Milan Housing Guide for Exchange Students
Milan is one of the most popular exchange destinations in Europe. It’s stylish, busy, expensive, and full of students from all over the world. Your housing will shape your whole experience, your social life, your budget, your travel, even how safe and relaxed you feel.
This guide is here to help you choose where to live, what to book, which platforms to use, and what to avoid, using real feedback from students who already did their exchange in Milan, plus a few Studcasa tips.
1. Big Picture: Housing in Milan for Exchange Students
Milan is often described as “the Paris of Italy”: beautiful and full of things to do, but rents are high and good housing goes fast.
A few key realities:
- Housing is expensive compared to many other exchange cities.
- There are lots of scams, especially if you search alone online.
- The best areas for student life are often not the cheapest.
- Many students say: “I’m happy I paid a bit more to live in Milan rather than in a distant town.”
At the same time, Milan is an amazing base for travel. Students constantly take day trips and weekends to Lago di Como, Cinque Terre, Venice, Florence, Rome, Turin, Verona, Bologna, Sicily, Puglia… thanks to cheap trains and buses.
Because of all this, your housing choice is a big decision. But you don’t have to figure it out in the dark, you have the feedback of older cohorts and the Studcasa community.
2. Where Students Actually Live: Key Neighborhoods
There isn’t one “perfect” neighborhood. It depends on your university, your budget, and your personality. But some areas come back again and again in student reviews.
Navigli
Navigli is the classic student area in Milan.
It’s the canal district in the south-west, with bars, aperitivo places, cheap restaurants, and a strong Erasmus vibe. It’s also very convenient if you’re at Bocconi or Cattolica, and still reasonable for the city center.
Students say things like:
“Navigli is a very nice neighborhood for apéritivo; lots of bars and not far from the university.”
“Best student quarter: Navigli. Bars, cafés, cheap restaurants, 10 minutes from Bocconi, 25 minutes from the city center.”
If you want a social, active exchange with many nights out, Navigli is an excellent choice.
Porta Romana & South of Bocconi
Porta Romana and the south-side neighborhoods (Lodi, area around Bocconi) are also very appreciated, especially by Bocconi students. It’s considered one of the safest parts of the city, relatively calm but close to nightlife (Navigli) and the center.
- Easy access to Bocconi.
- Safe and comfortable.
- Still walkable or a short tram/metro ride to Duomo and Navigli.
One student in Porta Romana paid around 750€ for a room in a shared flat and described it as one of the best areas and safest.
Brera & City Center (Duomo, San Babila, Cadorna…)
Brera and the central area around the Duomo are beautiful and lively. Think old streets, nice shops, art galleries, good gelato, museums.
Pros:
- Very central.
- Plenty of cafés, cultural spots and nightlife.
- Easy access to almost everywhere.
Cons:
- More expensive.
- More touristy.
- Can be noisy and crowded.
Several students recommend Brera for both going out and just walking around. If you can afford it, central living is extremely convenient.
Città Studi & Porta Venezia
Città Studi is, as the name says, a student/academic district. It’s very convenient for Politecnico di Milano (Leonardo campus) and still well connected to the center. One Polimi student paid around 1150€ for a room near Città Studi via Studapart, expensive, but 5 minutes from campus and safe.
Porta Venezia is a central-east district, popular with young people for bars and nightlife. Some students love it; others warn that the area around Centrale/Porta Venezia/Porta Nuova can feel less comfortable at night. It’s very convenient, but you should stay alert, especially late.
Around Central Station (Centrale / Loreto)
Living near Milano Centrale (central train station) or Piazzale Loreto is interesting if:
- you travel a lot by train to other Italian cities, or
- you’re studying outside Milan (e.g. LIUC Castellanza).
One student paid about 1510€ near Centrale and said:
“Not next to the university but best place in Milan because you’re next to the train station to go everywhere in the region and near three metro lines.”
Another near Loreto said the flat was not amazing for the price but the location + flatmates made it worth it.
It’s a very practical area, but not the most charming. Also: keep an eye on your belongings, big stations attract pickpockets.
West Side: Sant’Ambrogio, San Agostino, Frattini
For Cattolica and central universities, west-side areas like Sant’Ambrogio, San Agostino, and Frattini work well:
- Students report paying ~690–800€ per month in shared flats.
- About 20–30 minutes to university or Duomo by metro.
- Residential, fairly calm, and considered safe.
- Often near supermarkets and useful services.
One student at Cattolica lived next to Frattini (M4): 30 minutes to uni, easy metro to center, quiet but fine thanks to good connections.
Tre Torri / CityLife
Tre Torri is a modern, upscale zone (CityLife area) west of center:
- Calm, very safe, more “rich” neighborhood.
- Around 800€ per month for a room.
- ~20 minutes on foot to Cattolica / 10 minutes to center.
If you want comfort and safety and don’t mind paying more, it’s a good pick.
Bovisa & Outside Center (for Polimi)
For Politecnico di Milano (Bovisa/Candiani), some students live in Bovisa or just next to the campus:
- One student paid 600€/month in Bovisa, 2 minutes from campus, 10 minutes from downtown by train.
- Great for minimizing commute, but apartments may be small and without living room.
- The area is less central and less “pretty”, but fine for students.
If you want more city life and can accept a longer commute, consider Città Studi, Porta Venezia or Navigli and commute to Bovisa.
Places to Be Careful With
Students mention a few patterns:
Far suburbs like Tradate: cheap and quiet, but very far from Milan, few services, and social life is limited.
Castellanza (for LIUC): several students insist that you should live in Milan, not in Castellanza. One said:
“Take an apartment in Milan and absolutely not in Castellanza. For 100€ more per month you will not live the same exchange at all.”
Some north-east/east neighbourhoods around Centrale/Porta Venezia/Porta Nuova feel less comfortable late at night. They are still popular, but be cautious and avoid walking alone very late in dark streets.
In general, central and student areas (Navigli, Porta Romana, Brera, west of Duomo) are considered the safest and most comfortable for exchange students.
3. Types of Housing You’ll Find in Milan
You’ll see four main options: shared apartments, coliving, student residences, and Airbnbs. Each has its own logic.
Shared Apartment (Classic Flatshare)
This is the most common setup: you rent a room, and share the kitchen and bathroom with other students.
Pros:
- “Real life” feeling.
- Often the most cost–effective.
- Great for social life if flatmates are cool.
Cons:
- Quality varies a lot.
- You don’t control who your roommates are.
- Cleaning and house rules can be a mess if people are not aligned.
Examples from students:
- 690–800€ per month in a 4-person flat (next to Frattini or San Agostino).
- 750–900€ in central areas like Porta Venezia, Loreto, Navigli.
- Up to 1,100–1,500€ in very central or high-end places.
Coliving / Managed Shared Houses
Coliving = a company manages all rooms and contracts in a shared house or building. Think DoveVivo, Habyt, Remoters, Aparto (residences), EnterColiving, etc.
Pros:
- Easier to rent from abroad.
- Contracts are clearer, often in English.
- Flats are fully furnished and internet is included.
- Many international students in the same building.
Cons:
- Often more expensive than a private flat.
- You sometimes live with many people (up to 9–10).
- You depend on the company for repairs and rules.
Real examples:
- Habyt house in a nice area, 9 roommates, around 825€/month.
- DoveVivo flats close to Cattolica and center (good experience overall).
- Remoters and Immobiliare.it used to find coliving near Porta Venezia or central.
Student Residences
These are buildings dedicated to students, often with extra services (gym, study rooms, garden, etc.). For example Aparto Giovenale near Bocconi:
- Big community of internationals.
- Gym, garden, study rooms, large common areas.
- Very social for Bocconi students.
- But: expensive (e.g. ~3600€ per semester, paid upfront, with up to 10 flatmates in big shared flats).
Residences are ideal if:
- you want a guaranteed social life,
- you prefer everything set up for you,
- you have the budget.
Airbnb (Medium-Term)
Many students use Airbnb because:
- traditional long-term rentals are hard,
- agencies often want 6–12 month contracts,
- private landlords are wary of foreigners and short stays.
You will see:
- central but small studios at 1,200–1,400€+,
- rooms in shared Airbnb flats at 700–900€+.
It’s more expensive, but:
- safer for avoiding scams,
- easier for 4–5 month stays,
- and you can book first month via Airbnb, then look for a better-value flat once you’re in Milan.
4. What Budget Should You Expect?
From all the feedback:
- Lower range (farther away / small room): 550–700€ / month
- Typical shared room in a good area: 700–900€ / month
- Central or residence / studio / high-end: 1,000–1,500€+ / month
A quick overview based on student reports:
| Approx. Monthly Rent | What You Usually Get |
|---|---|
| 550–650€ | Room in far suburb (Tradate) or shared flat further out |
| 650–800€ | Room in shared flat in decent area (Frattini, west, some Navigli) |
| 800–1,000€ | Room in central/shared flat (Navigli, Porta Romana, Brera, Porta Venezia) |
| 1,000–1,500€+ | Studio or residence room (Bocconi area, very central, coliving premium) |
And remember: Milan’s cost of living is high mainly because of rent. Groceries, aperitivo and many restaurants are okay in price if you avoid pure tourist traps.
5. Where to Search: Platforms & Agencies (Concrete Names)
Here are sites and agencies that students actually used:
Rental platforms:
- Spotahome – very popular for rooms and studios; many exchange students use it.
- DoveVivo – big coliving company; lots of shared flats near universities.
- Idealista – huge real estate portal (like SeLoger).
- Immobiliare.it – another major Italian housing portal.
- HousingAnywhere – used to find rooms a bit outside center (e.g. Bisceglie).
- Remoters – used by students for coliving rooms around Porta Venezia.
- Studapart – used by some Polimi students to be near campus.
- Habyt – large managed coliving (houses with many rooms).
- Aparto (Giovenale) – major student residence for Bocconi area.
- Airbnb – widely used due to lack of traditional offers and trust issues.
Real estate agencies mentioned:
- GIOIA (near Centrale).
- Local agencies found via Immobiliare.it or Idealista.
- Agencies connected to DoveVivo, Habyt, etc.
Because Milan has many scams and unreliable ads, students often say agencies/managed platforms are safer, even if they cost more.
6. Scams & How to Stay Safe
Almost every student warns about scams and dodgy landlords.
Common advice:
- Never pay anything before visiting (or at least having a trusted video + contract + verified platform).
- Avoid sending money via Western Union, Revolut to private individuals or anything that looks off.
- If the rent seems too good to be true for the area, it probably is.
- Many agencies require minimum 6-month stays and are not very flexible with foreigners.
One student says it very clearly:
“There are so many housing scams. Never pay anything WITHOUT visiting, even if you live far. You should come for the visit.”
Studcasa tip 💡
Instead of trusting random listings:
- Go to the Studcasa Feedback tab for Milan.
- Read housing sections for your university and favorite areas.
- Message 2–3 students who had a similar profile (same uni or same district you’re considering).
- Drop your links (Spotahome, DoveVivo, Airbnb) in the Milan WhatsApp group and ask, “Does this look legit? Is the area okay?”
Students who already lived there will quickly tell you if something feels wrong.
7. Transport, Commute & Choosing Location
Milan has a dense metro, tram and bus network. Some key points from students:
- Youth transport pass: around 22–26€ per month for students/under a certain age (price may vary slightly by year).
- BikeMi (bike sharing) subscription: around 33€ per year (service stops at ~2 a.m.).
- Uber and taxis are quite expensive compared to some other cities.
- The city center is walkable if you live near Duomo/Navigli/Brera/Bocconi.
It’s smart to live:
- within 10 minutes’ walk of a metro station,
- and ideally less than 35–40 minutes door-to-door to your campus.
Remember:
- For Bocconi – south/west (Navigli, Porta Romana, Lodi, Bocconi area) is ideal.
- For Polimi (Leonardo/Città Studi) – Città Studi, Porta Venezia, or central east are convenient.
- For Polimi (Bovisa/Candiani) – Bovisa itself or somewhere between Bovisa and center.
- For Cattolica – Navigli, Sant’Ambrogio, Brera, San Agostino, Tre Torri.
- For LIUC (Castellanza) – live in Milan near main train stations (Centrale, Garibaldi, Domodossola) and commute.
8. Matching Housing Strategy to Your University
Bocconi University
Where students like to live:
- Navigli – student hub, 10–15 mins to campus, full of bars and cafés.
- Porta Romana / Lodi – very safe, calm, close to Bocconi and still near bars.
- Bocconi area itself – some live 5 minutes’ walk from campus in small studios or shared flats.
- Central but walkable neighborhoods (Duomo, Tribunal area) if budget allows.
Common feedback:
- Courses are interesting but demanding, especially in finance, so many students like living close enough to campus to study in the library or residence.
- Aparto Giovenale is very popular for Bocconi (residence full of internationals, but expensive and with up to 10 flatmates).
If you pick Bocconi and want a social, walkable life, aim for Navigli / Porta Romana / Bocconi area first.
Politecnico di Milano (Polimi)
Polimi has several campuses: Leonardo/Città Studi, Bovisa (Candiani, La Masa), etc.
Student experience:
- Some walked 5 minutes to campus from Città Studi and loved the convenience, even if rent was high.
- Bovisa area is more “rough” but incredibly practical for Candiani campus.
- Campus is big, classes are often recorded or livestreamed, so you can follow a lot from home.
Key tips:
- If you’re at Leonardo, living in Città Studi / Porta Venezia / central-east is great.
- If you’re at Bovisa, either live in Bovisa or choose a compromise area that’s good for both center and campus and rely on train/metro.
- Polimi classes can be more technical and demanding than at some business schools, so consider a location that makes your day-to-day easy.
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Campus is quite central (around Sant’Ambrogio / Buonarroti). Students recommend:
- Navigli – social, 15–25 minutes to campus.
- Brera – beautiful and walkable to many places.
- San Agostino / Sant’Ambrogio – very close to campus and city center.
- Tre Torri / CityLife – calm, rich and safe, 20 minutes from uni.
Students at Cattolica say:
- Campus is charming, with a very “Italian university” vibe.
- Course choice is done online; you can adjust in the first weeks.
- Attendance is not always mandatory (depending on curriculum), which gives you flexibility.
LIUC (Università Carlo Cattaneo – Castellanza)
LIUC is not in Milan, but in Castellanza, north of the city. Almost every student who mentions LIUC says:
“Live in Milan, not in Castellanza.”
Reasons:
- Castellanza is small, with “not much to do”.
- Milan has all the student life, nightlife and social opportunities.
- LIUC doesn’t require you to attend every single class, so commuting is manageable.
Where to live then?
- Near a station that goes to Castellanza:
- Centrale
- Garibaldi
- Domodossola
So you can easily hop on the train to LIUC but still enjoy Milan every day.
9. Using Studcasa to Shortcut the Housing Stress
Instead of just scrolling random listings for hours, you can “cheat” (in a good way) with the help of the previous cohort.
Studcasa gives you:
- Thousands of reviews from students who already did Milan (housing, social life, uni).
- Direct contacts almost every time (Instagram, email, etc.).
- A big Milan WhatsApp group where people share housing options, search for flatmates, and react to listings.
Three moves that change everything:
Read the Feedback tab for Milan
Filter by your university (Bocconi, Polimi, Cattolica, LIUC…) and note which neighborhoods and platforms appear again and again.DM 2–3 students who match your profile
Example: “Hey, I’m going to Polimi Bovisa next spring, I saw you lived in Bovisa/Navigli. Was your area safe? Would you recommend your agency/platform?”Use the WhatsApp group actively
- Post: “Looking for a room near Navigli from Sept to Jan, 700–900€ budget. Anyone leaving or has tips?”
- Share your Spotahome / DoveVivo / Airbnb / Idealista links and ask: “Does this look okay? Anyone lived nearby?”
- Look for people in the same uni to build a flatshare.
This is exactly how many exchange students end up in the better flats, safer areas, and best flatshares, not by luck, but by asking the cohort just before them.
10. Step-by-Step Plan to Find Housing in Milan
You don’t need to do everything perfectly. You just need a simple, solid process.
Step 1 – Decide your priorities
Ask yourself:
- Do I want to be close to campus or in the heart of student nightlife?
- Do I want a quiet residential area or a lively one like Navigli?
- How much can I realistically pay each month (700€? 900€? 1,200€+)?
Step 2 – Pick 2–3 target areas
Based on the feedback:
- Bocconi → Navigli, Porta Romana, Bocconi area.
- Polimi Leonardo → Città Studi, Porta Venezia.
- Polimi Bovisa → Bovisa or mid-point with center.
- Cattolica → Navigli, Brera, Sant’Ambrogio, west of Duomo.
- LIUC → Milan near train stations (Centrale, Garibaldi, Domodossola).
Step 3 – Use safe platforms first
Search mainly on:
- Spotahome
- DoveVivo
- Idealista / Immobiliare.it (with agencies)
- HousingAnywhere
- Studapart
- Remoters / Habyt
- Airbnb (if needed, especially for first month)
Avoid random Facebook posts with no proof unless another student you trust confirms it.
Step 4 – Validate with Studcasa
Before sending money:
- Check if someone reviewed the same residence/agency on Studcasa.
- Ask them directly: “Any problem with this landlord/area?”
- Drop your future address in the WhatsApp group and see what older students say.
Step 5 – Secure something safe (even if not “perfect”)
It’s better to have:
- a safe, slightly expensive place,
- in a good area,
- with a clean contract,
…than a “too good to be true” flat that ends in stress or scams.
You can always adjust later (switch flat for second semester, move closer to friends, etc.).
11. Final Thoughts
Milan is an amazing city for exchange:
- It’s a travel hub: lakes, cities, and even other countries are a short train/plane ride away.
- Social life is strong, especially around Navigli, Brera, Porta Venezia and student bars.
- Universities like Bocconi, Polimi, Cattolica, LIUC attract many internationals.
But it’s also:
- expensive for rent,
- full of housing scams,
- and sometimes confusing when you don’t speak Italian.
If you use:
- previous students’ experience,
- trusted platforms and agencies,
- and the Studcasa community (Feedback + WhatsApp group + DMs),
you dramatically increase your chances of landing in a good apartment, in the right area, with people you actually like.
And that is what makes the difference between an “okay” exchange and a legendary one.
Studcasa tip to finish:
Before you book anything in Milan, send your options in the Studcasa Milan WhatsApp group and DM 2–3 older students: 15 minutes of messages now can save you months of trouble later.