- Francois Carpentier
With the help of InterNations, my wife and I met a lot of other French expats at the famous aperitivos here in Milan.
Get real advice, feel at home faster
Are you an American expat in Milan — or are you considering moving here? Imagine getting advice from experienced expats to get you off to a good start… Well, through the InterNations Milan Community, you can easily meet fellow Americans and build a supportive network of friends. You don’t have to miss out on celebrating your favorite holidays like Thanksgiving and the 4th of July. In no time, you’ll find buddies to watch the Super Bowl with. Plus you can get tips like how to file your US taxes from abroad. If you’ve already got lots of burning questions about expat life in Milan, read on! We’ve rounded up everything you need to know to help you settle more quickly. There’s also more info on how to connect with American expats at fun events in Milan.
Why you'll love InterNations in Milan
and countless possibilities for fun and friendship!
Meet American expats at fun events in Milan
Moving to a new city can be hard and you may feel lonely at first. Luckily, our events are here to help you make new friends. Designed to connect expats, you’ll get the chance to meet other Americans and share experiences. There will be many things you can learn from their stories!
We also have Newcomers’ Events — they're an excellent way for people new to the community, hosted by our Ambassadors. They’ll greet you with open arms and introduce you to other newbies and more experienced expats living in the city. Check out our upcoming events so you don’t miss becoming part of Milan’s expat family and the chance to make a bunch of international friends, including lots of Americans!
Want to meet other Americans at our events?
The pros & cons of life in Milan
Of course, no place is absolutely perfect. There’s always the good, the bad, and the ugly. Read on and discover what American expats love about Milan — and the challenges they face.
Pros of living in Milan
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Travel opportunities: Love travel and exploring new places? You can be at Lake Garda, the biggest lake in Italy, in under an hour. Plus, Milan is well-connected and is a great base for exploring Europe.
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Public transportation: Unlike many US cities, getting around Milan is easy without a car. The metro system has four lines with over 100 stations. There are other options, like trams and buses, at affordable prices.
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Rich cultural offering: With all the museums, classical music, theater — and of course fashion week and comic cons — you’ll love exploring all there is to do in the city.
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International vibe: Milan attracts people from all around the world, so finding English-speaking communities won’t be a challenge.
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The food: You’ll find delicious food at every price point — with a focus on fresh and high-quality ingredients. Every region has local specialties. Need we say more?
Cons of living in Milan
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Rent prices: Milan is one of the most expensive cities in Italy, with rent being the biggest expense. In fact, Milan’s residents spend over 40% of their income on rent. You’ll need at least 800 –1,000 EUR for a single-person apartment in the city.
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Time-consuming bureaucracy: Americans and other expats are often frustrated by the bureaucracy. It’s difficult to find information about most processes. And everything needs an appointment, which may take up to weeks.
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Language barrier: Most Italians speak English, especially in more touristy areas. But speaking Italian will improve your day-to-day experience.
All your questions about living in Milan, answered
Milan is known as the economic engine of Italy. With so many multinational companies here, there’s a demand for English-speaking professionals. Important sectors include economics, finance, marketing, fashion, and the hospitality industry. If you’re looking for a job, having a background in these areas can be helpful. And a little Italian knowledge can also help.
There are many websites to help you find an English-speaking job. You can try your luck with:
The average gross salary for jobs in Milan is around 3500 EUR per month. If you’re making at least this amount, you can live comfortably here. However, if you have a family and kids to support, you might want to aim higher. Earning between 4500 – 6000 EUR is a good salary for a family.
Here is an overview of the cost of living in Milan:
| USD per month | Local currency per month (EUR) | |
Utilities (power, water, etc.) | 270 USD | 250 EUR |
Rent for a studio apartment | 1000-1420 USD | 920-1300 EUR |
Rent for a small family home | 2015-3270 USD | 1850-3000 EUR |
Public transportation | 45 USD | 40 EUR |
Mobile phone & internet | 40 USD | 35 EUR |
Meal at a restaurant (per person) | 20-45 USD | 20-40 EUR |
Groceries (per person) | 510 USD | 470 EUR |
Basic health insurance (public) | 110-540 USD | 100-500 EUR |
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Milan is a very international city, with 20% of the city’s population being expats. Many people speak English, so getting around or handling basic interactions won’t be too hard. But this will feel limiting at some point. You’ll hit the language barrier now and then, and it can be frustrating. The most challenging moments usually occur when you handle official paperwork, find a flat, see a doctor, or make an official appointment.
Ideally, use your time in Milan to learn as much Italian as possible — or learn at least some basic Italian in advance. There are affordable language courses available, or you can learn for free using language apps or websites that provide free lessons.
To help you avoid some of these struggles, we've collected some services (none are affiliated with or endorsed by InterNations) that cater to English speakers:
General practitioners (GP) | Doctors in Milan List of English-speaking doctors by the U.S Consulate General in Milan. |
Dentist | Dentists in Milan List of English-speaking dentists by the U.S Consulate General in Milan. |
Urgent care | Hospitals Milan List of English-speaking hospitals by the U.S Consulate General in Milan. Milan Medical Center All staff speaks fluent English and other languages. Website also available in English. |
Immigration assistance | Avvocati per Stranieri Immigration lawyer for foreigners in Milan. |
Tax advisor | Bright Tax Assists with filing US taxes. |
Instant interpreting service | DayInterpreting Get connected to a native Italian speaker on your phone and use the phone’s loudspeaker to have an instant interpreter with you. |
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Meet other Americans in Milan
Our Global Partners
Pursue your hobbies with amazing new friends
Do you want to continue with your hobbies — or discover new ones — while living in Milan? You can join a variety of InterNations Groups based on your interests. These groups are run by dedicated Consuls who host at least one activity per month. They organize everything from casual drinks to game nights. For example, you can attend orchestra performances with the Classical Music Group, embrace the traditional local culture with the Mediterranean Culture Group, or hunt for great pictures with the Photography Group. Follow your passion — there's something for everyone!
Find other Americans to share your hobbies with
Enjoy the international experience
We’re not just active in Milan! InterNations has lively communities in most of Italy’s major cities. If you’re traveling or moving to another city in Italy, check out our American communities in Florence, Rome, Naples, Turin, Bologna, Genoa, Catania, Bari, Palermo , or Latina.
But that’s not all: If you’re in the mood for a nice night out while traveling further abroad, InterNations is your go-to platform. As an InterNations member, you’re always welcome to join events in any of our communities in over 420 cities worldwide. You can find the list here: Browse all InterNations Communities worldwide.
Meet Fellow Americans in Milan at Our Events
Our community in Milan is also very active offline. Our InterNations Ambassadors organize regular events and various expat activities, e.g. a dinner in Milan’s hippest restaurant or an outing with other American expats to explore hot and dry Apulia, full of ancient footsteps left by Greek, Arab, and Norman settlers. These activities are a casual way to get to know expats from the USA in your local community as well as Americans in Italy nationwide. Interested? Simply become a member and we’ll be happy to welcome you among our Americans living in Milan!
- Francois Carpentier
With the help of InterNations, my wife and I met a lot of other French expats at the famous aperitivos here in Milan.
- Annabelle Molenaar
The Milan Community of InterNations is just so great: regular events -- several easy-going Ambassadors -- really friendly expat crowd!
