😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,185 in Tempe, AZ versus $2,467 in Milan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,001 in Tempe, AZ versus $3,845 in Milan.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,818 in Tempe, AZ versus $5,223 in Milan.
🌍Living in Tempe, AZ is roughly 29% more expensive than in Milan, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tempe, AZ138% above, Milan85% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tempe, AZ
Milan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.32$19.32
$23.53€20.56
-17.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.1$81.1
$91.5€79.9
-11.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.91$11.91
$12.72€11.12
-6.37%
Cappuccino
$5.35$5.35
$2.10€1.84
154.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67$2.67
$3.35€2.93
-20.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25$2.25
$1.44€1.26
56.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.93$5.93
$7.02€6.13
-15.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.90$6.90
$5.64€4.93
22.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tempe, AZ
Milan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86$0.86
$1.77€1.54
-51.41%
White Bread(500g)
$4.22$4.22
$2.84€2.48
48.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.11$5.11
$3.28€2.87
55.79%
Eggs
$4.87$4.87
$4.26€3.72
14.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.14$11.14
$19.76€17.27
-43.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.67$11.67
$12.96€11.32
-9.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.14$15.14
$24.27€21.20
-37.62%
Apples(1kg)
$4.96$4.96
$2.83€2.48
75.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49$1.49
$2.38€2.08
-37.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.02$4.02
$3.34€2.91
20.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.84$4.84
$3.90€3.41
24.10%
Potato(1kg)
$2.41$2.41
$2.54€2.22
-5.12%
Onion(1kg)
$2.65$2.65
$2.22€1.94
19.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94$1.94
$1.64€1.43
18.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.39$2.39
$0.70€0.61
241.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.31$10.31
$7.13€6.23
44.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.40$13.40
$9.28€8.11
44.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08$2.08
$2.46€2.15
-15.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33$3.33
$3.14€2.74
6.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Tempe, AZ
Milan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02$2.02
$2.53€2.21
-20.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$60.5$60.5
$44.83€39.17
34.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.68$2.68
$7.97€6.96
-66.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39$1.39
$2.66€2.33
-47.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.30$35.30
$39.69€34.68
-11.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87$0.87
$2.05€1.79
-57.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0K$31.0K
$34.1K€29.8K
-8.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K$26.2K
$36.1K€31.6K
-27.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tempe, AZ
Milan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$254$254
$215€188
18.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.4$69.4
$11.65€10.18
495.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.0$84.0
$31.28€27.33
168.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tempe, AZ
Milan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.51$30.51
$76.0€66.4
-59.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.78$14.78
$37.56€32.81
-60.65%
Cinema Ticket
$12.92$12.92
$11.38€9.94
13.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tempe, AZ
Milan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,112$1,112
$878€767
26.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.3K$15.3K
$16.4K€14.3K
-6.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tempe, AZ
Milan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.9$54.9
$112€98.0
-51.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.86$41.86
$53.4€46.62
-21.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.6$86.6
$115€101
-24.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105$105
$169€148
-38.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tempe, AZ
Milan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,937$1,937
$1,573€1,375
23.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,725$1,725
$1,124€982
53.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,408$2,408
$3,208€2,803
-24.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,844$1,844
$2,050€1,791
-10.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$10.7K€9,311
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$5,344€4,669
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tempe, AZ
Milan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,967$3,967
$2,208€1,929
79.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.54
3.25
101.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tempe, AZ: July 14, 2026
Last update for Milan: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,937 in Tempe, AZ and $1,573 in Milan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tempe, AZ pays 80% 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: $81.0 in Tempe, AZ vs $91.0 in Milan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $399 per month, with Tempe, AZ 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
Tempe, AZ vs Milan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Milan cheaper than Tempe, AZ?
Milan is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tempe, AZ or Milan?
Average pay runs 80% higher in Tempe, AZ, 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 Tempe, AZ and Milan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,937 in Tempe, AZ versus $1,573 in Milan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,112 in Tempe, AZ versus $878 in Milan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Tempe, AZ and in Milan?
Shoppers in Tempe, AZ pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Tempe, AZ or in Milan?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Milan is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Tempe, AZ or Milan more family-friendly?
For families, Milan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tempe, AZ, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tempe, AZ or Milan?
Safety-wise, Tempe, AZ 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Milan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Tempe, AZ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.