Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Milan and Imperia

For one person, living is cheaper in Imperia: $1,701 a month against $2,560 in Milan, rent and utilities included – about $10,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Milan
🇮🇹 Italy
$2,560
/mo nomad
Imperia
🇮🇹 Italy
$1,701
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Milan and in Imperia

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Milan and in Imperia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,560 in Milan versus $1,701 in Imperia.

  • Milan $2,560
  • Imperia $1,701

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,895 in Milan versus $2,550 in Imperia.

  • Milan $3,895
  • Imperia $2,550

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,231 in Milan versus $3,400 in Imperia.

  • Milan $5,231
  • Imperia $3,400

Living in Milan is roughly 51% more expensive than in Imperia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Milan 89% above, Imperia 26% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Milan
Imperia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.11 €19.66
$13.58 €12.08
62.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.7 €78.9
$62.6 €55.7
41.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.22 €11.76
$11.08 €9.85
19.31%
Cappuccino
$2.08 €1.85
$1.67 €1.49
24.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 €3.40
$3.66 €3.26
4.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 €1.63
$1.44 €1.28
27.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.87 €6.11
$5.78 €5.14
18.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.93 €6.17
$5.39 €4.79
28.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Milan
Imperia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 €1.56
$1.75 €1.55
0.57%
White Bread (500g)
$3.29 €2.93
$2.12 €1.89
55.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.57 €3.18
$3.52 €3.13
1.42%
Eggs
$5.08 €4.52
$4.14 €3.68
22.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.34 €20.76
$12.50 €11.12
86.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.68 €13.05
$12.12 €10.78
21.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.73 €20.22
$22.74 €20.23
-0.04%
Apples (1kg)
$3.07 €2.73
$2.38 €2.12
28.99%
Banana (1kg)
$2.42 €2.15
$2.31 €2.05
4.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.34 €2.97
$3.30 €2.94
1.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.18 €3.72
$4.17 €3.71
0.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.41 €2.14
$2.40 €2.13
0.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.95 €1.74
$1.72 €1.53
13.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.81 €1.61
$1.25 €1.11
44.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 €0.50
$0.53 €0.47
7.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.20 €6.40
$7.38 €6.56
-2.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.60 €8.54
$4.65 €4.14
106.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 €1.74
$1.14 €1.02
71.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 €2.15
$2.52 €2.24
-3.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Milan
Imperia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.52 €2.24
$1.89 €1.68
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.15 €38.38
$55.8 €49.60
-22.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.92 €7.04
$7.80 €6.94
1.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.30 €2.04
$2.18 €1.94
5.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$64.8 €57.6
$64.9 €57.7
-0.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 €1.96
$2.20 €1.96
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1K €32.1K
$37.0K €32.9K
-2.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.0K €32.9K
$37.0K €32.9K
0.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Milan
Imperia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$250 €223
$136 €121
84.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.20 €9.08
$10.10 €8.98
0.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.45 €26.19
$29.96 €26.65
-1.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Milan
Imperia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$84.6 €75.3
$70.5 €62.7
20.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.03 €30.27
$25.55 €22.73
33.19%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05 €9.83
$11.23 €9.99
-1.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Milan
Imperia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$846 €753
$836 €744
1.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.6K €16.5K
$18.5K €16.5K
0.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Milan
Imperia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €89.7
$91.1 €81.1
10.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1 €45.43
$39.73 €35.34
28.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 €102
$105 €93.0
9.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$163 €145
$128 €114
28.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Milan
Imperia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,689 €1,502
$790 €702
113.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,165 €1,036
$627 €558
85.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,436 €3,056
$1,690 €1,503
103.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,038 €1,813
$910 €809
123.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.5K €9,339
$2,799 €2,490
275.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,149 €4,580
$2,030 €1,806
153.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Milan
Imperia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,190 €1,948
$1,753 €1,559
24.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.18
3.18
-

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

Last update for Milan: October 19, 2026

Last update for Imperia: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Milan
$1.2K
Imperia
$627 46.1% $538
Groceries & Markets
Milan
$420
Imperia
$337 19.6% $82
Eating Out
Milan
$312
Imperia
$222 28.9% $90
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Milan
$290
Imperia
$176 39.5% $114
Clothing & Footwear
Milan
$193
Imperia
$163 15.5% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Milan
$107
Imperia
$93 13% $14
Getting Around
Milan
$73
Imperia
$82 12.9% $9.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,689 in Milan and $790 in Imperia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Milan pays 25% 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: $89.0 in Milan vs $63.0 in Imperia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $420 vs $337 per month, with Imperia cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇹 Milan
🇮🇹 Imperia
🕒 Local time
14:29 2:29 PM
14:29 2:29 PM
Same time as Milan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,394,798
41,999
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Milan Imperia 200 km
From you
  • Milan
  • Imperia

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Imperia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Imperia cheaper than Milan?
Imperia is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 51% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Milan or Imperia?
Average pay runs 25% higher in Milan, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Milan and Imperia?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,689 in Milan versus $790 in Imperia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Milan and in Imperia?
Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Milan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Milan or in Imperia?
Dining out is cheaper in Imperia – a meal for two runs $63.0 versus $89.0 in Milan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Milan or in Imperia?
At $1,701 in Imperia versus $2,560 in Milan, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Imperia but tight or insufficient in Milan. The gap between the two cities makes Imperia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Milan or Imperia more family-friendly?
For families, Imperia 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.
Which city is safer, Milan or Imperia?
Safety-wise, Milan and Imperia are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Imperia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Milan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Milan vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?