Cost of Living Comparison Between Milan and La Spezia Cost of Living Comparison Between Milan and La Spezia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,467 per month in Milan vs $1,798 in La Spezia, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,845 per month in Milan vs $2,647 in La Spezia, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,223 per month in Milan vs $3,495 in La Spezia, rent included.

Milan costs about 37% more than La Spezia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Milan and La Spezia sit above the global median – Milan by 85%, La Spezia by 35%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.53 €20.59

$17.69 €15.48

33.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$91.5 €80.0

$80.7 €70.6

13.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.72 €11.13

$9.55 €8.35

33.19%

Cappuccino

$2.10 €1.84

$1.99 €1.74

5.53%

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

$3.35 €2.93

$3.18 €2.78

5.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 €1.26

$1.39 €1.22

3.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.02 €6.14

$5.75 €5.03

22.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 €4.93

$4.78 €4.18

17.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 €1.55

$1.38 €1.21

28.26%

White Bread (500g)

$2.84 €2.48

$2.01 €1.76

41.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.28 €2.87

$2.63 €2.30

24.71%

Eggs

$4.26 €3.72

$4.23 €3.70

0.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.76 €17.29

$14.43 €12.63

36.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.96 €11.34

$14.50 €12.68

-10.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.27 €21.23

$19.38 €16.96

25.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 €2.48

$2.64 €2.31

7.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.38 €2.08

$2.19 €1.91

8.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.34 €2.92

$2.45 €2.14

36.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.90 €3.41

$2.86 €2.50

36.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 €2.22

$2.62 €2.29

-3.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.22 €1.95

$1.77 €1.55

25.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.64 €1.43

$1.41 €1.23

16.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 €0.61

$0.47 €0.41

48.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.13 €6.23

$6.97 €6.10

2.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.28 €8.12

$6.63 €5.80

39.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 €2.16

$1.72 €1.51

43.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 €2.75

$1.89 €1.65

66.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 €2.21

$1.73 €1.51

46.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.83 €39.22

$38.72 €33.88

15.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.97 €6.97

$4.81 €4.21

65.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 €2.33

$1.04 €0.91

155.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.69 €34.73

$32.77 €28.67

21.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.05 €1.79

$2.10 €1.84

-2.38%

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

$34.1K €29.8K

$28.1K €24.6K

21.32%

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

$36.1K €31.6K

$27.1K €23.7K

33.35%

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

$215 €188

$264 €231

-18.46%

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

$11.65 €10.19

$13.12 €11.48

-11.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.28 €27.37

$31.29 €27.37

-0.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.0 €66.5

$62.9 €55.1

20.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.56 €32.86

$17.95 €15.71

109.25%

Cinema Ticket

$11.38 €9.95

$10.67 €9.34

6.65%

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

$878 €769

$573 €501

53.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K €14.3K

$11.2K €9,780

46.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$112 €98.1

$67.0 €58.7

67.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.4 €46.68

$42.45 €37.14

25.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 €101

$82.8 €72.5

39.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 €148

$118 €103

42.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,573 €1,376

$761 €666

106.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,124 €983

$592 €518

89.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,208 €2,807

$1,171 €1,025

173.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 €1,793

$914 €800

124.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.7K €9,324

$2,876 €2,516

270.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,344 €4,675

$2,375 €2,078

125.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,208 €1,932

$1,767 €1,546

24.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.25

4.24

-23.35%

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

Last update for Milan: July 12, 2026

Last update for La Spezia: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,573 in Milan versus $761 in La Spezia. 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 25% higher in Milan, 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 $91.0 in Milan versus $81.0 in La Spezia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $399 vs $334 – making La Spezia the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 La Spezia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Milan is pricier by about 37%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,701 per month in Milan and $2,697 in La Spezia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $878 per month in Milan and $573 in La Spezia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Milan, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in La Spezia, where all-in costs run around $1,798, than in Milan at $2,467. In La Spezia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Milan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward La Spezia – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 La Spezia. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Milan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.