Cost of Living in Italy for Indian Students: Food, Transport, Accommodation
Italy is one of the most affordable study destinations among international students. Cost of food, transport, and accommodation in Italy is lower than other countries such as Germany, France, and UK. Monthly cost of living for a single person in Milan, Italy is around €873.73 (equivalent to INR 85970.41) according to Numbeo.com. On average, an Indian student in Italy spends €450 for private single room accommodation, €150-€200 for food, and €38 for public transportation. The annual average cost of living in Italy for indian student is around €8,256 approx.
Milan, Bologna, and Florence are the three most expensive cities to live in Italy as an international student. Whereas Italian cities in the South including Parma, Naples, Sorrento, Lecce, and Bari have a lower cost of living index. Rents in Italy consume the major portion of your monthly budget. Availing Regional or Goverment scholarships help students to cover accommodation costs along with food, transportation, and university fee.
What is the Average Cost of Living in Italy for Indian Students?
On average, Indian students in Italy spend anywhere between €650 to €1200 per month (INR 68,397 to INR 126,272)on private accommodation, food, and transport. These figures are common to observe in cities with higher cost of living index in Italy including Milan, Florence, Rome, etc. Meanwhile, the Indian studens living in inexpensive cities including Siena, Bari, Sorrento, or Turin spend between €450 to €800 per month (INR 47,352 to INR 84,181), which is 32.05% reduction in monthly living expenses in Italy.
The table below shows the overall average monthly living expenses for an international student in italy.
| Expense Type | Average Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | €250 to €650 |
| Food | €150 to €250 |
| Transport | €25 to €45 |
| Mobile Internet Plan | €10 to €30 |
| Miscellaneous Activities | €20 to €100 |
What is the Cost of Living in Major Italian Cities for International Students?
The cost of living in Italy varies from city to city. Living expenses in Metropolitan cities like Milan, Bologna, Florence, and Rome is higher compared to inexpensive cities like Siena, Turin, Padua, Sorrento, Bari, and Naples.
The cost of living in Italy city-wise is summarized below in the table.
| City | Accommodation | Food | Transport | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milan | €400–€800 | €200–€350 | €50 | €950–€1,500 |
| Bologna | €300–€600 | €150–€280 | €30 | €800–€1,200 |
| Florence | €300–€600 | €180–€300 | €35 | €850–€1,200 |
| Rome | €350–€700 | €180–€300 | €35 | €900–€1,350 |
| Naples | €200–€450 | €150–€250 | €25 | €700–€1,000 |
| Bari | €250–€450 | €150–€250 | €30 | €600–€850 |
| Sorrento | €400–€700 | €200–€300 | €35 | €850–€1,200 |
| Padua | €350–€600 | €150–€250 | €30 | €650–€1,000 |
| Turin | €250–€500 | €150–€250 | €25 | €700–€1,000 |
| Pisa | €300–€550 | €150–€300 | €30 | €700–€1,000 |
What is th Monthly Cost of Acommodation in Italy?
Accommodation or apartment rents in Italy consume a major portion of your set monthly budget. Living in on-campus accomodation is cheaper as compared to living in a private room or apartment.
The cost of accommodation in Italy for international students is mentioned in the table below.
| Accomodation Type | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| University Accommodation | €250–€450 |
| Private Room | €350–€550 |
| Private Apartment | €550–€1,200 |
| Shared Private Apartment | €300–€500 |
Living in an on-campus accommodation provided by the university or living in a shared accommodation is cheaper compared to living in a privately owned apartment in Italy.
What is the Cost of Food in Italy?
Cost for food or grocery shopping is lower and manageable in Italy. An international student spends on average €150-€200 (INR 15,769 to INR 21,025) on food and grocery shopping in Italy.
The table below mentions the price of commonly consumed foods in Italy.
| Food Item | Average Price |
|---|---|
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | €1.61 |
| Fresh White Bread (500 g Loaf) | €1.89 |
| White Rice (1 kg) | €2.63 |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | €4.01 |
| Local Cheese (1 kg) | €16.64 |
| Chicken Fillets (1 kg) | €10.00 |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Red Meat (1 kg) | €18.95 |
| Apples (1 kg) | €2.36 |
| Bananas (1 kg) | €1.98 |
| Oranges (1 kg) | €2.16 |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | €2.47 |
| Potatoes (1 kg) | €1.61 |
| Onions (1 kg) | €1.73 |
| Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant | €16 |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's | €10 |
What is the Cost of Transportation in Italy?
Italy offers one of the most affordable and efficient public transport system in Europe. International students in Italy prefer public buses or trams. A public bus ticket (valid for 60 to 90 minutes) within the city costs between €1.50 to €1.70. Hiring a Taxi in Italy starts from €5, then for every 1 KM there is a charge of €1.50.
The table below shows the average monthly cost of transportation in Italy.
| Transport Option | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Single Bus/Tram Ticket | €1.50–€1.70 |
| Monthly Bus/Tram Pass | €38–€52 |
| Regional Train Ticket | €8–€35 |
| Rental eBikes | €15–€35 |
What is the Cost of Utilities in Italy?
Basic utilities expense in Italy includes cost of electricity, gas, water, heating, garbage, mobile phone internet/call plans.
The cost of monthly utility expenses in Italy as discussed below in the table.
| Utilities | Average Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage for 85 m2 Apartment | €160–€200 |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly) | €8–€20 |
| Broadband Internet | €25–€35 |
| Rental eBikes | €15–€35 |
How Can International Students Lower the Cost of Living in Italy?
International students can lower the cost of living in Italy by either availing scholarship or by proper budget planning. Regional and Government-offered scholarahip programs help in lowering the major expenses such as accommodation, food, tution fee, transport, laundry, etc.
What Scholarship Programs Can International Students Avail to Cover Living Expenses in Italy?
Scholarshop programs that international students can avail to cover living expenses are discussed along with benefits in the table below.
| Program | Main Benefits | Funding Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Regional Scholarships | Tuition support, housing, stipend | €4,000–€7,500/year |
| DSU Scholarship | Full tuition waiver, housing, stipend | €5,000–€7,000/year |
| Politecnico di Milano Scholarship | Full tuition waiver, housing, stipend | €5,000–€10,000 |
| Erasmus+ Program | Travel support, accommodation, stipend | €300–€700/month |
| Invest Your Talent in Italy | Tuition waiver, allowance | €8,000–€10,000/year |
| Bocconi Graduate Merit Award | Tuition waiver, stipend | €6,000–€12,000/year |
| MAECI – Italian Government Scholarships | Tuition waiver, health insurance | Up to €9,000 |
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree | Tuition waiver, Travel | Up to €12,000 |
Applying for scholarships in Italy helps international students cut down on major living expenses. To apply for a scholarship program in Italy, students have to present strong financial and academic documents. Indian students are offered need-based scholarships in Italy due to weak financial background. Pathway to Overseas assists indian students to gather relevant documents to avail need and merit-based scholarship in Italy.
What are Tips to Lower Living Costs for Indian Students in Italy?
Indian students in Italy can lower the cost of living by following the tips mentioned below.
- Live in Shared Accommodation: Indian students can a significant amount of monthly budget by living in a shared accommodation. For instance, living in a shared student accommodation in Florence costs between €250 to €500 whereas renting the same apartment along may cost over €1000. Living in a shared accommodation helps in splitting utilities and energy bills. It is better share an apartment to save money if you are living in cities like Milan, Bologna, Florence, or Rome.
- Eat at Home: Cooking and eating your food at home is cheaper than visiting McDonald’s or a local restaurant.
- Use Public Transport: Italy has the most affordable public transport in Europe. In some regions, international students can travel for free on buses and trams with local university card. Monthly student passes ususally cost less than €50, making them convenient over hiring taxis or private cars.
What is the Cost of Living index for the Top Cities in Italy?
The cost of living index for the top 10 cities in Italy is mentioend below in the table.
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Milan | 72.5 |
| Brescia | 68.7 |
| Florence | 68.6 |
| Bologna | 68.2 |
| Treviso | 66.2 |
| Bolzano-Bozen | 65.8 |
| Padova | 63.9 |
| Trento | 63.6 |
| Rome | 62.9 |
| Pisa | 57.7 |
Which is the Most Expensive City in Italy for international Students?
Milan, with a cost of living index of 72.5, is the most expensive city to live in Italy for international students.
Which City in Italy is Cheaper for International Students?
Pisa, with a cost of living Index of 57.7, is the cheapest city to live in Italy as an international student.
What is the Least Budget for International Students to Live in Italy?
An international student must allocate at least €550 per month budget (€350 for single room, €120 for groceries, and remaining for other utilities) for living in an Italian city with a lower cost of living index.