A month in Milan, in numbers
| Item | Monthly | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Room in a shared flat | EUR 450-700 | Cheaper further from the centre |
| University hall, if you get one | EUR 300-500 | Limited places, apply early |
| Food, cooking at home | EUR 200-280 | Less if you use the mensa |
| Transport | EUR 22 | Student ATM pass, under 26 |
| Phone and internet | EUR 15-25 | Prepaid SIMs are cheap |
| Books and personal | EUR 80-150 | |
| Total | EUR 800-1,200 | Lower end with a hall place |
Where students actually live
Almost nobody lives in the centre, and there is no need to — the metro is good. The usual areas are Città Studi (next to the Politecnico and Statale campuses), Lambrate, Bicocca, Bovisa, the outer edge of Navigli, and for the tightest budgets the suburbs of Sesto San Giovanni and Cinisello: 20-30 minutes on the metro and EUR 100-200 a month cheaper.
The universities
- Politecnico di Milano — engineering, architecture and design; the most competitive in Italy
- Università degli Studi di Milano (La Statale) — large public university, broad subject range
- Università Bicocca — economics, social sciences, natural sciences
- Bocconi — business and economics; private, high fees, its own scholarships
Work, honestly
The student limit in Italy is 20 hours a week, and Milan has more openings than anywhere else in the country — restaurants, retail, events, delivery. But without Italian, most of those doors are closed, even in Milan, even if your degree is taught in English. Do not budget for income in your first semester. The rules are in the part-time work guide.
What is genuinely expensive
- 1Rent. Milan is the most expensive rental market in Italy, by a clear margin.
- 2Moving in. Two to three months' rent up front as a deposit, plus agency fees.
- 3Eating out. EUR 12-18 a meal; do it regularly and the budget breaks.
What is cheap or free
Tuition at a public university is income-assessed, so a properly filed ISEE can bring it down to a few hundred euros a year. Add subsidised mensa meals and under-26 discounts on museums and transport. Lombardy has its own regional scholarship agency — see which DSU agency covers your university.
Before you fly
- 1Apply for university housing the day your offer arrives. Halls fill.
- 2Keep EUR 1,500-2,000 available for the first two months plus deposit.
- 3Get a codice fiscale immediately, then start the residence permit kit — see what to do after you land.
Official sources — check for yourself
Rules and figures change. We review these articles periodically and show the date above, but always confirm the current requirement with the official source before you act on it.
Common questions
How much does a student need per month in Milan?+
Typically EUR 800-1,200, most of it rent — a room in a shared flat is EUR 450-700. A university hall place brings the total down significantly. Rent changes quickly, so verify against your university's housing office rather than any article.
Is Milan much more expensive than Bologna or Padua?+
Yes, usually EUR 200-350 a month more, and almost all of that difference is rent. In exchange Milan has the strongest part-time work and internship market in Italy, so the choice is not purely about cost.
Can I manage without Italian if my course is in English?+
You can study, but you cannot work. Most part-time jobs in Milan still require Italian, so treating first-semester earnings as part of your budget is risky.
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