, and this mode of transport plays a vital role in your trip to Rome on a budget.
San Giovanni: Located just south of the historic center, San Giovanni offers affordable accommodation and a local atmosphere. The area has good metro connections, especially via the Re di Roma and San Giovanni stations, making it easy to reach the main attractions. The neighborhood itself is known for its lively streets, local cafes, and the historic Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, one of the most important basilicas in Rome. Restaurants here are often more affordable than in the city center, and you’ll find supermarkets and inexpensive restaurants along the Via Appia Nuova.
Pigneto: Once an industrial area, it’s now one of Rome’s trendiest districts, popular with students and young locals. It’s known for its eclectic street art, bohemian cafes, and vibrant nightlife, with plenty of affordable bars and restaurants. Accommodations here are more budget-friendly, with a mix of boutique hostels, budget hotels, and guest houses. Although not as close to the center as other neighborhoods, Pigneto has tram and bus services, and the new metro line C helps visitors quickly access attractions.
Testaccio: Testaccio offers a more authentic Roman experience with fewer tourists, allowing travelers to get a taste of local life. It is famous for its food scene, including the Testaccio market, where you can try local dishes at affordable prices. The area has a variety of budget accommodations, from pensions to affordable B&Bs, and is well connected by buses. Testaccio is also known for its lively nightlife, especially for those interested in the local bars and clubs. The Colosseum and Roman Forum are a short bus or metro ride away.
Trastevere: While Trastevere is known for its charm and popularity with tourists, it has a good selection of budget accommodation options, especially just outside the main district. The area is packed with quaint streets, lively squares, and plenty of affordable restaurant options, from family-run trattorias to budget pizzerias. Staying on the quieter side of Trastevere still allows you to easily access the neighborhood’s character and nightlife, and is only a short tram or bus ride from the city center.
The best areas to stay in Rome on a budget are:
1. San Giovanni
San Giovanni is a more affordable area than the central neighborhoods of Rome, but keep in mind that it is a bit far from the central tourist areas.
It is still close enough to reach the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, but you definitely have to use the metro to get around the city.
But because you are staying outside the usual areas where most tourists stay, you can enjoy a much more authentic Roman atmosphere.
Via Appia Nuova, one of the main shopping streets, is full of boutiques, cafes and local restaurants, where prices are lower than in the city center.
The restaurants here offer local dishes at bargain prices, but you can also find many pizzerias and pasta specialists.
San Giovanni is known for the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, one of the oldest and most important churches in Rome.
Nearby, you’ll also find ancient relics, such as the Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs), which add a touch of historical depth to your stay.
With multiple metro stops, San Giovanni is well connected to the rest of Rome.
Metro line A takes you directly to popular stops such as Termini Station, the Spanish Steps, and the Vatican, making it easy to get around the city from this base.
Of course, the biggest downside is that you’re located far from the city center.
During our last visit, we explored Italy by train.
It makes much more sense to stay closer to the main train station than to choose a hotel in San Giovanni.
But if you’re traveling light, or perhaps by car, you can save a lot of money by choosing a hotel near a metro station in this local area.
2. Pigneto
Pigneto, once an industrial area, is now one of Rome’s trendiest districts, popular with students and local youth.
If you’re looking for something artsy and alternative, this is the area you’ve been looking for.
The area recommended above has a local and authentic feel to it, and is definitely a budget-friendly neighborhood.
Pigneto offers affordable accommodation and restaurants, but the street art that the area is home to is the complete opposite of a traditional Roman neighborhood.
As it attracts mostly young people, you can also expect a vibrant nightlife.
And when you go out here, you won’t find many tourists.
Pigneto is located southeast of Termini, Rome’s main train station.
That means you’re more conveniently located compared to the area recommended above and it’s a great area for those exploring Italy by train.
Now, there are a few things worth mentioning.
First of all, this neighborhood doesn’t have an authentic feel to it.
In fact, it seems more avant-garde.
Secondly, it becomes harder to find something affordable as it becomes a more popular area day by day, so booking in advance is highly recommended.
Lastly, this area is not exactly ideal for families.
But if you are a young traveller, perhaps a backpacker, Pigneto is certainly a great option.
The connection to public transport, especially the metro line C, ensures that you can easily reach all corners of Rome.
3. Testaccio
Testaccio is a traditional working-class neighborhood with a strong local identity.
Testaccio is often called the culinary heart of Rome, famous for its rich food culture and authentic Roman cuisine.
You’ll find plenty of family-run trattorias serving classic dishes, such as cacio e pepe, amatriciana, and saltimbocca, all at reasonable prices.
The area is located relatively close to the historic center.
That automatically means that hotel prices here are slightly higher compared to the previous two areas.
So keep that in mind.
Testaccio has a fascinating history as an ancient port of Rome, where products such as olive oil were stored and traded.
You can still see remnants of this history on Monte dei Cocci, a hill made entirely of fragments of ancient Roman pottery.
At night, you can explore the local night scene which is, as you might expect from Testaccio, local and low-key.
The area has plenty of popular bars and clubs that cater to locals.
You can easily explore this part of Rome on foot.
For example, you can definitely walk to the Colosseum.
But during the summer, when temperatures rise, it’s much easier to just take the metro via the nearby station called Piramide.
Combining all of this, Testaccio is the best choice if you’re traveling on a budget.
The location is better than the areas recommended above.
But the problem is that it’s harder to find something affordable, especially during the high season.
It’s highly recommended to book in advance.
But it’s also interesting to choose a hotel on the outskirts of this neighborhood, which usually saves you quite a bit of money!
4. Trastevere
Trastevere is one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in Rome, with narrow cobblestone streets, ivy-covered buildings, and a lively atmosphere that reflects traditional Roman life.
It is quite a popular area thanks to its atmosphere and convenient location.
As soon as you cross one of the bridges, you are already in the historic center of Rome.
None of the other recommended areas can offer that level of comfort.
Trastevere offers a good selection of budget accommodations, especially in its quieter areas.
At night, you can explore the local night scene, which is also ideal for families.
In this part of the city, you can also find several craft shops and small markets, ideal for buying souvenirs.
There are two important things worth mentioning.
First, this area does not have direct access to the metro.
It does have access to the tram system, but it is far from ideal if you want to use public transportation to explore the city.
The second thing is that it is difficult to find anything cheap in the convenient areas of Trastevere.
You should always stay on the edge of the area, which means you have to walk quite a bit before you reach the historic center.
In case you decide to stay in this beautiful and vibrant part of the city, make sure you choose accommodation close to one of the tram stations along Viale di Trastevere.