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Mohamed Oun
Milan
#122 of 124
Europe

Milan

Italy

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Milan compare to Lagos?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Milan is 272% better off vs in Lagos

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Milan compared to Lagos, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$41,272
+$37K (+952%) vs Lagos
Based on 601 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$25,754
+$23K (+698%) vs Lagos
Tax Rate: 38%

Community Insights

New

Milan offers a distinct lifestyle-first proposition that clashes with the typical software engineer's goal of high financial return. While it is the economic engine of Italy, the tech salaries do not scale to match the soaring cost of living, leaving many engineers with low purchasing power. The city excels in cultural vibrancy, food, and connectivity to the rest of Europe, making it a fun place to live if money isn't the primary driver. However, residents constantly battle severe air pollution, a hostile housing market, and legendary bureaucratic friction.

Resident Sentiment

The sentiment is bittersweet. Expats and transplants often fall in love with the social life and beauty of Italy but express deep frustration with the financial reality. A common theme is the feeling of 'treading water'—working hard but saving little. Many view Milan as a temporary chapter to enjoy their 20s or 30s before moving to a country with better wages and family support systems.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to Lagos.

Rankings

Community Events

Top 14%

#17

of 124 cities

10 events on luma

Current value

Comfortable Weather

Middle of the pack

#47

of 124 cities

48/100 weather score

Current value

Cost of Living

Bottom 31%

#87

of 124 cities

60/100

Current value (lower is better)

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Milan compared to Lagos?

Avg. Property Price
$7,938 / m²
209% more expensive than Lagos
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Milan to maintain the same standard of living.

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Cost of Living
115% more expensive than Lagos
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Milan

Intesa Sanpaolo logo
Intesa Sanpaolo
Reply logo
Reply
Capgemini logo
Capgemini

The Good

  • Rich Cultural Lifestyle: Access to world-class food, fashion events, and the famous aperitivo culture which facilitates socializing.
  • Strategic Location: Excellent travel hub with high-speed trains to Rome/Florence and proximity to lakes (Como, Garda) and Alps for weekend getaways.
  • Public Transportation: Comprehensive and generally reliable network of metros, trams, and buses, reducing the need for a car.
  • English-Friendly Socials: A large and active expat community makes it relatively easy to find English-speaking social circles compared to smaller Italian cities.
  • Healthcare: Access to the high-quality Lombardy regional healthcare system, which is practically free or very low cost.

The Bad

  • Low Purchasing Power: Salaries for engineers are stagnant and low compared to the high cost of living, resulting in very little savings at the end of the month.
  • Housing Crisis: The rental market is described as a nightmare; finding an apartment is extremely competitive, expensive, and fraught with scams and older, poorly maintained buildings.
  • Air Pollution: Milan consistently ranks as having some of the worst air quality in Western Europe due to its geography in the Po Valley.
  • Bureaucracy: Obtaining necessary documents (Permesso di Soggiorno, tessera sanitaria) is a slow, complex, and frustrating process involving long queues and unclear rules.
  • Tech Scene Structure: The job market is dominated by consultancy firms (Body Rental) which are often associated with lower pay and higher stress compared to product-based tech companies.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

Engineers who prioritize lifestyle and culture over savings. It is ideal for junior developers looking for their first EU role, individuals with a local partner, or those already wealthy enough to enjoy the city's amenities without relying solely on a local salary. People who love fashion, design, and travel will find the trade-offs worth it.

Skip it if...

Senior engineers focused on FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) or maximizing savings, as the income-to-rent ratio is poor. People sensitive to air quality or those with respiratory issues should avoid it. Developers expecting a Silicon Valley or London style innovative tech scene will likely be disappointed by the prevalence of traditional consultancy work.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather4.8/10+220% vs Lagos
Safety47+49%
Pollution68-24%
Events10+67%
4.8/10TechCities weather score vs 1.5/10 in Lagos

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
18°C(vs 31°C in Lagos)
Average Low
9°C(vs 25°C in Lagos)
Sunshine Hours
1,915h/yr+70h/yr
Hottest Month High
29°C(vs 33°C in Lagos)
Coldest Month Low
-1°C(vs 24°C in Lagos)
Rainy Days
86/yr-47/yr(-36%)

Community & Quality

Milan community pulse

Milan has 10 Luma events listed.

67% more events than Lagos.

Safety Index

Bottom 30%

#88

of 124 cities

46.5/100

Current value

Pollution Score

Bottom 24%

#96

of 124 cities

67.7/100

Current value (lower is better)

Tax Rate

Bottom 21%

#99

of 124 cities

38%

Current value (lower is better)

Net Income

Bottom 20%

#101

of 124 cities

$25,754/yr

Current value

Home Affordability

Bottom 6%

#118

of 124 cities

≈24.7 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Purchasing Power

Bottom 3%

#122

of 124 cities

SWE Affordability
24.7 years
39.1 years quicker than Lagos
Muggy Days
34/yr-322/yr(-90%)
Cloud Cover
43%(vs 71% in Lagos)