😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,467 in Milan versus $1,814 in Montecatini Terme.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,845 in Milan versus $2,686 in Montecatini Terme.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,223 in Milan versus $3,558 in Montecatini Terme.
🌍Living in Milan is roughly 36% more expensive than in Montecatini Terme, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Milan85% above, Montecatini Terme36% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Milan
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.53€20.61
$21.20€18.57
10.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.5€80.1
$38.16€33.42
139.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.72€11.14
$11.55€10.12
10.13%
Cappuccino
$2.10€1.84
$1.59€1.39
32.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35€2.93
$2.25€1.97
48.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.27
$1.15€1.00
25.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.02€6.15
$5.15€4.51
36.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.64€4.94
$5.85€5.12
-3.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Milan
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77€1.55
$1.45€1.27
22.07%
White Bread(500g)
$2.84€2.49
$2.86€2.50
-0.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.28€2.87
$2.58€2.26
27.13%
Eggs
$4.26€3.73
$4.63€4.05
-7.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.76€17.31
$10.36€9.07
90.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.96€11.35
$15.25€13.36
-15.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.27€21.25
$22.72€19.89
6.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.83€2.48
$2.74€2.40
3.28%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.08
$2.78€2.44
-14.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.34€2.92
$3.74€3.27
-10.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.90€3.42
$4.01€3.51
-2.74%
Potato(1kg)
$2.54€2.23
$2.78€2.44
-8.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22€1.95
$1.84€1.61
20.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.64€1.43
$1.57€1.37
4.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70€0.61
$0.45€0.39
55.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.24
$6.20€5.43
15.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.28€8.13
$8.95€7.84
3.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.46€2.16
$1.02€0.89
141.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14€2.75
$1.52€1.33
106.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Milan
Montecatini Terme
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.53€2.21
$1.71€1.50
47.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.83€39.26
$44.26€38.76
1.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.97€6.98
$7.01€6.14
13.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.66€2.33
$1.11€0.97
139.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$39.69€34.76
$33.36€29.21
18.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.05€1.80
$2.01€1.76
1.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.8K
$28.0K€24.5K
21.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.1K€31.6K
$37.2K€32.6K
-2.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Milan
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$215€188
$267€233
-19.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.65€10.20
$11.72€10.26
-0.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.28€27.40
$30.78€26.96
1.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Milan
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$76.0€66.6
$60.2€52.7
26.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.56€32.89
$23.03€20.17
63.09%
Cinema Ticket
$11.38€9.96
$9.78€8.56
16.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Milan
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$878€769
$704€616
24.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.3K
$11.5K€10.0K
42.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Milan
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112€98.2
$97.8€85.7
14.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.4€46.73
$34.88€30.55
52.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115€101
$102€89.7
12.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$169€148
$128€112
32.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Milan
Montecatini Terme
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,573€1,378
$763€668
106.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,124€984
$587€515
91.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,208€2,810
$1,220€1,068
163.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,050€1,795
$922€807
122.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$10.7K€9,333
$2,872€2,515
271.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,344€4,680
$2,095€1,835
155.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Milan
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,208€1,934
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.25
4
-18.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Milan: July 12, 2026
Last update for Montecatini Terme: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,573 in Milan and $763 in Montecatini Terme. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $91.0 in Milan vs $38.00 in Montecatini Terme for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $399 vs $362 per month, with Montecatini Terme 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
Milan vs Montecatini Terme: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montecatini Terme cheaper than Milan?
Montecatini Terme is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,701 in Milan and $2,721 in Montecatini Terme to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Milan and Montecatini Terme?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,573 in Milan versus $763 in Montecatini Terme. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $878 in Milan versus $704 in Montecatini Terme. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Milan and in Montecatini Terme?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Milan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Milan or in Montecatini Terme?
At $1,814 in Montecatini Terme versus $2,467 in Milan, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Montecatini Terme but tight or insufficient in Milan. The gap between the two cities makes Montecatini Terme the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Milan or Montecatini Terme more family-friendly?
For families, Montecatini Terme 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 Montecatini Terme?
Safety-wise, Milan and Montecatini Terme 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 Montecatini Terme gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Milan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.