Working in Milan Italy
The second largest city in Italy, the population of Milan’s greater region has grown to more than 8 million people. The area surrounding Milan is regarded as the most densely populated in Europe and has experienced much growth through immigration in the past two decades.
Milan is well-known for its Italian culture that includes many landmarks and museums, which draw millions of tourists each year. The city experiences a subtropical climate with hot, humid summers that transform into cold winters.
- Airport
- Railway Station
- Transportation
- Cost of Living
- Accommodation
- Shopping
- Emergency
- Insurance and Healthcare
Location
Tourism Video
Airport
Milan Malpensa Airport
At more than 40km from central Milan, Malpensa Airport is located in the north-west of the city’s broader area. Malpensa is Milan’s premier airport, accommodating more than 20 million passengers annually, consists of two terminals and is a hub to many major international airlines, including local carrier Alitalia Airlines.
Milan Malpensa Airport has a variety of transport options, most notably the Ferrovie Nord Milano express trains which link to central Milan. Bus services, the cheapest option, are extensively available to central Rome and a number of surrounding areas. For travellers after more sophisticated transportation, take a taxi or research the several shuttle or limousine services that can be used.
Milan Linate Airport
Milan’s secondary airport is much closer to the city than its bigger counterpart at just 7km from the centre. Milan Linate is home to a variety of airlines that travel domestically and internationally, including low-cost airlines like EasyJet.
There are several ways to travel to and from Milan Linate, the cheapest being through the city’s public bus service. This extensive service can take travellers to central Milan or many of the city’s outer areas. Visitors will also find taxis and shuttle services easy to organise from Milan Linate.
Railway Station
Milan Central Station
The main railway station in Milan is the Central Station where regular and express services run to destinations throughout the city, Italy and internationally. A masterfully built structure, the station is also serviced by two of the city’s metro lines. Visitors will find a key bus depot and a taxi stand at the station as well.
Other key stations in Milan include Cadorna station, Garibaldi station and Lambrate station.
Transportation
Milan’s extensive public transport network is operated by Azienda Trasporti Milanesi (ATM) and includes a metro, trains, trams and bus service. The metro system currently has three lines, with another two expected to be opened during 2015. The existing lines are also in the process of having extensions added to them.
Milan’s trams, or streetcars, run through many of the city’s central streets and are a convenient way to travel above ground. Look out for the double-decker streetcars for a better view of the city. Milan’s bus and train systems are also very serviceable and travel to all areas of the city, from the central area to the outer residential suburbs. For a more expensive, yet comfortable, form of travel, Milan has an abundance of taxi stands throughout the city.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Milan is average to high by western standards for expats, with prices often significantly higher in central or touristy areas of the city. According to online cost of living database Numbeo (http://www.numbeo.com/), prices for typical items on current exchange rates (June 2013) are as follows:
| Food | |
| Cheap meal (inexpensive restaurant) | $21.50 |
| Three-course meal for two at mid-range restaurant | $90.95 |
| Domestic beer (500mL) | $7.15 |
| Coke (330mL) | $3.50 |
| Milk (1 litre) | $1.70 |
| Loaf of bread | $2.90 |
| Eggs | $3.20 |
| Transport | |
| One way ticket (local transport) | $2.15 |
| Monthly pass | $43.00 |
| Petrol (1 litre) | $2.60 |
| Rent (monthly) | |
| One bedroom apartment (central area) | $1300 approx |
| Three bedroom apartment (central area) | $2850 approx |
| Accommodation | |
| Hostel bed (one night) | $25 |
| Five star hotel room (one night) | $340 |
| Average monthly salary (after tax) | $2150 |
Accommodation
Milan has a variety of accommodation options, ranging from budget, mid-range to luxurious. Backpackers will find many hostel and budget hotels catering for their stay around the city and primarily in central areas. A few options to consider include:
Budget
Ostello Olinda
Dover Hotel Milan
Hotel Garda
Mid-range
Berna Swiss Quality Hotel
Dieci Hotel Milan
Hotel Amadeus
High-end
Hotel Abacus
Hotel Ascot
Hotel Lloyd
Shopping
Milan is one of the world’s fashion capitals, making it a home for high-end shopping. Shoppers looking for big-name brands are sure to have a good time. The most popular shopping areas in Milan include Via della Spiga, Via Manzoni and Via Sant’Andrea.
Buying more general products like groceries is easily achieved in Milan, with the city home to many supermarket chains. Most supermarkets in central areas are of the smaller variety and include groups like Lidl, Spar and Auchan. Milan also has a strong selection of department stores, such as Peck and Rinascente.
Emergency
Emergency telephone numbers:
Telephone directory assistance number 12
Carabinieri 112
Police 113
Fire department 115
Road assistance 116
Medical emergency 118
Australian Consulate-General
3rd Floor
Via Borgogna 2
20122 Milan, ITALY
Telephone: (39) 02 776 74200
Facsimile: (39) 02 776 04242
Insurance and Healthcare
Italy’s National Health Service manages the country’s public health system. The system is funded through taxation from avenues such as individual income tax and VAT. Expats in Italy will need to register to use the system, which is handled by the Local Health Service. With registration expats will be entitled to treatment for free or at a low cost.
On top of the public health care system, expats in Italy can also take out private care, with an extensive range of services available for those willing to pay extra. Costs for private health treatment in Italy are comparable to those in Australia. Despite a high standard of health facilities in Italy, DFAT recommends all Australians travelling to the country take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover any overseas costs.