Utility Bills Cost in a Milan Apartment: Electricity, Gas, Water and Condo Fees Explained
In a shared flat with two or three people, utility bills cost in a Milan apartment around €60–120 per person per month; if you live alone in a studio (monolocale), budget €90–160 per month. That makes bills the second-biggest fixed cost after rent, and the reason the phrase spese incluse ("expenses included") in every listing deserves a proper question before you sign.
Below are the individual items with realistic ranges, plus eight steps to assess any apartment.
What makes up utility bills cost in a Milan apartment
| Item | Typical cost (flat for 2–3 people) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity (luce) | €50–110 per month | Higher with induction hobs and air conditioning |
| Gas (heating + hot water, individual boiler) | €40–140 in winter, €10–25 in summer | December to February are the heavy months |
| Water (acqua) | €15–35 per month | Usually included in the condo fees |
| Fibre internet | €25–35 per month | Milan has excellent fibre coverage |
| Condo fees (spese condominiali) | €60–150 per month; €120–280 with central heating | Cleaning, lift, concierge, water |
| TARI (waste tax) | €120–250 per year | Based on floor area and occupants |
| TV licence (canone RAI) | Around €90 per year | Charged through the electricity bill if there is a TV; check the current amount on the official tax agency website |
Step 1 — Ask what "spese incluse" actually covers
It is not a standard formula. It can mean three different things: everything included (utilities plus condo fees), condo fees only, or a flat monthly amount (often €50–80 per person) with a balancing payment at the end of the year. Get the answer in writing.
Step 2 — Find out the heating system
This single item swings the total more than anything else. With riscaldamento autonomo (your own boiler) you pay only what you use, but the winter gas bill lands on you. With riscaldamento centralizzato (building-wide heating) the cost appears inside your condo fees, usually split by shares or thermostatic valves.
Milan sits in climate zone E, so the heating season runs roughly from 15 October to 15 April with a daily limit on operating hours. The expensive months are predictable.
Step 3 — Check the energy class and the windows
During the viewing, look at: double or single glazing? A modern condensing boiler or an old one? Top floor or sandwiched between heated flats? A renovated two-room flat near Bicocca or Lambrate can easily cost €40–60 less per month in gas than an identical uninsulated one.
Step 4 — Request past bills
Ask the landlord or agency for the last 12 months of bills, or at minimum the January one. It is the most honest data point you can get, and no serious landlord minds the question.
Step 5 — Decide whose name goes on the contracts
- In the landlord's name: you reimburse them. Simple for short stays, but you have less control.
- Transferred to you (voltura): you need a codice fiscale (Italian tax code) and a registered lease. You get better tariff choice, but remember to close the accounts when you leave.
Step 6 — Photograph the meters on move-in day
Electricity, gas and, if present, the heat cost allocator. Dated photos stop you from paying for the previous tenant's consumption. Do the same if you are taking over a single room in an already occupied flat.
Step 7 — Set aside a fixed amount every month
The practical trick: put aside €90 per person per month even in summer, when you may only spend €40. By January, when the gas bill doubles, the hit is already covered. The same logic applies to the condo balancing charge, which usually arrives in spring.
Step 8 — Cut consumption without freezing
- Keep the thermostat at 19–20 °C; every degree lower makes a measurable difference.
- Run the washing machine at 30 °C and full, ideally in the evening or at weekends if you have a time-of-use tariff.
- Milan summers are humid: 26 °C plus the dehumidifier mode usually beats blasting the AC.
- Compare electricity and gas offers on ARERA's official offers portal before signing a supply contract.
Three typical scenarios
- A room in a three-person flat with central heating: €70–100 per person per month as a yearly average.
- Two-room flat shared by two, own boiler: €60–120 each, peaking in January.
- Studio on your own: €90–160 per month, because fixed costs are not split with anyone.
In "all inclusive" listings, a flat fee of €60–80 per person is in line with the market; above €100 each, ask how it was calculated. You can compare these formulas across our rooms and apartments for rent in Milan, including homes near Politecnico and options near Bocconi.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays the condo fees, tenant or landlord?
As a rule, ordinary expenses (cleaning, lift, water, central heating) fall on the tenant, while extraordinary works are the landlord's responsibility. The split must be written in the contract, so read that clause before signing.
What is a "conguaglio" and when does it arrive?
It is the reconciliation between the advance payments you made and your actual consumption. For the building it usually comes after the annual accounts are approved, often in spring; for electricity and gas, when the supplier records real meter readings.
Is a bills-included rent worth it?
Yes, if the flat fee is realistic and the contract states clearly there will be no extra reconciliation. It makes budgeting predictable, which is especially useful for a short Erasmus stay.
Do international students have to pay TARI?
TARI is charged to whoever occupies the property, so it often lands on the tenant, but the arrangement depends on your contract and residency status. Check the current rules on the City of Milan's official website.
If you want a clear picture of the monthly costs before committing, browse our available student housing in Milan or send us your dates and budget through the contact page.
