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Countries · Student guide

Italy: guide to moving and studying

The complete guide for international students and young people in Italy

Updated on 24 May 2026

Cost of living
Medium–high

Typical spending band for a student

Language
Italian

Main language to handle day to day

Currency
EUR

Local currency for banking and payments

Entry
EU: no visa

Non-EU: student visa or permit required. EU: local registration only

The 6 guides

Everything about Italy, in 6 guides

One guide for each concrete need, from visas to housing: start with the one you need now.

Start here

What to do first for Italy

Resolve the decisions that can block your move before comparing cities or reading every detail.

Check entry, visa, and document rules Start with eligibility, deadlines, and official procedures for your situation. Check the lease and upfront housing costs Understand deposits, guarantees, contracts, and student housing before paying. Arrange healthcare before arrival Confirm insurance, enrollment rules, and where to get help once you arrive.

Your checklist

Before departure and after arrival in Italy

Use this as an order of work, then open the linked guide before acting on a legal or financial requirement.

  1. Accommodation with residential address (also temporarily registrable)
  2. Appointment at the police station / immigration desk if non-EU
  3. Tax code (Revenue Agency or affiliated branch)
  4. University enrollment + health card application if eligible
  5. Account with Italian or EU IBAN linked
  6. Italian SIM or eSIM; save 112 / 113 / 118
  7. Regional pass or bike sharing subscription if in a big city
Move checklist Plan documents and deadlines step by step

Plan your money

Italy: cost of living, rent, and monthly budget

Start with housing, food, transport, healthcare, and setup costs. Treat estimates as planning ranges and verify local prices before committing.

Open the cost and money guide Use the free cost-of-living calculator

Cities and neighborhoods

Where to live in Italy: student cities and costs

Neighborhoods, rent, universities, transport and safety: everything you need to choose where to move.

Milano
  • from 540 EURroom/month
  • 6universities

Milan is a strong choice for university, work, fashion, design, finance and tech. It is expensive by Italian standards, but offers dense transport, many opportunities and very different neighborhoods.

Open city guideRoma
  • from 420 EURroom/month
  • 8universities

Rome offers the widest university choice in Italy and a strong job market in public administration, media, tourism, research and international organisations. The neighborhoods are very different from each other and transport, although extensive, is less widespread than in Milan: the position in relation to the metro and stations matters more than the name of the neighbourhood.

Open city guideBologna
  • from 420 EURroom/month
  • 5universities

Bologna is the university city par excellence: the Alma Mater (1088) is the oldest in the world and the city is compact, pedestrianized and full of arcades (UNESCO Heritage). It has a solid economy and an excellent railway location, but the very strong student demand makes rents among the highest in Italy.

Open city guideTorino
  • from 350 EURroom/month
  • 5universities

Turin, Italy's first capital and historic car city, is today a large elegant and liveable university center (Polytechnic and University, over 100,000 students). Compact and checkerboard-shaped, it is the only city in the north-west with an automatic metro, it has around 18 km of arcades and significantly lower rents than Milan, with a leading cultural and aperitif scene.

Open city guide

Local context

Italy: what really changes

Use the destination-specific notes to understand trade-offs, common mistakes, and local differences.

Overview

In Italy, bureaucracy weighs heavily depending on region and time, but for EU students many steps are linear. The real commitment is to align your permit (if needed), tax code, registered contract and health card before working or opening complex accounts.

What really changes here

  • Tax code and registered residence: without tax code many contracts and banks become complicated
  • Residence permit for study (extra-EU) with police station appointment - long queues in big cities
  • Rent: 1–3 month deposit, contract registration, bills in the tenant's name
  • Healthcare: SSN/health card after registration — EHIC for EU short stays only
  • Transport: Trenitalia/Italo trains + local passes; Rare car on urban campuses
  • Payments: cards and SEPA bank transfer; cash still used in bars and markets

Ideal if…

  • EU students with Erasmus mobility or degree in Italian/English
  • Those who love cities of art with lower costs in the South or in medium-sized cities
  • Those who accept contracts in Italian with the help of the international office
  • Strong university life (Erasmus, canteens, campus events)

Harder if…

  • You are looking for a studio apartment in Milan/Rome center without guarantor or references
  • You don't speak Italian and you expect quick responses from public offices
  • You want to work immediately without a valid permit or tax code
  • You expect guaranteed campus housing like in the USA
Mistakes to avoid
  • Signing unregistered rent — risks and no valid contract for permit
  • Stay months without a tax code if you work or receive a grant
  • Confusing a tourist permit with a study permit
  • Don't turn over bills and be left with debts to former roommates

Verification

Official sources and last update

Legal and administrative details are kept in the relevant guide so they are not copied out of context.

Where to verify the information

Each topic guide links to the competent official authorities. Always check the rule that applies to your citizenship, residence, purpose, and length of stay.

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