Housing in Milan
The best web-sites to find an apartment in Milan:
Long-term rentals:
Monthly rentals:
Advice on choosing a neighbourhood to live in.
Milan has a wide variety of neighbourhoods, ranging from quieter residential areas that are ideal for families with children to areas with lots of activities to be engaged in and places to explore that will appeal to students and young couples.
If your budget allows, take into consideration the following neighbourhoods:
- Porta Venezia
- Risorgimento
- Magenta
- Pagano
- San Vittore
- Brera
- Porta Nuova
- Guastalla
- City Life
These are prestigious and safe areas of the city with beautiful architecture, but with high flat rental costs.
If you are on a tight budget but want to live close to the centre, look at the following areas:
- Citta Studi
- Porta Romana
- Porta Vittoria
- Washington
- Buonarroti/De Angeli
- Portello
- Isola
Unsafe neighbourhoods where it is best not to rent an apartment:
- Surroundings of Milano Centrale Railway Station
- Lazzaretto
- Maciachini
- Padova street
- Lorenteggio
- Lampugnano
- Barona
- Quarto Oggiaro
- Bovisa
If you're on a very tight budget, look out for neighbourhoods that are outside of Milan's commune but easily accessible by metro. For example, Sesto San Giovanni or Pero.
Job Search
For the independent job search you can use the following websites in Milan:
https://www.jobintourism.it/offerte/ (work in tourism)
Various job centres also offer job search services:
Via Strozzi 11
Centro di Mediazione al Lavoro
via San Tomaso, 3
Sportello lavoro Viale D’Annunzio
Sportello Fleming presso Centro di Formazione
Via Alessandro Fleming, 15
Via San Giusto, 65
The Municipality of Milan assists foreigners with job-seeking and vocational retraining.
Reception by appointment only from Tuesday to Thursday from 9:00 to 12:00 on the telephone number: +3939792109 or 0288448246.
More information on the website.
Seeking employment as a nanny, carer for the elderly or housekeeper on the website.
Learning Italian
In Milan there are several low-cost (with a nominal payment) Italian language courses for foreigners.
SPIA public courses (several schools around Milan) that teach Italian at different levels, as well as for certain types of job or for an exam when obtaining a permanent residence permit or citizenship.
The cost is € 30 per semester.
Centro Provinciale Istruzione Adulti
Via Pontano, 43
More information on the website.
Municipal courses (several schools around Milan) that prepare for the CILS national exam (accepted in all universities, at work, and for obtaining a permanent residence permit or citizenship). Italian of all levels (from A1 to C2) is taught at the courses.
The cost is € 90 per semester.
More information on the website.
Paid courses in private Italian language schools:
Transport
Milan has a well-developed public transportation network so it's easy to use.
For those who live in Milan permanently, there are good deals on annual and monthly travel cards.
The monthly card (from the 1st to the last day of the month) costs € 39 for an adult;
€ 22 for young people up to 26 years old (including);
€ 32.50 for seniors over 65.
The annual card costs € 330 for an adult;
€ 200 for under 26 years old (including);
€ 300 for seniors over 65 years of age.
There are also other rates depending on age and income. See website for details.
Children up to 14 years old can use the public transport free of charge.
You can subscribe online, with the "ATM" application or at the ATM points located at the metro stations Duomo, Centrale, Cadorna, Garibaldi, Loreto, Romolo and Zara.
You can also use short-term rentals of bicycles, e-scooters and car-sharing (read carefully terms of use beforehand!).
The most popular bike-sharing services in Milan:
Scooter-sharing services:
Car-sharing services:
Mobile operators
The main mobile network operators in Italy:
According to surveys, Vodafone is the best cellular service provider. However, Iliad has the best tariffs.
A few tips for those who are moving to Milan
1. Networking works best in Italy and many issues (like finding a job or a flat) are resolved through connections, so be sociable and make new friends.
2. Help with bureaucratic matters can be obtained through organisations called patronato or CAF.
Patronato helps you apply for and renew your residence permit, apply for a pension, state benefits and other bureaucratic matters.
Some services are free, others for a nominal fee.
Proven patronato is located at:
Corso Porta Vittoria 43, Milano
CAF is an organisation that specialises in tax assistance, namely completing various tax returns, filing reports, obtaining tax documents for various bonuses and benefits...
The CAF also offers some services free of charge, others for a nominal fee.
3. To adapt quickly in Milan, learn Italian. Italy is a country with very sociable people and many relationships are built on communication, so knowing Italian will make life much easier for you.
4. Have faith in your ability to succeed. Be open, hardworking and friendly, and Italy will respond in kind. Good luck!