Your Expat Community in Milan

It depends on what you look for. According to our Expat Insider, the overall ranking of Milan is 47th, mainly because of high living costs, bad air quality, and long & complex bureaucracy issues.

On the other hand, Milan offers rich culture with diverse culinary options and different forms of art, along with job opportunities in business, tech, fashion & design. Having a big tram network and 3 airports makes traveling to other cities with beaches in summer and nearby countries easy.

So, if you’re willing to accept the negatives and focus on the opportunities, Milan can be a great place to stay.

Milan alone accounts for about 20% of Italy’s GDP. Salaries for entry-level roles in every field typically start at a baseline, but professionals with experience are paid much more, especially those with technical skills. In the healthcare sector, nurses earn a baseline salary while specialized surgeons and medical directors earn a premium. In the table below, you’ll see the income figures for the demanding sectors in Milan.

These salary ranges reflect the data of our Expat Insider survey, with 19% of the participants making more than 100,000 USD, and the other 19% earning between 50,000 USD and 100,000 USD. While the rest earn less, 61% of the participants report that their income is enough to lead a comfortable life.

For a comfortable lifestyle, a single person should expect to spend around 2,000 to 3,500 EUR (approx. 2,300–4,100 USD) per month, depending on the district and lifestyle. Living in a shared flat and cooking at home can significantly lower the living costs. Below is a table with the estimated monthly costs of living in Milan.

Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and the length of your stay. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens can enter Italy without a visa and then register as a resident at the local registration office (Ufficio Anagrafe) if the stay is longer than 90 days. Non-EU citizens must secure the No Objection Certificate called Nulla Osta before applying for a visa at an Italian embassy in their home country.

Non-EU nationals must apply for a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) within 8 working days of arrival date. Although there is no deadline for other nationals, registration must be made for a long-term stay. The usual permits are subordinate work permits, study permit, the EU Blue Card, and the digital nomad visa.

Required documents for permits usually include a passport, accommodation proof, proof of financial resources, and health insurance. Additionally, you must get an Italian tax code and go for a biometric fingerprinting appointment at the police headquarters before the permit is issued. For more details on immigration and registration, you can read our Visas & Work Permits guide.

Residents are entitled to mandatory registration in the tax-funded healthcare system called Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN). The system gives you a health insurance card (Tessera Sanitaria) that is needed for access to public services. The basic coverage includes visits to general practitioners, emergency care, and necessary hospital stays.

For specialist visits, lab tests, and diagnostics that are not urgent, a co-payment (ticket) is required. The first specialist visit has a flat rate of 28.50 EUR (approx. 33 USD), while the visits after that cost much less, and the prescriptions are capped at 36.15 EUR (approx. 42 USD) each. You can also take out private insurance to avoid waiting for months for an appointment. However, you must pay the full cost upfront for the private healthcare services. For more information on the healthcare system in Milan, you can read our Healthcare in Italy guide.

Milan earns 38th out of 53 for Housing, due to high rent and intense competition for accommodation. Rent alone can take up to more than half of the average monthly income, leading to residents sharing flats or living far from the city center. Many apartments are usually furnished with even utensils included. The common property portals for the search are:

• Idealista.it
• Immobiliare.it
• Spotahome

It’s okay to start with a temporary place to live if the accommodation certificate is provided. This also lets you view apartments in person and avoid rental scams. Necessary documents usually include the tax code, passport, residence permit, financial proof, and employment contract or university enrollment letter. Additionally, a 2-to-3-month deposit must be ready for the lease signing. For more information, you can read our Housing in Italy guide.

It honestly depends on the budget and the factors you consider a must-have in the neighborhood you live in. Expensive and elegant areas like Brera and CityLife offer vintage aesthetic neighborhoods with large parks like Biblioteca degli Alberi (BAM). Porta Nuova, one of the business districts in Milan, has many public transport connections for residents who don’t want to commute much.

For those who want to enjoy vibrant urban life, the Porta Venezia and Navigli areas for middle-range rent feature shopping streets, busy nightlife, and easy access to the city center. Città Studi and Lambrate are the most affordable districts with libraries, affordable cafes and restaurants, making them suitable for students and professionals with a tight budget.

Milan is the least safe city in Italy, according to the 2024 crime index report by Il Sole 24 Ore. Most crimes are non-violent; however, areas like Rogoredo and Corvetto are associated with drug-related crimes and gangs. Milan can still be a safe place as long as you are on your guard to avoid petty crimes like scams and pickpocketing in transit hubs.

ATM operates the entire public transport network in Milan. Using the ATM Milano app will make it more efficient to manage real-time schedules, route planning, and ticket purchases. One of the best ticket options is the Ordinary Urban monthly ticket, which costs 39 EUR (approx. 45 USD). It covers all the transport services managed by ATM. For a short journey, there is a 2.20 EUR (approx. 2.55 USD) ticket that lasts for 90 minutes across the metro, buses, and trams.

Instead of buying tickets at the ticket machine, you can also just pay contactless at the readers as you go on ATM transport services. Just touch your card on the reader before you board and touch it again right at the end of your journey, otherwise you might be charged more. If you use a physical ticket, don’t forget to validate it in the yellow machine.

M4 metro line from Linate airport can take you to the city center in just 15 minutes. The Malpensa express train from Malpensa airport takes about an hour to the city center and costs 15 EUR (approx. 17 USD). BikeMi sharing system offers bikes for rent through its app, which charges 9 EUR (approx. 10.50 USD) weekly or 36 EUR (approx. 42 USD) annually.

According to the Expat Insider, Milan places 34th for Language Index, meaning that the language barrier here is less prominent than in many other cities globally. As the most international city in Italy, English is enough to manage basic daily needs. However, Italian is the official language, and it is dominant in bureaucracy and the workplace.

Additionally, being able to speak Italian is essential for social integration into local circles. The 60-hour Italian language courses by the Municipality of Milan start at 109 EUR (approx. 127 USD) to help newcomers integrate faster. Learning Italian is encouraged for faster and deeper integration, dealing with administration services, and career prospects.

According to our expat insider, Milan ranks 34th for local friendliness and 38th for finding friends, despite being the most economically powerful city in Italy and one of the powerhouses for Fashion & Design, which attracts expats and visitors from around the world. Milanese can be friendly and helpful but being accepted into their social circles is a different story without speaking Italian.

Moreover, the lifestyle in Milan is usually fast-paced due to the workload and ambitions. People tend to make plans days in advance for hangouts with friends. Building friendships requires advanced planning, and speaking Italian also definitely helps.

Milan is associated with creative industries and top-tier cuisine, serving as a magnet for internationals and entrepreneurs with a passion for food, art, fashion, and even finance. Foreign citizens make up about 20% of the Milanese population, meaning that you’ll be able to find your fellow expats crowd, no matter what your hobbies and interests are.

InterNations is more than helpful for newcomers. As a global network present in 420 cities, the Milan community is active, with over 41,000 members and nearly 60 monthly events. You can join various interest-based groups ranging from Professional Networking group to Party group and attend various events with a relaxing and international atmosphere to connect with other event attendees.

Platforms like Meetup and Facebook are also other ways to meet new people. Enrolling in Italian language courses will also help you meet people who are also there to learn with you.