Cost of Living Comparison Between Catania and Milan Cost of Living Comparison Between Catania and Milan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,553 in Catania versus $2,645 in Milan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,438 in Catania versus $4,044 in Milan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,322 in Catania versus $5,444 in Milan.

Living in Catania costs roughly 41% less than in Milan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Catania 13% above, Milan 92% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.37 €14.93

$24.76 €21.29

-29.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.5 €49.46

$97.3 €83.7

-40.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.85 €10.18

$13.91 €11.96

-14.81%

Cappuccino

$2.37 €2.04

$2.13 €1.83

11.27%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 €2.57

$4.02 €3.46

-25.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 €1.62

$2.06 €1.77

-8.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.94 €5.97

$6.89 €5.92

0.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 €3.83

$6.96 €5.98

-35.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 €1.13

$1.79 €1.54

-26.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.73 €1.49

$3.34 €2.87

-48.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.75 €2.37

$3.78 €3.25

-27.25%

Eggs

$3.53 €3.04

$5.07 €4.36

-30.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.53 €9.91

$23.70 €20.37

-51.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.36 €10.63

$15.03 €12.92

-17.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.42 €14.12

$23.74 €20.41

-30.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 €1.82

$3.22 €2.77

-34.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 €1.55

$2.55 €2.19

-29.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.43 €1.23

$3.50 €3.00

-59.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.73 €2.35

$4.59 €3.94

-40.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.63 €1.40

$2.47 €2.12

-34.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 €1.16

$2.15 €1.84

-37.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 €1.10

$1.84 €1.58

-30.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 €0.39

$0.60 €0.51

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.89 €5.92

$7.52 €6.47

-8.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.35 €7.17

$9.35 €8.04

-10.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 €1.55

$2.05 €1.76

-11.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 €1.43

$2.36 €2.03

-29.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.58 €1.36

$2.49 €2.14

-36.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.44 €33.05

$45.87 €39.43

-16.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.33 €7.16

$8.07 €6.94

3.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.36 €2.03

$2.37 €2.04

-0.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.08 €30.16

$65.0 €55.9

-46.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.13 €1.83

$2.15 €1.85

-0.93%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$38.0K €32.7K

$38.3K €32.9K

-0.57%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$37.2K €31.9K

$37.7K €32.4K

-1.41%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$262 €226

$267 €230

-1.72%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.41 €8.95

$10.89 €9.36

-4.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.16 €32.80

$30.70 €26.39

24.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 €54.9

$88.4 €76.0

-27.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.89 €13.66

$34.05 €29.27

-53.33%

Cinema Ticket

$10.27 €8.83

$12.87 €11.07

-20.20%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$466 €401

$862 €741

-45.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,938 €5,964

$20.1K €17.3K

-65.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.6 €74.5

$106 €91.5

-18.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.32 €28.65

$52.6 €45.20

-36.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 €77.9

$117 €101

-22.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 €116

$170 €146

-20.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$620 €533

$1,740 €1,496

-64.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$386 €332

$1,223 €1,051

-68.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,190 €1,023

$3,638 €3,127

-67.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$805 €692

$2,089 €1,796

-61.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,324 €1,998

$11.1K €9,550

-79.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,588 €1,365

$5,102 €4,386

-68.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,880 €1,616

$2,275 €1,956

-17.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.55

3.17

11.99%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Catania: September 1, 2026

Last update for Milan: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $620 in Catania and $1,740 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: $58.0 in Catania vs $97.0 in Milan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $432 per month, with Catania 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

Catania vs Milan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Catania is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 70% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 21% lower in Milan. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $620 in Catania versus $1,740 in Milan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,553 per month in Catania versus $2,645 in Milan – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Catania runs roughly 19% less than in Milan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,553 in Catania versus $2,645 in Milan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Catania but tight or insufficient in Milan. The gap between the two cities makes Catania the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Catania is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Milan, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Catania 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.

Expats usually find Catania gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Milan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.