Milan remains Italy’s most expensive city to live in in 2026

Monday 07 September 2026 - 08:20

By: Azzat Manal

Milan remains Italy’s most expensive city to live in in 2026

Milan has retained its position as Italy’s most expensive city in terms of living costs in 2026, while Naples remains at the opposite end of the ranking as the country’s most affordable major city. The figures highlight the persistent economic divide between northern and southern Italy.

The ranking was compiled by Codacons, an Italian consumer protection association, using data from the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy’s price monitoring system, updated through June 2026. The study compared the cost of a basket containing 33 goods and services across major Italian cities.

The basket included 20 food products and 13 essential and leisure-related services, covering expenses such as haircuts, pizza restaurants, veterinary care, dental services and cinema tickets.

According to the report, the combined cost of the basket reached approximately €693 in Milan, followed by Bolzano at €652. In Naples, the same basket cost around €402, making it roughly 42% cheaper than in Milan.

Food prices alone also revealed a significant geographical gap. Spending on products such as fruit and vegetables, meat and fish exceeded €200 in several northern and central cities, including Milan, Bolzano, Trieste, Bologna, Genoa and Florence.

By contrast, food expenditure was considerably lower in several southern cities. It stood at around €170 in Bari and Palermo, €154 in Pescara and €149 in Catanzaro, while Naples recorded the lowest figure at approximately €140.

The differences become even more pronounced when services are taken into account. Milan recorded average spending of about €491 for the services included in the study, compared with €452 in both Aosta and Bolzano. At the other end of the scale, service costs averaged around €292 in Palermo and just €262 in Naples.

The findings underline how the cost of everyday life in Italy can vary substantially depending on location. While northern cities tend to face higher prices for both goods and services, several southern urban areas continue to offer lower living costs, despite broader economic disparities between the two regions.