🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,713 in Alessandria versus $2,508 in Milan.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,512 in Alessandria versus $3,853 in Milan.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Alessandria versus $5,197 in Milan.
🙂Living in Alessandria costs roughly 32% less than in Milan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Alessandria28% above, Milan87% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alessandria
Milan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.29€13.16
$23.06€19.85
-33.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.6€54.7
$92.1€79.3
-30.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.44€9.85
$12.73€10.96
-10.13%
Cappuccino
$1.89€1.63
$2.17€1.87
-12.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04€2.62
$3.23€2.78
-5.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23€1.06
$1.50€1.29
-18.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.71€4.06
$7.11€6.12
-33.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.90
$5.71€4.92
-20.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alessandria
Milan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78€1.54
$1.84€1.58
-3.26%
White Bread(500g)
$2.41€2.08
$2.81€2.42
-14.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.75€2.37
$3.34€2.87
-17.66%
Eggs
$3.95€3.40
$4.31€3.71
-8.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.40€15.84
$19.74€17.00
-6.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.90€9.38
$13.02€11.21
-16.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.93€15.43
$24.69€21.26
-27.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60€2.23
$2.84€2.45
-8.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98€1.71
$2.31€1.99
-14.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.95€2.54
$3.37€2.90
-12.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.82€2.43
$3.94€3.39
-28.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56€1.34
$2.59€2.23
-39.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$2.19€1.88
-22.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.68€1.45
$1.63€1.40
3.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51€0.44
$0.70€0.60
-27.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.11
$6.88€5.92
3.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.54€3.91
$9.11€7.84
-50.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.36
$2.35€2.02
-32.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55€2.20
$3.00€2.58
-15.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Alessandria
Milan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23€1.92
$2.49€2.14
-10.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7€66.9
$45.58€39.24
70.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.76€6.68
$8.13€7.00
-4.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.83
$2.63€2.26
-19.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$39.07€33.64
$39.61€34.10
-1.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11€1.82
$2.05€1.76
2.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K€29.2K
$33.4K€28.8K
1.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$36.4K€31.3K
-2.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alessandria
Milan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$218€188
$216€186
1.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.80€10.16
$11.71€10.08
0.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.44€26.21
$30.47€26.24
-0.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alessandria
Milan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.83€40.31
$75.1€64.7
-37.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.37€9.79
$37.13€31.97
-69.38%
Cinema Ticket
$10.25€8.82
$11.74€10.11
-12.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alessandria
Milan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$589€507
$875€753
-32.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,834€5,884
$16.7K€14.4K
-59.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alessandria
Milan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.6€84.0
$115€99.1
-15.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.1€47.39
$53.2€45.84
3.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.0€83.5
$115€98.9
-15.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165€142
$171€147
-3.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alessandria
Milan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$609€524
$1,612€1,388
-62.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$543€468
$1,137€979
-52.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$879€756
$3,138€2,701
-72.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$687€591
$2,084€1,794
-67.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,408€2,073
$11.1K€9,513
-78.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,699€1,463
$5,565€4,791
-69.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alessandria
Milan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,883€1,621
$2,270€1,955
-17.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.25
3.25
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alessandria: June 2, 2026
Last update for Milan: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $609 in Alessandria and $1,612 in Milan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Milan pays 21% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $64.0 in Alessandria vs $92.0 in Milan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $326 vs $400 per month, with Alessandria cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Alessandria vs Milan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Alessandria and Milan?
Alessandria and Milan differ by about 46% in total monthly costs ($1,713 vs $2,508 including rent). Alessandria is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Milan earns 21% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Alessandria and Milan?
Rent for a central apartment: $609 in Alessandria versus $1,612 in Milan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Alessandria and Milan?
Childcare runs $589 in Alessandria versus $875 in Milan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Milan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,713 in Alessandria versus $2,508 in Milan, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Alessandria but tight or insufficient in Milan. The gap between the two cities makes Alessandria the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Alessandria and Milan?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Alessandria or Milan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Alessandria and Milan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Alessandria or Milan?
Expats usually find Alessandria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Milan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Alessandria vs other spots: cost of living compared