Cost of Living Comparison Between Milan and Clifton, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Milan and Clifton, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,645 per month in Milan vs $2,724 in Clifton, NJ, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,044 per month in Milan vs $3,994 in Clifton, NJ, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,444 per month in Milan vs $5,264 in Clifton, NJ, rent included.

Milan is about 3% cheaper than Clifton, NJ, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Milan and Clifton, NJ sit above the global median – Milan by 92%, Clifton, NJ by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.76 €21.30

$22.90 $22.90

8.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$97.3 €83.7

$79.2 $79.2

22.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.91 €11.97

$13.06 $13.06

6.51%

Cappuccino

$2.13 €1.83

$6.28 $6.28

-66.08%

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

$4.02 €3.46

$2.54 $2.54

58.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 €1.78

$1.71 $1.71

20.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.89 €5.93

$8.14 $8.14

-15.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.96 €5.99

$7.16 $7.16

-2.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 €1.54

$1.32 $1.32

35.61%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 €2.87

$4.62 $4.62

-27.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.78 €3.25

$6.08 $6.08

-37.83%

Eggs

$5.07 €4.36

$5.84 $5.84

-13.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.70 €20.39

$13.77 $13.77

72.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.03 €12.93

$10.15 $10.15

48.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.74 €20.43

$17.75 $17.75

33.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.22 €2.77

$6.17 $6.17

-47.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 €2.19

$2.23 $2.23

14.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.50 €3.01

$5.60 $5.60

-37.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.59 €3.95

$5.41 $5.41

-15.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 €2.12

$3.57 $3.57

-30.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 €1.85

$4.13 $4.13

-47.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.84 €1.58

$2.97 $2.97

-38.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 €0.51

$2.56 $2.56

-76.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.52 €6.47

$17.77 $17.77

-57.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.35 €8.05

$14.97 $14.97

-37.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 €1.77

$1.85 $1.85

10.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 €2.03

$3.55 $3.55

-33.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.49 €2.14

$4.30 $4.30

-42.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.87 €39.47

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.07 €6.94

$2.96 $2.96

172.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.37 €2.04

$2.11 $2.11

12.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$65.0 €56.0

$42.48 $42.48

53.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.15 €1.85

$1.09 $1.09

97.25%

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

$38.3K €32.9K

$35.8K $35.8K

6.74%

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

$37.7K €32.4K

$24.9K $24.9K

51.47%

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

$267 €230

$204 $204

30.87%

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

$10.89 €9.37

$51.5 $51.5

-78.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.70 €26.41

$66.5 $66.5

-53.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$88.4 €76.0

$29.35 $29.35

201.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.05 €29.30

Cinema Ticket

$12.87 €11.08

$20.42 $20.42

-36.97%

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

$862 €742

$1,755 $1,755

-50.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.1K €17.3K

$15.8K $15.8K

27.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 €91.6

$31.18 $31.18

241.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 €45.24

$19.92 $19.92

163.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 €101

$109 $109

6.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$170 €146

$126 $126

34.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,740 €1,498

$1,348 $1,348

29.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 €1,052

$1,378 $1,378

-11.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,638 €3,130

$2,813 $2,813

29.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,089 €1,797

$2,208 $2,208

-5.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.1K €9,559

$8,552 $8,552

29.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,102 €4,390

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,275 €1,958

$4,234 $4,234

-46.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.17

6.3

-49.68%

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

Last update for Milan: August 30, 2026

Last update for Clifton, NJ: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,740 in Milan versus $1,348 in Clifton, NJ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 86% higher in Clifton, NJ, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $97.0 in Milan versus $79.0 in Clifton, NJ. Groceries tell a different story – $432 in Milan vs $454 in Clifton, NJ – so Milan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Milan vs Clifton, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,645 in Milan, $2,724 in Clifton, NJ – roughly 3% apart. Clifton, NJ costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,967 per month in Milan and $4,085 in Clifton, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Milan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,645 in Milan and $2,724 in Clifton, NJ. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $862 per month in Milan and $1,755 in Clifton, NJ. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Milan, where all-in costs run around $2,645, than in Clifton, NJ at $2,724. In Milan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Clifton, NJ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Milan has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,645 in Milan to $2,724 in Clifton, NJ. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Milan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Clifton, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.