Living in Milan on a student budget (2024)

Dreaming of studying in Milan but you're on a budget? Read this article to find out where to live and have fun without breaking the bank!

Sofia

6 minute read

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Updated on 19 Apr 2024

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Studying

Do you want to study in Milan but are worried about your finances? This guide will help you learn about what you can expect from the cost of living in Milan and how to live in Milan on a student budget.

Milan, the financial and fashion capital of Italy, is one of the best places to live in Italy. But, since the salaries are the highest in the country, living in Milan comes at a high price.

The high cost of living shouldn’t concern you though. Milan is so big that you’ll certainly be able to experience the city to the fullest once you know the budget-friendly hacks. So yes, Milan is an expensive city to live in as a student, but there're some ways to make life in Milan affordable and fun as a student!

Is it possible to make ends meet in Milan on a student budget?

When it comes to studying in Italy, Milan is more expensive when compared to other Italian cities. Yet, it’s possible to make the most out of living in the city on a student budget. As a student, you'll spend around €1,200 per month, including rent.

Your student expenses in Milan will depend on the area you live in, the cost of your student housing in Milan, and knowing how to budget your money

There are many student discounts on services and products, like Milan's public transport.

Here is a breakdown of the monthly cost of living in Milan for one student:

The amount you spend on rent will vary greatly depending on your choice of accommodation. The average prices for different accommodation types in Milan are:

Most students in Milan will live in dormitories or rent a room in a house with other students to keep the costs down.

Many students in Milan have part-time jobs that help them cover some extra expenses.

How to save money on groceries in Milan?

Milan isn't expensive for buying groceries. However, you can save money by shopping at Lidl, Conad, and Esselunga. You can also go to the local street markets, where you can buy clothes and fresh food, especially pasta, meat, fish and cheese!

Every area of Milan hosts a market on a different day of the week, from Monday to Saturday so you’ll always be able to buy cheap groceries!

How to eat out in Milan on a student budget

Being a big international city, Milan offers a wide variety of cuisines. Here are some of the best and cheapest places where you can eat out in Milan.

If you like Asian food, Via Paolo Sarpi, also known as China Town, is where you have to go. Located in the heart of the city, Via Paolo Sarpi is where you’ll find any type of Asian food for no more than €10. If you’re in a rush, you can go to Fusho and grab a sushi burrito!

Flower Burger is ideal if you’re vegan but still want to enjoy fast food. This restaurant is famous for serving giant colourful vegan burgers that attract all kind of visitors, not only vegans!

Whenever you feel like you’re craving Italian food, but want to keep it healthy— go to That’s Vapore and enjoy steamed meat, fish, and vegetables. Here you can also enjoy healthy breakfasts, smoothies, and several varieties of vegan food!

How to save money on accommodation in Milan

Many universities in Milan offer accommodation to enrolled students in dormitories and apartments. Such accommodations are only available to students to help them be on time for lessons and save money on public transport.

Each university has different regulations for students who want to apply for accommodation, so it’s best to check on the website of the university of your choice.

Best places to rent outside of dorms

Renting a room in Milan and sharing with other students is an excellent way to find cheap accommodation outside of your university. University accommodation books up fast and has limited availability, so it's good to have a back up plan in place. Plus, sharing with other students is a great way to socialise and share domestic responsibilities and bills!

In terms of cheaper areas among the neighbourhoods of Milan, Città Studi and Lambrate are the most budget-friendly. Although they’re not located in the heart of Milan, these two districts are well-connected to the rest of the city via convenient public transport connections. Città Studi and Lambrate are within walking distance of Politecnico di Milano and the science departments of Università Statale di Milano.

Città Studi is close to Milan Central train station, so it's ideal if you're planning on making quick weekend trips.

Milan has it all: museums, fashion and cultural events, parties, and festivals. The capital of Lombardia offers an activity for every pocket and that’s why it’s the ideal city for students.

The nightlife in Milan runs 7 days a week, but the best time for students is Wednesday when you can get special discounts by showing your student or ID card. If you want to have fun while being on a budget, you can go to popular areas like Navigli and Isola where you will find people in their 20s-30s having aperitivo or enjoying cocktails together.

Other spots that are full of young people are Colonne di San Lorenzo and Porta Ticinese. This is where hundreds of people get together on weekends to spend the night sitting on the street chatting with friends holding a beer in their hand. The cost for a beer can vary from €3-€5.

If you like clubbing, you should try some of the best clubs in Milan: Tocqueville, Apollo, Macao and Alcatraz. Here you’ll find people dancing to electronic music until 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning. These clubs are known for their affordability. The night buses make reaching them a breeze whenever you’re in the mood for dancing.

Tuition fees in Italian universities differ from program to program. Besides that, they’re calculated on the basis of the income of each student’s family, so there isn’t a fixed fee for everyone.

To give an indication of what to expect, let's look at average tuition fees for one academic year at some of the best universities in Milan. Tuition fees range between €200-€4,000 per year for a public university in Milan, depending on nationality. For private universities, you can expect to pay between €3,000-€18,000 per year, also depending on your nationality.

Each university in Milan is popular for specializing in a particular field. For instance, Università Statale di Milano is a perfect fit for everyone who wants to study Law, while Università Bicocca is a top choice for research and scientific degrees.

If you love engineering or architecture, you should opt-in for Politecnico di Milano. Applying to NABA-Accademia di Brera is the way to go if you want to build a career in design, fashion, or art.

Università Bocconi and Università Cattolica are the universities that welcome the most international students in the city. Bocconi is a university that specializes in finance and economics, while Cattolica is best known for banking and political programs. Both Bocconi and Università Cattolica are private and the tuition fees are the highest in Milan.

Is it possible to get a full scholarship in Milan?

Studying in Italy can be completely free! International students can save money by winning a full or half scholarship. The Italian government awards scholarships to international and local students who have disabilities, low-income backgrounds, or high grades. These scholarships can sometimes be enough to cover the whole tuition fee, accommodation, and other expenses.

The amount of money for each scholarship depends on the tuition fee of your university of choice.

The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers scholarships to support foreign citizens in Italy and Italian citizens living abroad that pursue one of the following programs:

• 2nd level degree courses (Laurea Magistrale di 2° Ciclo)
• Research doctorates
• Research projects
• AFAM courses: professional, artistic, and musical training programs
• Italian language and culture courses

Each university requires different qualifications and has different deadlines that students need to respect to be able to apply for a scholarship.

Scholarships aren’t available for individuals under 18 or over 35 years old.

Now that we’ve shown you how to turn Milan into an accessible budget-friendly city where you can enjoy every type of activity, you just need to make sure to follow our tips, pack your bags and start a new adventure!

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