😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,700 in Waterford versus $2,467 in Milan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,929 in Waterford versus $3,845 in Milan.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,159 in Waterford versus $5,223 in Milan.
🌍Living in Waterford is roughly 9% more expensive than in Milan, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Waterford102% above, Milan85% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Waterford
Milan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.81€19.93
$23.53€20.56
-3.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.8€79.3
$91.5€79.9
-0.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.21€10.67
$12.72€11.12
-4.01%
Cappuccino
$3.90€3.41
$2.10€1.84
85.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36€2.07
$3.35€2.93
-29.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14€1.87
$1.44€1.26
48.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.10€6.20
$7.02€6.13
1.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.62€4.91
$5.64€4.93
-0.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Waterford
Milan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30€1.14
$1.77€1.54
-26.55%
White Bread(500g)
$2.84€2.48
$2.84€2.48
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.47€2.16
$3.28€2.87
-24.70%
Eggs
$4.20€3.67
$4.26€3.72
-1.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.63€10.16
$19.76€17.27
-41.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.35€9.04
$12.96€11.32
-20.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.41€12.59
$24.27€21.20
-40.63%
Apples(1kg)
$3.00€2.62
$2.83€2.48
6.01%
Banana(1kg)
$2.71€2.37
$2.38€2.08
13.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.39€2.96
$3.34€2.91
1.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.64€3.18
$3.90€3.41
-6.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.25€1.97
$2.54€2.22
-11.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44€1.26
$2.22€1.94
-35.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24€1.08
$1.64€1.43
-24.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92€1.68
$0.70€0.61
174.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.91€15.65
$7.13€6.23
151.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.14€16.72
$9.28€8.11
106.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.06€2.67
$2.46€2.15
24.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27€2.85
$3.14€2.74
4.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Waterford
Milan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.54€2.22
$2.53€2.21
0.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.5€57.3
$44.83€39.17
46.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.21€5.42
$7.97€6.96
-22.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.15€1.01
$2.66€2.33
-56.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.50€31.01
$39.69€34.68
-10.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.04€1.78
$2.05€1.79
-0.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3K€32.5K
$34.1K€29.8K
9.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.5K€36.3K
$36.1K€31.6K
14.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Waterford
Milan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$225€196
$215€188
4.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.13€22.83
$11.65€10.18
124.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.7€55.7
$31.28€27.33
103.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Waterford
Milan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.03€41.97
$76.0€66.4
-36.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.39€12.58
$37.56€32.81
-61.69%
Cinema Ticket
$13.33€11.65
$11.38€9.94
17.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Waterford
Milan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,195€1,044
$878€767
36.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,580€6,623
$16.4K€14.3K
-53.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Waterford
Milan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.1€84.8
$112€98.0
-13.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.7€50.4
$53.4€46.62
8.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112€97.6
$115€101
-3.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131€115
$169€148
-22.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Waterford
Milan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,733€1,514
$1,573€1,375
10.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,396€1,219
$1,124€982
24.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,723€2,379
$3,208€2,803
-15.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,182€1,906
$2,050€1,791
6.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,934€3,437
$10.7K€9,311
-63.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,816€2,460
$5,344€4,669
-47.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Waterford
Milan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,270€2,857
$2,208€1,929
48.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.23
3.25
30.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Waterford: July 13, 2026
Last update for Milan: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,733 in Waterford and $1,573 in Milan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Waterford pays 48% 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: $91.0 in Waterford vs $91.0 in Milan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $359 vs $399 per month, with Waterford 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
Waterford vs Milan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Milan cheaper than Waterford?
Milan is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Waterford or Milan?
Average pay runs 48% higher in Waterford, 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 Waterford and Milan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,733 in Waterford 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 $1,195 in Waterford 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 Waterford and in Milan?
Shoppers in Waterford pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Waterford 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 Waterford or Milan more family-friendly?
For families, Milan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Waterford, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Waterford or Milan?
Safety-wise, Waterford 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 9% less than in Waterford. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.