Cost of Living: Milan vs Perth (2026)

Italy vs Australia — relocation comparison

TL;DRPerth has milder winters (9°C vs 0°C lows). English is much more widely spoken in Perth. Both are solid options for settling down — the spreadsheet won't save you from this one.
67
Livability Score
🇮🇹 Milan
Italy
Full profile
66
Livability Score
🇦🇺 Perth
Australia
Full profile
Milan and Perth are almost suspiciously well-matched. Flip a coin.
💰
Cost of Living
Milan
$84/mo cheaper on rent alone
🗳️
Democracy
Perth
8.7/10 EIU index
🗣️
English
Perth
higher proficiency score
Milan
Metric
Perth
$1737/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1821/mo
$760/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$428/mo
$9,944
🧳
Cost to land
$11,432
0.5 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
0.8 / 100k
54 / 100
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
28°C
☀️
Summer high
29°C
0°C
❄️
Winter low
9°C
90 Mbps
Internet speed
7.7 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
8.7 / 10
High (62/100)
🗣️
English ease
Very High (95/100)
$62k
💼
GDP per capita
$72k
1.0%
📈
Inflation
3.2%
67 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
66 / 100
89/100 — Mostly stable
Grid reliability
87/100
🗽
Freedom House
5 years
📋
Time to PR

For the Kids

Schools, pediatric care, and whether your children can actually enroll

477
PISA
country avg
497
4
Intl schools
1
Yes (Italian)
Public school
Free pediatric care for all resident children under 14
Pediatric care
4–12 weeks public
Specialist wait
$848/mo
Childcare
full-day
$2347/mo

Sources: OECD PISA 2022 · Wikipedia · Numbeo · official health systems

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
stable
fashionfinanceluxurytech
Industries
active
Startup ecosystem
89/100
Grid reliability
5 yrs
Time to PR
Easy
EU visa
Complex
RU visa
Easy
UA visa
Your partner can also work
Spouse works

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

The Short Version

  • Rent is 5% cheaper in Milan ($1737/mo vs $1821/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Perth (29°C vs 28°C).
  • Perth scores higher on democracy (8.7 vs 7.7 / 10 EIU).
  • English is easier to get by in Perth (95/100 vs 62/100 English proficiency).

Milan vs Perth — Common Questions

Is Milan cheaper than Perth?

Milan is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1737/month in Milan vs $1821/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Milan or Perth?

Milan is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Milan has a rate of 0.55 per 100,000 and Perth has 0.83 per 100,000.

Should I move to Milan or Perth?

Milan and Perth are almost suspiciously well-matched. Flip a coin. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Milan or Perth?

Milan: Italy Digital Nomad Visa (moderate requirements, 1 year (renewable)). Perth: no specific remote work visa. See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Can I live in Milan or Perth without speaking the local language?

English is easier to get by in Perth (EF EPI score: 95/100) than in Milan (62/100). In Perth, daily life and professional settings often work in English. In Milan, learning some of the local language will make long-term settlement significantly smoother.

Don't agree? Take the quiz and see what fits you.

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