Cost of living in Milan: An overview (2025)

Milan is expensive, so how much do you really need to live in this futuristic fashion metropolis? Check out our breakdown and find out!

Bas Teunissen

3 minute read

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Updated on 14 Jan 2026

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Living

Milan is an exciting city to live 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 €2,120.

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

Here’s our easy overview of the cost of living in Milan. All in all, you’ll be spending around €800-€1,000 on top of your rent. That means you need an income of between €2,400 to €3,000 to live comfortably in Milan.

The monthly cost of living in Milan for 1 person:

^This is the average rental price for all rental types across Milan.

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

If you still need a home, start looking for homes for rent in Milan early. If you’re not sure which area of Milan is best for you, definitely check out our Milan neighbourhoods guide.

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!

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 of groceries are higher than in Rome (+10%).

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

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.

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.