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The city of Milan is situated in the heart of Lombardy, the wealthiest region in Italy is best known as the fashion capital of the world. It is an influential city of style and sophistication. The stock market is here and the city buzzes with activity. Everyone is hurrying somewhere. It is the second largest city in Italy with a population of approximately 1.3 million inhabitants. It has one of the lowest per capita green areas and parks. Milan is an expensive city when it comes to property. Rents are based on how fashionable the neighbourhood is and the size and type of housing.
Historic centre: Castello, Brera, Palestro, Manzoni, Quadrilatero (Montenapoleone)
The Centro Storico which means the historical centre, Milan's oldest most elegant area, is comparatively small. The buildings are mostly turn of the century with ornamental facades and some have beautiful courtyards with the odd garden and fountain. A small number of modern buildings can also be found in this area due to the reconstruction of buildings that were destroyed during the war when Milan was heavily bombarded. Outside the centre, Milan does not have an impressive building design.
The Centro Storico is where the rents tend to be the highest but despite its charm, is not the best place for families to live in.
Castello, Palestro, Manzoni, Quadrilatero
If you can afford it these are the most exclusive areas of town to live in. The beautiful turn of the century buildings are owned by the noble and wealthy Milanese families and are the most sought after. The shops are stylish and beautiful and their owners very well turned out, a bit snobbish but always very discreet.
1 bedroom apt 50 - 70 sq m
€ 1.500,00 - € 3.000,00 per month
2 bedroom apt 90 - 130 sq m
€ 2.300,00 - € 5.000,00 per month
3 bedroom apt 130 - 200 sq m
€ 3.000,00 - € 4.500,00 per month
4 or 5 bedroom apt 250 - 400 sq m
€ 5.000,00 - € 10.000,00
Brera
This is a very trendy area of Milan and popular to live in, by young managers. It used to be the artist’s quarter until they could no longer afford to live there. It is full of small streets with cute shops and now it is well known for its fashionable bars, restaurants and night life. In the evening wandering along Vicolo Fiori you can have your palm read by a number of interesting looking “experts” or be offered some Prada handbags of doubtful origin.
1 bedroom apt 50 - 70 sq m
€ 1.800,00 - € 3.500,00
2 bedroom apt 90 - 140 sq m
€ 2.800,00- € 4.000,00
3 or 4 bedroom apt 150 - 200 sq m
€ 3.800,00 - € 6.000,00
4 or 5 bedroom apt 250 - 400 sq m
€ 5.000,00 - € 7.000,00
Fiera
This area takes its name from the International Fair Grounds.
This is a very pleasant residential area on the west of the centre with various types of housing dating back to the beginning of the 20th century with the more modern 1950's buildings. It is well connected to the centre of Milan with the subway ,trams and buses. The lively Via Margera and Corso Vercelli are in the vicinity with their numerous shops, pizzerias, restaurants and ice cream parlours. This area is popular with families and is a good location for the French International and Japanese schools.
1 bedroom apt 50 - 70 sq m
€ 1.100,00 - € 1.500,00
2 bedroom apt 90 - 140 sq m
€ 1.800,00 - € 2.600,00
3 or 4 bedroom apt 150 - 250 sq m
€ 2.800,00 - € 4.800,00
North: Loreto, Central Station
This bustling area has many commercial streets with shops selling from cheap to medium priced goods. There are some attractive quiet streets however that are worth mentioning with some lovely old houses. This area is very well connected with all of the city having both the red and green line and many buses ( good services to the airports ).
1 bedroom apt 50 - 70 sq m
€ 900,00 - €1.200,00
2 bedroom apt 90 - 140 sq m
€ 1.500,00 - € 2.300,00
3 or 4 bedroom apt 150 - 250 sq m
€ 2.500,00 - € 3.500,00
Città Studi
This attractive residential area located on the east side of Milan is called so because of the universities that are located there. There are some eye catching old buildings that are sought after by Milanese families. The area is also very popular with students that rent the numerous apartments available in the vicinity of the universities. This is a good location for the Sir James Henderson school.
1 bedroom apt 50 - 70 sq m
€ 900,00 - €1.300,00
2 bedroom apt 90 - 140 sq m
€ 1.800,00 - € 2.500,00
3 or 4 bedroom apt 150 - 250 sq m
€ 2.500,00 - € 3.500,00
Navigli (zone 6)
This area is now considered one of the liveliest quarters in Milan. It was the city’s port district until the 19th century. These canals are very characteristic and are very popular especially with young people in the summer when they become traffic free zones to enable the restaurants, bars and ice-cream parlours to put their tables outside.
Many of the buildings in this area are called “ringhiera”, named after the long balconies running along each floor, to which you can access the apartments.
1 bedroom apt 50 - 70 sq m
€ 900,00 - € 1.500,00
2 bedroom apt 90 - 140 sq m
€ 2.000,00 - € 2.800,00
3 or 4 bedroom apt 150 - 250 sq m
€ 3.200,00 - € 4.000,00
San Siro
This area, which is named after the San Siro Stadium, is on the west of Milan approximately 30 minutes from the city centre. The apartments are mostly in modern condominiums with gardens which sometimes have swimming pools and tennis courts. San Siro is very popular with expatriate families due to the vicinity to the French and International school.
1 bedroom apt 50 - 70 sq m
€ 1.000,00 - € 1.300,00
2 bedroom apt 90 - 140 sq m
€ 1.900,00 - €2.500,00
3 or 4 bedroom apt 150 -250 sq m
€ 3.00,00 - € 4.500,00
Suburbs
In the suburbs, areas such as Milano3, Milano2, San Felice, apartment communities and complexes offering recreational facilities, shopping and an abundance of private parking are ideal for expatriates who would like to live near, but not actually in the city. These areas are also close to the American, and British schools. However, these areas are not well serviced by public transportation.
Monza & Brianza
Close to Milan, 10 minutes by train, you will find the charming little city of Monza with its 18 sq km park (the largest in Europe). An excellent option for foreigners wanting to live in a cleaner green area but still have the convenience of a city with foreign schools and all the extras any expatriate family could ask for - International Women’s Clubs, cinema in original language, good medical facilities, English speaking dentists, good sport facilities etc . There are currently 3 English speaking schools catering for children from 2 years to 12 years - plus school buses to both the Sir James Henderson and the International schools in Milan for the older children.
For housing in Monza you have the choice of apartment or villa living. A semi furnished 3 - 4 bedroom apartment would cost from € 18.000,00 - € 50.000,00
(plus condo fees). A villa would cost you from € 22.000,00 - € 75.000,00.
If you are looking for more rural living, slightly further away but still with good rail links, the area of the Brianza offers larger detached villas with prices ranging from € 18.000,00 - € 100.000,00 per year with lots of choice particularly in the middle range.
Arese
Situated very close to Milan, in the north west, this small town (population approx. 20,000) of Arese was built to house the workers of the Alfa Romeo factory in the 60s. This factory has been closed down and is totally abandoned for the moment but the area has developed gradually offering a small town lifestyle to many families that like living in smallish and medium sized detached and semi detached houses with a patch of garden. A 3 bedroom house will cost about € 32.000,00 while a 4 - 5 bedroom house with a large garden can cost up to €45.000,00 or more. This town is popular with foreign families that sent their children to the schools in the San Siro and Fiera areas.
Varese
Varese is situated north of Milan below the alps on the border of Switzerland. This location is popular with European families that manage to find a place for their children at the European school which was established in the 1960s for children of the staff of the European Union. There is a fairly limited selection of houses and villas that range from €30.000,00 - € 60.000,00 per year.
Como
Situated on the beautiful Como lake, this characteristic town is considered to be the silk capitol of the western world. It is surrounded by hills and is on the border with Switzerland. This area is often requested by families who are willing to commute to Milan which takes about an hour by train.
There is an International school in the nearby town of Cernobbio which accepts children from 3 to 11 years of age.
It is possible to find apartments and villas in Como and in the villages surrounding the lake. A 2 bedroom apartment in the centre of town will cost about € 16.000,00 per year and a 4 - 5 bedroom villa with a garden can cost up to € 55.000,00 or more.
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