Cost of living in Milan: what to budget in 2026

Uncover real 2026 Milan living costs—rent, groceries, and insider tips for expats and students. Plan your move with local insights and budgeting advice.

Bas Teunissen

8 minute read

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Updated on 16 Sep 2026

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Living

Meta title: Cost of living in Milan: full monthly budget breakdown (2026) Meta description: Planning to move to Milan? Here's a realistic breakdown of monthly costs — rent, food, transport, and more — for students and young professionals in 2026.

Living in Milan costs a single person around €1,050 a month, excluding rent. Milan is an exciting city to live in as it's an economic powerhouse, known for its fashion and luxury scenes. Unfortunately, that also makes Milan the most expensive city in Italy. So how much does it actually cost to live in Milan? For a single person, you can expect the living costs to be €1,050 excluding rent.

To help you budget better, we've broken down the cost of living into 4 categories:

• The average rental prices
• Food & groceries
• Entertainment & leisure
• Public transportation

Key takeaways:

• A single person needs about €1,050 a month excluding rent, and around €1,921 after tax to live comfortably in Milan.
• Students: shared rooms in Città Studi, Lambrate, or Bicocca start from around €170-€990 a month, well below the citywide average of €664.
• Young professionals: budget €1,900-€2,200 a month if you want a studio, a full transport pass, and regular meals out.
• The monthly public transport pass costs €39, and health insurance averages €114 a month if you go private instead of the SSN.
• Milan's rent and food costs sit above Rome's but below Amsterdam's, so it's expensive for Italy but not for Western Europe as a whole.

Here's our easy overview of the cost of living in Milan. All in all, you'll be spending around €1,050 on top of your rent. That means you need an income of €1,921 after tax to live comfortably in Milan.

The monthly cost of living in Milan for 1 person:

In the end, it all depends on what you're used to and how much your average salary in Italy will be at your new Italian job!

According to the HousingAnywhere Rent Index, Milan is one of the most expensive cities in Europe when it comes to rental prices. Especially in the last year, prices for private rooms have increased.

Here's an overview of the average rental prices in Milan:

Already searching for a place? Browse homes for rent in Milan early because the best listings go fast.

Best neighbourhoods for every budget

If you're not sure which area of Milan is best for you, check out our Milan neighbourhoods guide. The premium end of the market sits in areas like Centro Storico. For something livelier at a slightly more manageable price point, Porta Venezia is worth exploring.

For a tighter budget, look at Città Studi, Lambrate, or Bicocca, where rooms start from around €170-€990 a month, well below the citywide average of €664. These areas sit close to Milan's universities (Politecnico and Bicocca), which makes them popular with students. If you want to stay closer to the centre without paying premium prices, NoLo and Chinatown/Paolo Sarpi offer rooms from roughly €380-€850 a month with easy metro access.

Before you settle on any place, it's good to know which areas to avoid in Milan to make sure you choose the best neighborhood for you.

The average net salary in Milan is around €2,200 a month (Numbeo), higher than Italy's national average thanks to Milan's concentration of finance, fashion, and corporate jobs. Entry-level and graduate salaries typically start lower, around €1,600-€1,900 net a month, so budget carefully if you're new to the job market.

For comparison, a single person needs about €1,921 after tax to live comfortably in Milan. That means most professional salaries cover the essentials with some room for savings, but if you're on an entry-level wage, shared housing helps close the gap. Check the average salary in Italy for how Milan compares to other Italian cities.

Milan is an expensive city overall, not to mention a tourist hotspot. That means prices for food in the city are also higher than average. To compare Milan versus Rome, the prices are higher than in Rome (+24%).

Here's an idea of what you'll encounter when filling your cart in a Milanese supermarket.

Eating out and nightlife in Milan

Going out in Milan is fun but expensive. Whether you're into diving into Milan's pulsing nightlife or simply looking for a meal, get ready to splurge a bit.

Besides nightlife and eating out, there's more to do in Milan.

Milan is a bustling metropolis with an extensive and affordable public transport network.

As a city of business, taxis are also very popular, but a little pricey. Make sure you confirm the price with the driver beforehand to avoid a pricey surprise when you arrive at your destination.

Basic utilities average €221 a month in Milan, covering electricity, heating, water, and waste collection, while data and internet cost around €36 a month. Utility bills usually spike in winter because Milan gets cold and many buildings still rely on gas heating, so expect higher bills between November and March. If you're renting a room in a shared flat, ask upfront whether bills are split between flatmates or bundled into your rent as a fixed contribution.

Registering with Italy's National Health Service (SSN) is the cheapest way to access healthcare in Milan. Students without dependents pay an annual SSN fee of €700, while most other expats and international residents pay a minimum annual contribution of €2,000 (Expatica). Once registered, you get a health card (tessera sanitaria) that covers GP visits, hospital care, and subsidised prescriptions.

If you'd rather skip the SSN or need coverage sooner, private health insurance in Milan averages €114 a month for a single person. Private insurance is faster to set up and often required for visa applications before you're eligible for SSN registration, so many newcomers start there and switch to the SSN once they've settled in.

A gym membership in Milan averages €74 a month, covering access to major chains like Virgin Active or McFit. Budget an extra €50-€100 a month for clothing, personal care, and toiletries, in line with costs across other major Western European cities. To cut this cost, look for student discounts at gyms near university campuses, or run for free along the Naviglio Grande instead.

Student budget: a shared room (€450-€700), a discounted student transport pass (€20-€25), groceries (€250), and regular meals at university canteens bring your monthly total to roughly €1,000-€1,300, on top of tuition and health insurance.

Young professional budget: a studio apartment (€1,200), a full-price transport pass (€39), groceries plus more frequent meals out (€500-€600), a gym membership (€74), and private health insurance (€114) typically add up to €1,900-€2,200 a month.

Milan is Italy's most expensive city, but it's not the most expensive in Europe. According to the HousingAnywhere Rent Index, apartments in Milan average €1,791 a month, compared to around €1,990 in Rome and roughly €2,300 in Amsterdam. Food and groceries in Milan cost about 24% more than in Rome, but overall rent is broadly comparable between the two cities. If you're relocating from Northern Europe, Milan's rent and everyday costs will likely feel more manageable than what you're used to in Amsterdam, Paris, or London.

• Choose a room in Città Studi, Lambrate, Bicocca, or NoLo instead of Centro Storico or Brera, and save several hundred euros a month on rent.
• Shop at discount supermarket chains like Esselunga, Lidl, or Eurospin instead of smaller local shops for groceries.
• Get the monthly ATM transport pass (€39) instead of buying single tickets if you commute daily; it pays for itself after about 18 rides.
• Use Milan's bike-sharing (BikeMi) or car-sharing services for occasional trips instead of owning a car, since parking and fuel in the city centre are expensive.
• Take advantage of student discounts on transport, museums, and gyms if you're enrolled at a university in Milan.

See the full Milan neighbourhoods guide for a breakdown of studios and apartments too.

There you go! An easy overview of some of the most common expenses you'll run into when you start your new life in Milan!

Still in need of a home in this beautiful city? We got you covered! You can find apartments for rent in Milan that meet your requirements, from studios to furnished homes. For a broader picture, you can also check out the expat life in Milan guide.

Once you've settled on a budget, book with confidence: every HousingAnywhere listing comes with ID-verified landlords and Tenant Protection, so you can secure your room or apartment online before you even land in Milan.

How much does it cost to live in Milan per month? A single person spends around €1,050 a month excluding rent, or roughly €1,714-€1,850 including a room in a shared flat.

Is Milan more expensive than Rome? Yes. Groceries in Milan cost about 24% more than in Rome, though apartment rent between the two cities is broadly similar.

What is the average salary in Milan? The average net salary in Milan is around €2,200 a month, higher than Italy's national average, though entry-level roles often start closer to €1,600-€1,900.

Is Milan affordable for students? Yes, if you choose the right area. A student budget of €1,000-€1,300 a month is realistic with a shared room in Città Studi, Lambrate, or Bicocca, a discounted transport pass, and university canteen meals.

Do I need a car in Milan? No. Milan's public transport network is extensive and affordable, and most residents get by with the metro, trams, and buses, plus bike-sharing (BikeMi) for shorter trips.

How much do I need to earn to live comfortably in Milan? You need an income of about €1,921 after tax a month to cover rent, food, transport, and leisure comfortably in Milan.