Let’s start with the hardest part.

Finding a place in Milan is competitive.
Good apartments go fast - sometimes within hours.

Where to search:
- Idealista 
- Immobiliare 
- Facebook groups (expats & students)

Word of mouth is still one of the strongest tools here.

- Room: €450–900
- Studio: €750–1200+
- One-bedroom: €1000–1600

Watch out for scammers - if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. 

Safe neighbourhoods:

- Isola:  modern, international vibe
- Porta Romana: balanced, safe, well-connected
- Brera: central, beautiful, expensive
- Washington: elegant, calm, well-connected and less touristy
- Zona Solari: creative, relaxed, close to design district
- Lorenteggio: residential, more local, quieter and more affordable

Dangerous neighborhoods: zones to avoid (especially at night)

- Stazione Centrale: The presence of homeless people and petty criminal groups.
- Corvetto: High crime rate, related to drug trafficking and the presence of gangs.
- Quarto Oggiaro: It has been one of Milan’s most infamous districts.
- San Siro: This district is primarily known for its stadium, petty crime and urban neglect.
- Rogoredo: Known for drug activities, the area is called “Rogoredo forest”.

Milan is one of the most expensive cities in Italy - but manageable if you plan.
Monthly estimate:
- Budget lifestyle: €1800–2400
- Comfortable: €2500–3500+

Everyday costs:
- Coffee: €1–1.50
- Lunch: €15–20
- Groceries: €200–300/month

Milan has:

Prices:
- Single ticket: €2.20
- Monthly pass: ~€30

Most locals don’t use cars - traffic + parking = nightmare

Pro tip:

Download
-ATM Milano app
- Google Maps (works perfectly here)

You’ll need:
- Codice Fiscale (tax code)
- Passport
- Residence registration
- Carta d'identità

Reality:
Many expats:
- start with international banks
- open an Italian account later

Welcome to Italy 😅

You’ll  need:
- Codice Fiscale (you’ll need it everywhere short of the supermarket)
- Permesso di soggiorno (non-EU residents)
-Residence registration

What to expect:
- Long waiting times
- Appointments required
- Paper copies for everything

Survival tips:

1) Always bring ALL the documents
2) Double-check everything
3) Learn basic Italian phrases
4) If you don’t have an appointment, arrive at the opening 
5) Be mentally prepared for stuff not to make sense 

The stuff no one tells you:

Milan is generally safe, but:
- watch for pickpockets
- especially in metro (transport) and tourist areas

- Aperitivo is key
- Easiest way to meet people
Keep a close eye on the events in our newsletter

- People dress well (even casually)
- Appearance matters more than you think

Work culture
- cafés are your best coworking spaces
- small places > chains

Start with these:

Duomo di Milano

The heart of the city - yes, it’s touristy, but worth it.

Navigli

Best place for sunsets + aperitivo.

Fondazione Prada

Modern art + architecture.

CityLife

Clean, futuristic, very different from “old Milan”.

Brera

The most aesthetic neighborhood to just walk around.

Your first 3 months in Milan will feel chaotic.

You’ll get lost.
You’ll be confused.
You’ll question your decisions.

And then one day:
you’ll have your coffee spot
your route
your people

And the city will start to feel like yours. If you're building your life in Milan, we share curated events, places, and opportunities every week.

Join us

Until next time,
Ole & FoundIt Team