How Much Does It Cost to Live In Milan?
Life is very expensive in Milan, from the cost of actual living there to everyday costs.
Many things are more expensive than in other cities, and only public transportation is very cheap (because it is everywhere throughout Italy).
The quality of life is high and increasing, but due to its busy streets and people that live fast, it’s very different from average Italian small towns and it’s really not for everyone.
However, there are many who find that living in this chic, vibrant city is an investment worth every penny.
Italy : Cost of Living by City
Cost of Living in Italy
RESTAURANTS
This is Milan, so expect the prices in restaurants to skyrocket! A regular lunch at noon from Monday to Friday can cost anywhere between 15$ and 20$, but eating at night can cost more. And though, admittedly, eating out in Milan is definitely not cheap, you will surely find that the food scene really is outstanding.
MARKETS
As for Milan’s range of products when it comes to groceries, you can get high-quality produce at very reasonable prices at the street markets which pop up a few days a week around the city. When it comes to the supermarkets, they keep basically the same prices as all the other stores along the country.
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation is relatively efficient, as much as it can be in Italy, and cheap compared to everything else here. Since Milan is a large city, you will find that metro is your friend. You can get a monthly pass that costs around 35$, or a single 90-minute ticket that costs a very respectable 2$.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Everything in Milan costs more, and so do the bills. Be prepared to spend around 120$ per month for electricity, water, gas. When there’s a heavy usage of utilities, like during winter or summer, the utility bill will likely double. For an apartment around 85m2 (which is definitely bigger than a usual apartment for one or two people) these will cost you 140$ approximately.
SPORTS & LEISURE
Having fun and indulging in sports is definitely expensive in Milan, which is a phenomenon typical for most European countries. A membership at the gym or a fitness club can’t go by without you cashing out around a whopping 65$, while those that love going to the movies will have to cash out 10$ per person for a cinema ticket.
CLOTHING & SHOES
Milan, as Italian center of fashion, is full of shopping malls and little local shopping stores where you can buy clothes, jeans, sneakers and accessories. If you want a pair of Levi’s, it will cost you around 90$, though. Quality sneakers cost about the same. This is, however, expected to happen since Italian cities are famous for their fashion industry.
RENT PER MONTH
As for rent, you are looking on average at around 800$-1000$ for a decent one-bedroom apartment in a nice area of the city. And of course, the closer you get to the touristy areas, the more expensive the apartments will be. You can always be one of those people paying 1000$ for a 30m2 apartment next to the Duomo!
Cost of Living Averages Table for Milan
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $17.11 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $5.70 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $1.23 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.43 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.81 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.81 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $1.71 |
| Monthly Pass | $39.92 |
| Gasoline | $1.84 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $147.21 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.19 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $31.29 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $64.21 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $26.08 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $10.27 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $96.19 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $36.86 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $93.05 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $1147.83 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $799.60 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $2316.84 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Milan?
Most of the money in the city of Milan gets spent on rent, as it can be pretty steep in certain areas and since it’s Milan, it’s very expensive everywhere!
One of the biggest expenses in Milan is food, and people go and spent huge bulks of money in markets and grocery stores. As we mentioned, you can count on 200$ a week going on food, if you have a family.
Restaurants and transportation go side by side like in most countries – though transportation is cheap, it’s essential for everyone, everyday, and as for the restaurants – you can’t help visiting them in the crowded, busy streets of Milan. They’re very inviting.
Average Costs Breakdown
Milan: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
With a minimum wage all across Italy being just short of 1500$, some people might have a hard time covering all their expenses in Milan, since rent is pretty expensive here, and all other services are definitely of higher cost than in other cities.
Average monthly net salary in Milan is also higher than in most cities, so most people can live without any problems. However, if you’re the type of person to go out every night, spend money in bars and restaurants and act comfortably when it comes to pastime and leisure – you might find this average salary a bit too low.
Milan Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Milan Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Cost of Living by City in Milan
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Bologna | 69.5 |
| Cagliari | 61.3 |
| Florence | 77.21 |
| Genoa | 75.38 |
| Naples | 61.3 |
| Padova | 73.49 |
| Palermo | 61.16 |
| Rome | 69.03 |
| Trieste | 71.51 |
| Turin | 66.68 |
