Cost of Living in Italy for Indian Students in 2026

The cost of living in Italy for international students in 2026 is lower than in other European countries. The annual average cost of living in Italy for an international student is around €9,000 approx. This annual cost includes accommodation, which is around €1,000; the cost of meals, which is €4,000; and the cost of personal expenses account for approximately € 3,600; it may vary from person to person.

Italy remains one of Europe's most budget-friendly study destinations for Indian students, with monthly living costs typically ranging between €700 and €1,500, depending on the city and lifestyle. This translates to an annual cost of roughly €8,400 to €18,000 once accommodation, food, transport, and personal expenses are factored in while studying in Italy. 

Cities like Milan and Rome sit at the higher end, with students spending €1,200–€1,500 a month, while student-friendly hubs such as Bologna, Padua, Pisa, and Turin can cost 30-40% less, at €700–€900 a month.

Accommodation in Italy for students is usually the single biggest expense, followed by food and daily transport, though university-run hostels and shared apartments help keep costs down considerably. Of course, keeping in check the cost of studying in Italy.

For Indian students, choosing a public university and a smaller city rather than Milan or Rome is the most effective way to stretch student budget without compromising on the quality of education. The sections below break down exact monthly and annual costs, city-wise comparisons, and grocery prices in Indian currency.

Cost of Living in Italy 2026 Highlights 

Cost of Living in Italy for Indian Students 2026-27

Living expenses in Italy for Indian students depend on the kind of accommodation they choose for themselves. In case they opt for on-campus housing accommodation at their respective Italy University of study, then the rates may be lower, or else rentals can be 20-30% higher than university accommodations.  

• Universities offering on-campus housing options can cost an international student studying in Italy between €200 - €300 for one academic year. 
• Whereas, international students going for rented housing options in Italy can pay up to €700 a month. 
• Indian students can on average spend up to €200 on dining outside in a month, be it inexpensive or expensive restaurants. 
• Personal expenses can again vary depending on personal needs. On average, an Indian student in Italy can spend €300 per year. 

Cost of Living in Italy for International Students

The following table summarises the cost of various expenditures that would be incurred by an international student during their stay in Italy: 

Note: The above-given costs may vary in Italy for international students at the time of admission. Students are advised to double-check each cost and then proceed with their choice of options for accommodation, dining out and other expenses they wish to incur. If students shortlist public universities in Italy, their cost of studying expenses will reduce and they may get full scholarships which will so cover the living costs.

Expenditure Analysis in Italy for International Students

As per the expenditure analysis for international students who would be spending on their living expenses in Italy, it can be said that a large chunk of the expenses would go into purchasing food items followed by monthly rent payments. Just for reference, a percentage-wise bifurcation has been given below for reference for the cost of living in Italy for international students: 

As per the pie chart given above, it can be noted that the maximum expenditure is incurred on buying groceries from supermarkets, that is, 30.7% of the expenses. The next area where a handsome amount is spent is housing rent. Shoes, clothing and accessories are still lower in Italy for international students because only 3% of it is spent.  

Since the cost of expenditure on groceries is higher, the following table throws light on the rates of various grocery items in Italy for Indian students in Indian currency:

The rates given above are calculated based on €1 = INR 110 as of July 2026. The rates are subject to change; hence the applicants must calculate with caution. 

Cost of Living in Italian Cities: Rome & Milan 

Since Rome and Milan are the two top cities in Italy, the cost of living in Milan and Rome is also very high. The cost of living for a single international student in Milan for a year is around €10,032 while in Rome is €9,925. Thus, the student accommodation in Milan is slightly higher than the cost of living in Rome. 

For better clarity of difference, the following table shows a comparison of the costs in Milan and Rome for international students thinking about studying in Italy: 

The cost of living in Italy is higher in the following areas for Milan in comparison to Rome: 

• Rented accommodation costs are higher in Milan by 1.4%. 
• For utilities, Milan is 0.8% higher in expenses than Rome. 
• Milan is 1% higher in terms of expenses when it comes to clothing and fashion accessories. 

In other areas of comparison like transportation charges, groceries & food items and recreation, Rome supersedes Milan. Thus, based on thorough calculations, an international student must decide on his/her choice of Italian university for study, keeping the cost of living details handy. 

Cost of Living in Italy FAQs