Living in Milan or Rome: which is better for Indians? One is Italy’s job engine with a steeper rent bill; the other is home to affordable universities. Know the best city based on 2026–27 tuition, housing and scholarships to track where the money goes and how costs fit.

Most Milan vs Rome comparisons stop at a cliché: Milan for business, Rome for history. That is not much help when you are sitting in Delhi or Pune with an education loan sanctioned and two admits in hand to study in Italy.

The real difference is money, and the gap is wider than most students expect. Sapienza University of Rome charges some international students as little as €300 a year. A single room in a Politecnico di Milano hall of residence can cost €6,300 and above. Yet Lombardy pays off-site scholarship winners over €7,000 a year, which flips the arithmetic completely.

This article compares both cities - Milan and Rome on tuition, rent, transport, scholarships and job outcomes. We have used figures published by the Italian universities, the regional authorities and QS, not guesswork.

How Much Do Indian Students Need to Budget to Live in Milan and Rome?

An Indian student needs roughly €13,400–€16,500 a year (₹14.7–18.2 L) in Rome and €17,200–€18,700 a year (₹18.9–20.6 L) in Milan, tuition included. Milan costs more mainly because of rent and higher fees for non-EU students at Italian universities there. All conversions use €1 = ₹110 (August 2026).

Milan and Rome sit at opposite ends of Italy's cost table, and the gap is almost entirely driven by two heads: rent and tuition. Here's how the two cities break down:

Milan vs Rome for Students: Tuition Fee Analysis

Usually, Italian public universities are affordable because fees in Italy are income-linked. But the rules work differently for non-EU students in each city.

As per the data, Politecnico di Milano charges up to €3,893.04 for a standard 46–74 ECTS study plan, and non-EU students admitted to master's programmes with a foreign first-level qualification who do not hold a scholarship must pay this maximum amount. Sapienza, by contrast, charges €300–€1,500 a year for its bachelor's and master's programmes depending on country of residence.

Milan vs Rome for Students: Living Cost Analysis

Rent is the single biggest line item, and the latest Immobiliare.it Insights data (August 2026) shows a clear gap between the two cities of Rome and Milan.

A few things worth knowing before you lock a budget for living costs in Italy:

• Rent is moving in opposite directions. Milan remains the costliest Italian city for a single room at €704 a month, though prices there have fallen roughly 4% YoY%, while in Rome the average has climbed to €615 a month. Rome's increase works out to about 7% over the previous year, and central areas such as the historic centre, Parioli and Prati-Flaminio cross €700.
• Milan's transport pass is the better deal. ATM sells an under-27 annual urban pass for €200 (₹22,000), or €22 a month. Rome's standard annual pass costs €250 (₹27,500), and the discounted student version at €130–€150 requires an ISEE under €20,000 plus either residence in Rome or a DiSCo scholarship or free university accommodation.
• Utilities and grocery figures are indicative student-reported ranges, not official published rates. Treat them as planning estimates and adjust for your own flat and habits.

(Source: Numbeo)

What Living Costs Mean for Your Italy Student Visa Financial Proof?

The amount you must show the consulate for an Italian student visa is not the same as the amount you will actually spend.

For academic year 2026-27, the means of subsistence required from a student are set at €783.06 per month, or approximately €10,179.85 for the year. This figure comes from the biennial MUR and MAECI circular covering 2026/2027 and 2027/2028, and it raised the earlier threshold of €6,947.33 by 46.5%.

Compare that against the tables above, and the gap is obvious: €10,179.85 does not cover a year in Milan once tuition and rent are added. Budget to the real number, not the visa minimum. Overall, the cost of studying in Italy is affected, even if living costs are at the bare minimum.

Which City Is Cheaper for Indian Students: Milan or Rome?

Rome is cheaper on tuition, while Milan is cheaper on nothing except transport. But the scholarship layer can reverse that, so look at all three lines before deciding. So how big is the overall gap? Here is where the gap sits, category by category, on the most widely cited cross-city index:

Two things follow from that table. First, Rome wins on almost every line, and if your funding is tight, it is the safer city; the tuition gap alone can be worth over a lakh a year. Second, the scholarship column matters more than every other row combined. A Lombardy off-site grant averaging €7,172 covers a Polimi hall place outright and erases Milan's cost disadvantage in a single stroke.

Either way, €10,179.85 is the floor that is what the consulate wants to see for the year, and it excludes rent and airfare. Build your budget upward from there, not downward from a best case.

If Milan is where you are leaning, our detailed guide to student accommodation in Milan breaks down halls, private residences and shared flats with monthly costs, so you can pressure-test the housing line before you commit.

Percentage Comparison of Living Costs Milan vs Rome Study Abroad

Based on the stats above, it is interesting to see the percentage comparisons between Milan vs Rome for students planning to study in either of these Italian student cities:

You would need roughly €4,707 a month in Rome to match the standard of living that €6,100 buys in Milan, assuming you rent in both cities. Across the full consumer basket, Rome runs about 22.8% cheaper than Milan once rent is included. Some scholarships in Italy can cover these expenses of living for Indian students, even if they are not fully funded.

Milan vs Rome: Which is Better for Indian Students?

Match the city to your profile rather than the brochure. As an Indian applicant, first look for public universities in Italy, mostly located in Rome and fewer in Milan. Check budgeting. If you come down to Milan vs Rome, which one is better questions, then, 

Choose Milan if:

You choose Milan based on living costs because:

• Staying on to work in Europe after graduation is a real goal, not a maybe. PSW in Italy is easier with a residence permit.
• You want housing you can book online with a published price before you fly.
• Your household ISEE will likely qualify for the Lombardy grant, which more than offsets the rent gap.

Choose Rome if:

You are looking for affordable education along with:

• Lowest possible tuition or looking for free education in Italy is the deciding factor; that is, €300–€1,500 a year is hard to beat anywhere in Europe.
• You are comfortable arranging private accommodation yourself, or confident in a DiSCo residence place.
• A gentler monthly outgoing matters more than proximity to corporate recruiters.

Milan’s #99 affordability rank out of 150 cities is not a rounding error. If your funding is tight and your ISEE will not clear the Lombardy threshold, Rome, Turin, or Bologna will stretch the same loan considerably further.

The bottom line, Rome is the cheaper city to survive in as an Indian student. Whereas, Milan is the more expensive city to live in. Pick on the strength of your scholarship application, not on the sticker or tuition price. Make a choice carefully and seek guidance if needed. 

If you want to apply and need expert help, sign up for free to get Shiksha Abroad Counselling. Our experts will get in touch and help you make the best choice, so put in a request.