Living & Costs ·
By Yunus Emre · Rome Consultancy
Cost of Living in Italy for Students 2026: City by City
How much does a student spend in Italy? According to the universities' own figures, a monthly budget runs from about €700 to €1,150 depending on the city and housing. Rent, food and transport for Milan, Rome, Bologna, Turin and Padua in one table.
Short answer: According to figures published by the universities themselves, a student in Italy spends roughly €700 to €1,150 a month, depending on the city and type of housing. Milan is the most expensive. Sapienza's guide says you need at least €800-900 a month in Rome. Turin, Bologna and Padua are cheaper. Rent is more than half of the budget.
Monthly student costs by city
| City (source) | Room (monthly) | Food | Monthly transport | Total budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milan (Politecnico di Milano) | €400-700 | €150-200 | €22 (under 27) | About €700-1,150* |
| Rome (Sapienza, Luiss) | Room in a shared flat €350-550+ | €200-300 (Luiss) | €35 | At least €800-900 (Sapienza) |
| Bologna (University of Bologna) | Single room about €400 + bills; shared room €300 + bills | About €60 a week at the supermarket | €27 (under 27) | About €700-950* |
| Turin (Politecnico di Torino) | Single room €400-600 | €200-300 | About €26 | About €700-1,030* (including €70-100 bills) |
| Padua (University of Padua) | Single room €300-600 + bills; double €250-400 | About €60 a week at the supermarket | €247.50 a year | About €600-900* |
* We added up the items the universities list; totals are rounded estimates. Social spending varies a lot from person to person.
Milan and Rome
Politecnico di Milano estimates €400-700 for housing, €150-200 for food, €100-200 for social life, €22 for public transport (under 27) and €10-30 for a phone. Bocconi's figures are higher: €600-1,100 for a private single room, €500-750 for a double, and €4,000-4,800 per semester for a single room in its dorms. In Rome, Sapienza puts a room in a shared flat at €350-550 or more, with a 1-3 month deposit, and warns that you need at least €800-900 a month. Luiss estimates €350-650 for a shared room, €500-900 for a single room and €60-100 for bills.
One-off costs
- Residence permit: about €116.46 (University of Padua).
- Health cover: voluntary registration with the national health service costs about €700 a year (University of Bologna); private insurance accepted for the permit costs about €120-150 in Padua, or €140 a year for the policy Bocconi suggests.
- Deposit: usually 1-3 months' rent in Rome.
- Cash on arrival: Politecnico di Milano suggests €200-250.
Is the visa proof of funds enough to live on?
The student visa requires at least €10,179.85 a year for 2026/27, about €848 a month. That can be enough in Padua or Turin, but it is tight in Milan and Rome; Sapienza's guide says the visa amount is not enough to live in Rome. See our proof of funds guide and the DSU scholarship, worth at least €7,171.11 for off-site students in 2026/27.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a student spend per month in Italy?
About €700-1,150 depending on the city, according to official university estimates. Roughly half is rent.
What is the cheapest student city in Italy?
Of these five cities, Padua and Turin are the cheapest by the official figures, and Milan is the most expensive.
Can students work in Italy?
Yes. A student residence permit allows part-time work of up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year.
Choose a city that fits your budget
We can help you weigh cities, programmes and scholarship chances together. Fill in our free assessment form.
Last checked: 7 November 2026. Figures come from pages published for international students by Politecnico di Milano, Bocconi, Sapienza, Luiss, the University of Bologna, Politecnico di Torino and the University of Padua. Florence is not included because we found no current official figure.