How much does a day in Milan cost: budget for hotel, food and tickets

A single metro ticket costs €2.20, while a 24-hour pass comes to €7.60 (as of 09/2026, official ATM website).

Planning expenses here is harder than in other cities in Italy. The daily cost depends heavily on the neighborhood, the season, and the exhibition calendar: during Fashion Week, a night in the center can cost several times more.

Below you'll find prices for hotels, food, tickets, and transport that we verified in September 2026. We've added three ready-made daily budget scenarios so you can pick yours and avoid overpaying.

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How much a day in Milan costs

💡 In short:

• Budget scenario: by our rough estimate, €70-90 per day, including a night outside the center and a 24-hour ATM pass.
• Comfort scenario: €120-180 with a hotel in the center, dinner, and a couple of tickets.
• Luxury scenario: from €250 with a design hotel, taxis, and restaurants.

A daily budget in Milan rests on three items: lodging, food, and tickets. Transport barely affects the total if you walk and use a 24-hour pass.

Hotel: how much a night in Milan costs

Milan isn't expensive on its own, but because of location. A night steps from the cathedral and a night near a metro station 15 minutes from the center differ in price by almost half.

The old center has few rooms, so a mid-range hotel here is noticeably pricier than one near a metro stop outside the center. Current prices by date and neighborhood are easy to compare on Trip.com.

• Budget: the city's lower price tier, simple hotels and apartments in neighborhoods with metro access.
• Mid-range: the middle price tier, boutique hotels and lodging near the most famous streets.
• Luxury: the upper price tier, design hotels with cathedral views.

The fastest way to save significantly per night: move a few metro stops from the center. Same room, different line, different bill.

Important: prices spike during Fashion Week and major trade fairs at Fiera Milano. If your dates overlap with the event calendar, book early.

Food and drinks: how much a meal costs

At the bar counter, an espresso costs the least, and that's exactly how Milanese locals drink it. A cappuccino averages €1.87 (as of 09/2026, Numbeo). The moment you sit at a table on a piazza, the price rises noticeably.

Lunch at an inexpensive restaurant averages €21, while a three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant averages €82.50 without drinks (as of 09/2026, Numbeo). An aperitivo with a glass and buffet costs less than dinner and often replaces it. Food-focused evenings are easy to find on GetYourGuide.

Want to save on food without losing flavor? Head to the canal neighborhoods in the evening and order an aperitivo: the buffet portions often cover dinner entirely.

Tickets and admission prices

Tickets are sold for specific time slots, so without a reservation you lose hours in lines. Keep this in mind when planning your day.

Milan Cathedral terraces: climbing the stairs costs €16, taking the elevator €18, and a skip-the-line ticket €28. A reduced ticket comes to €8, €9, or €14 (as of 09/2026, official cathedral website).

Entry to the cathedral itself is sold as a separate ticket and costs less than the rooftop climb. Combined packages also include the museum and the archaeological area beneath the square.

A ticket to Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper starts at €15, and booking is mandatory. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8:15 AM to 7:00 PM, with last entry at 6:45 PM (as of 09/2026, official museum website).

Museum and gallery admission is usually in the low double digits; check the museum's website for current prices. Timed-entry tickets are easy to get on Tiqets.

There is also a free option: on the first Sunday of the month, city museums are open with no admission fee (as of 09/2026, Comune di Milano).

Getting around: metro, tram, taxi

The Milan metro is cheap by European standards. A single ride costs €2.20 and is valid for 90 minutes, a 24-hour pass costs €7.60, a 3-day pass costs €15.50, and a carnet of 10 rides costs €19.50 (as of 09/2026, ATM).

Children under 14 ride free; you just need to show an ID. Tickets are sold at metro vending machines, tobacco kiosks, and in the transit operator's app.

The center is walkable: from Milan Cathedral to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II it is about 200 m, and to La Scala about 400 m, or a 5-6 minute walk (based on the map).

Take a taxi in the evening or when you have luggage: the base fare eats up the budget of a short ride. Getting to Milano Centrale station is cheaper by metro; from Duomo it is four stops on line M3.

© Fred Romero from Paris, France · CC BYPhoto: Fred Romero from Paris, France, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

How to save: editorial checklist

Putting together an affordable trip to Milan is easy if you keep five rules in mind.

• Book your hotel early and avoid Fashion Week dates and trade fairs at Fiera Milano.
• Buy 24-hour metro passes if you plan to take four or more rides a day.
• Replace dinner with aperitivo: you pay less than for a restaurant dinner and get a local habit for free.
• Plan museum visits for the first Sunday of the month, when admission is free.
• Book Last Supper tickets several weeks before your trip.

A comfortable middle ground for the city looks like this: a hotel 10-15 minutes from the cathedral, lunch from the daily menu, and one paid tour per day.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does a day in Milan cost on average?

According to our rough estimate, a budget day costs €70-90 per person. All three scenarios are laid out in the "How much does a day in Milan cost" section.

Is dining out in Milan expensive?

Aperitivo with a buffet often replaces dinner and costs less than a restaurant. Prices for coffee, lunch, and dinner are collected in the "Food and drinks: how much does lunch cost" section.

Do I need to book tickets in advance?

Yes, admission is sold for a specific time slot. Booking is mandatory for the Last Supper; tickets start at €15 and sell out weeks ahead. The Milan Cathedral terraces are also easier to book in advance: a skip-the-line ticket costs €28.

When are Milan museums free?

On the first Sunday of the month, Milan's city museums are open with no admission fee (Comune di Milano, 09/2026). This is the best day for free galleries, but lines on those dates are longer than usual. Book your entry time online and arrive at opening.

How much does the metro cost, and is a 24-hour pass worth it?

A 24-hour pass pays for itself after just four rides in a day. All ATM fares are collected in the "Getting around: metro, tram, taxi" section.

In short: what to book

Milan is an expensive city only at first glance. A cheap day here comes together from aperitivo, the metro, and free museums, while a comfortable one comes from a central hotel and timed-entry tickets.

If you are on a short trip: book a hotel 10-15 minutes from the cathedral and terrace tickets in advance. If you are planning a food-focused day: look for evening neighborhood tours and keep aperitivo as a backup. If you are going to a trade fair: book your accommodation months ahead.

Putting the trip together is easy in two steps: compare hotels on Trip.com and get timed-entry museum tickets.

Excursions and evening formats are available on GetYourGuide.