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Milan Tops 2025 Cost-of-Living List as Naples Cheapest, Codacons Finds

A Codacons analysis using MIMIT price data quantifies wide gaps across 18 cities, indicating services help drive the urban premium.

Overview

  • The mixed basket of goods and services totals €598.95 in Milan versus about €369 in Naples, a 62.3% difference for the same items.
  • Aosta (€586) and Bolzano (€574) follow Milan on overall costs, while Palermo and Catanzaro are among the least expensive for the combined basket.
  • For a 28-item food basket, Catanzaro is cheapest at roughly €165 and Bolzano is priciest at about €220, with Naples and Bari close to Catanzaro on affordability.
  • Price checks show large spreads by item, from a bar sandwich costing €2.7 in Ancona to roughly €5.7–€6 in Milan, and a dental filling priced at €176 in Aosta versus €70 in Naples.
  • Service costs produce some surprises, as Milan is cheapest for laundering and ironing a shirt (about €2.89) and Naples is lowest for hair styling (under €13), while Bolzano leads on cappuccino and car wash prices.