re: Italy trip average costs

It's no more expensive than the USA. Probably cheaper in most places outside of super tourist areas like Positano and Venice.

Food is generally cheaper. You can get a gelato for 1-2 euro. You can't buy an ice cream cone for $2 in the states outside of mcdonalds. You can easily feed a family of four for 50 euro. Obviously you can spend way more too.

The cheapest way is to rent something like an Airbnb for longer like a week and do day trips. Longer stays get cheaper nightly rates usually. Italy is a fantastic place to get a nice Airbnb with a terrace with a view and get a bunch of food and wine from the market to enjoy.

Museums and attractions also really add up. Family of 4 can easily spend $150/ day on museums and attractions. There's plenty of ways to enjoy Italy without spending that money. But few including myself do.

I say this all the time, but living like a local in Europe is very affordable. It's being a tourist that costs money.