- 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.
Find friends, feel at home in Milan
Are you a Canadian expat in Milan — or are you considering moving here? Getting advice from someone with experience can be a good start to your time abroad. Through the InterNations Milan Community, you can easily meet and connect with fellow Canadians. Our members are happy to help! With your new network, you can celebrate Canada Day and St. Jean Baptiste Day with other Canadians, find a pal to watch the Grey Cup with, or get tips on how to obtain a residency permit in Milan. If you still have a lot of questions in your mind, read on! We’ve rounded up everything you need to know to help you settle more quickly, including info on how to connect with expats at fun events.
You are cordially invited to be part of InterNations Milan. Among the members of our international expat network, there is also a vibrant circle of Canadian expats, coming from Ottawa, Vancouver, Montreal and all regions of Canada.
Why you'll love InterNations in Milan
and countless possibilities for fun and friendship!
Meet Canadian expats at fun events in Milan
Moving to a new city can be hard because 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 Canadians and share your expat journeys.
Especially (but not only!) our Newcomers’ Events are an excellent opportunity for you to meet other newcomers as well as more experienced expats living in the city.
Check out our upcoming events so you don’t miss becoming part of Milan’s expat family. Our welcoming community is waiting for you!
Want to meet other Canadians at our events?
The pros & cons of living in Milan
Of course, no place is absolutely perfect. There’s always the good, the bad, and the ugly. Read on and discover what Canadian expats love about Milan — and the challenges they face.
Pros of living in Hamburg
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Rich history, art, and fashion: You’ll quickly see there’s lots to do and see in Milan. The city offers world-class museums, galleries, and more, while fashion enthusiasts will be spoilt for choice among the city’s retail scene.
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Public transportation: Getting around Milan is convenient without a car, unlike in some major cities in Canada. The metro system has 4 lines with over 100 stations, and there are other affordable options like trams and buses.
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Food: Canadians in our community really enjoy Italian cuisine. There are many options to choose from, each offering rich flavors. Famous for its iconic dish “risotto alla Milanese,” Milan is known as a foodie city with a wide range of cuisine, from classic Italian to international dishes.
Cons of living in Hamburg
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High rents: Milan is one of the priciest cities in Italy, with rent being the largest expense. Residents often spend more than 40% of their income on rent. You’ll need to factor in at least 800–1,000 EUR for a one-bedroom apartment.
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Climate: The hot, humid summers and very cold, foggy winters in Milan might take some getting used to. Plus, there are lots of mosquitoes in the summer.
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Bureaucracy: Navigating bureaucracy in Milan (or anywhere in Italy) can be quite challenging. It’s hard to find information about procedures, and everything requires an appointment, which may take weeks to schedule. In fact, in our 2024 Expat City Ranking, Milan placed second-to-last for dealing with the local bureaucracy, with only Rome receiving even worse results.
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Crowded: The central areas of Milan are very crowded, especially during peak seasons like summer when many tourists visit.
All your questions about living in Milan, answered
Milan is known as the economic hub of Italy, and numerous multinational companies operate in the city. So there’s at least some demand for English-speaking professionals, especially in the fields of economics, finance, marketing, fashion, and hospitality. However, even though English is commonly used in international companies, knowing some basic Italian is still helpful. You’ll be working with Italians and showing respect for their culture can make a big difference.
There are many websites online that can assist you in finding an English-speaking job. You can try your luck with:
You could also try using a recruitment agency in Milan. If these options don’t appeal to you, InterNations has a large business networking community. If you’re looking for a job, why not attend some events and network with other expats who may be able to assist you with your job search?
The average salary for jobs in Milan is around 3,500 EUR per month (gross). 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 4,500–6,000 EUR is considered a good salary for a family.
Here is an overview of the cost of living in Milan:
| CAD per month | Local currency per month | |
Utilities (power, water, etc.) | 370 CAD | 250 EUR |
Rent for a studio apartment | 1,400-1,950 CAD | 920-1,300 EUR |
Rent for a small family home | 2,760–4,500 CAD | 1,850-3,000 EUR |
Public transportation | 60 CAD | 40 EUR |
Mobile phone & internet | 50 CAD | 35 EUR |
Meal at a restaurant (per person) | 30-60 CAD | 20-40 EUR |
Groceries (per person) | 700 CAD | 470 EUR |
Basic health insurance (public) | 150-750 CAD | 100-500 EUR |
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Milan is a fairly international city, with expats making up around 20% of the population. Still, in the 2024 Expat City Ranking, close to half the respondents (49%) said it’s difficult to live in Milan without speaking Italian (vs. 33% globally). So expect to hit the language barrier now and then. 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 even 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 also collected some services that cater to English speakers (these services are not affiliated with or endorsed by InterNations):
General practitioner (GP) | Mi.mag List of English-speaking doctors in Milan with brief description about each one. Milan Medical Center Majority of the staff speaks fluent English (as well as other languages), with the center offering a range of medical services. American International Medical Center Private medical clinic offering medical services by English-speaking doctors. |
Dentist | English Speaking Dentists Directory that lets you search for dentists by city. |
Urgent care | ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda General hospital offering 24-hour emergency care. |
Immigration assistance | Avvocati per Stranieri Immigration lawyer for foreigners in Milan. |
Tax advisor | Taxing.it International tax law practice based in Milan, offering a wide range of services to English-speaking clients. |
Instant interpreting service | DayInterpreting Get connected to a native Italian speaker on your phone and use it to have an instant interpreter with you. |
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Meet other Canadians 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 sightseeing to game nights.
For example, you can attend an orchestra performance with the Classical Music Group, hang out in a bar and have cocktails or Italian wines with the Casual Drinks Group, or play football with the Outdoors & Sports Group. Follow your passion — there's something for everyone!
Find other Canadians to share your hobbies with
Enjoy the international experience — worldwide
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 Italian city, check out our Canadian 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.
- Browse our Members Network to get to know Milan’s Canadian expats.
- Take part in our Expat Forums to obtain first hand tips from fellow Canadian expats in Milan.
- Use the Expat Guide for Milan to find information on your host city.
Meet Fellow Canadians 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 Canadian 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 Canada in your local community as well as Canadians in Italy nationwide. Interested? Simply become a member and we’ll be happy to welcome you among our Canadians 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!
