😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,666 in Thornton, CO versus $2,508 in Milan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,122 in Thornton, CO versus $3,853 in Milan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,578 in Thornton, CO versus $5,197 in Milan.
😐Living in Thornton, CO is roughly 6% more expensive than Milan, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Thornton, CO99% above, Milan87% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Thornton, CO
Milan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.89$19.89
$23.06€19.84
-13.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.4$84.4
$92.1€79.2
-8.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.24$12.24
$12.73€10.95
-3.85%
Cappuccino
$5.30$5.30
$2.17€1.87
144.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86$2.86
$3.23€2.78
-11.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31$2.31
$1.50€1.29
54.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.28$6.28
$7.11€6.11
-11.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.20$7.20
$5.71€4.92
26.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Thornton, CO
Milan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06$1.06
$1.84€1.58
-42.39%
White Bread(500g)
$3.67$3.67
$2.81€2.42
30.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.92$5.92
$3.34€2.87
77.25%
Eggs
$5.71$5.71
$4.31€3.70
32.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.68$14.68
$19.74€16.98
-25.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.11$13.11
$13.02€11.20
0.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.04$19.04
$24.69€21.24
-22.88%
Apples(1kg)
$4.41$4.41
$2.84€2.45
55.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54$1.54
$2.31€1.99
-33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.79$3.79
$3.37€2.90
12.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.17$5.17
$3.94€3.39
31.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.69$2.69
$2.59€2.23
3.86%
Onion(1kg)
$2.55$2.55
$2.19€1.88
16.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98$1.98
$1.63€1.40
21.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.20$2.20
$0.70€0.60
214.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.12$10.12
$6.88€5.91
47.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.78$19.78
$9.11€7.83
117.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27$2.27
$2.35€2.02
-3.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67$3.67
$3.00€2.58
22.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Thornton, CO
Milan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.99$1.99
$2.49€2.14
-20.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.58€39.21
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.48$2.48
$8.13€6.99
-69.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.37$1.37
$2.63€2.26
-47.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.96$23.96
$39.61€34.08
-39.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85$0.85
$2.05€1.76
-58.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8K$31.8K
$33.4K€28.8K
-4.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
$36.4K€31.3K
-28.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thornton, CO
Milan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173$173
$216€185
-19.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$72.3$72.3
$11.71€10.07
517.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.7$67.7
$30.47€26.21
122.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Thornton, CO
Milan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.15$43.15
$75.1€64.6
-42.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$37.13€31.94
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.70$14.70
$11.74€10.10
25.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Thornton, CO
Milan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,488$1,488
$875€753
70.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K$15.9K
$16.7K€14.4K
-4.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Thornton, CO
Milan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3$58.3
$115€99.0
-49.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.92$36.92
$53.2€45.80
-30.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.7$96.7
$115€98.9
-15.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117$117
$171€147
-31.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Thornton, CO
Milan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,575$1,575
$1,612€1,387
-2.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,376$1,376
$1,137€978
21.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,805$2,805
$3,138€2,699
-10.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,530$2,530
$2,084€1,793
21.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,406$2,406
$11.1K€9,505
-78.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,594$2,594
$5,565€4,787
-53.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Thornton, CO
Milan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,136$5,136
$2,270€1,953
126.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.37
3.25
96.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Thornton, CO: June 1, 2026
Last update for Milan: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,575 in Thornton, CO and $1,612 in Milan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Thornton, CO pays 126% 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: $84.0 in Thornton, CO vs $92.0 in Milan. Groceries flip the comparison at $438 vs $400, with Milan cheaper for home cooking.
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
Thornton, CO vs Milan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Milan cheaper than Thornton, CO?
Milan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Thornton, CO or Milan?
Thornton, CO pays 126% more on average, 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 Thornton, CO and Milan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,575 in Thornton, CO versus $1,612 in Milan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Thornton, CO and Milan?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Thornton, CO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Thornton, CO vs Milan?
All in, you'll spend $2,666 per month in Thornton, CO versus $2,508 in Milan – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Thornton, CO or 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 Thornton, CO or Milan more family-friendly?
For families, Milan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Thornton, CO, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Thornton, CO or Milan?
Safety-wise, Thornton, CO 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 6% less than in Thornton, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Thornton, CO vs other spots: cost of living compared