| |
Submitted by an expat woman living in Milan, Italy
|
|
| City: |
Milan |
| Country: |
Italy |
| Submitter's Name: |
Emma |
| Nationality: |
United Kingdom |
| Arrival Date: |
January 2006 |
| Date Submitted: |
September 23, 2007 |
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Milan is a commercial city in the north of Italy and is home to most of the countries major industry and economy. As such it lacks much of the romanticism, warmth and cultural interest of many of the regional towns. The city's proximity to the Italian Alps and Ligurian riviera provide fairly easy access for its over-worked inhabitants to escape the smog at weekends, and for those who remain, the nightlife is elegant, designer, and expensive. Summer in the city is hot and humid, whilst winters are generally cold and dry. |
|
|
|
|
|
Whilst the work situation in Italy is not great, Milan provides the best opportunities for professionals, being at the heart of the country's economy. Fashion is big business here, as is the textile industry. In recent years, a heavy influx of immigration (legal and not quite so) has created a fairly multi-cultural environment, although integration in the Italian community can prove difficult. With fashion and personal aesthetics very high on the agenda, if you're not carrying a Gucci bag, you might as well stay at home!
Crime is evident as in any major European cities, and its extent is very much dependant on the area. Women will find that they are not harassed quite as much in Milan as they might be further south, although if you look 'foreign' you are likely to attract a certain amount of attention.
|
|
|
|
|
European citizens can enter the country, live and work without applying for any sort of permit, although you are required to register your residency with the local council. If you are not a European citizen, the work / residence permit requires a lot of paperwork, time and patience.. |
| |
|
|
|
|
Property in Milan is expensive - whether you rent or buy. To rent a one-bedroomed apartment in a residential area of the city, you can expect to pay around 1000 euros per month. Prices become extortionate the closer you get to the city centre. For this reason, many people chose to live outside the city and commute in on a daily / weekly basis to work. It is important to check what is included in your contract when you rent a property i.e. are you expected to pay all bills / condominuim fees on top of the basic cost? When purchasing, make sure you use a recognised Estate Agent and refer all paperwork to a lawyer, as the process is complex and new laws / regulations seem to creep in on an almost daily basis. |
|
|
| |
|
|
Many city-centre residents take advantage of the cheap labour provided by the immigrant population, who provide household assitance. Cleaners tend to charge around 10 euros per hour. |
|
|
|
|
|
There is an abundance of telephone points across the city who provide international calls at reasonable rates. The major mobile companies are TIM (Telecom Italia Mobile), Vodafone and WIND. Tariffs depend on your requirements and use. Service is generally good. The best coverage tends to be on Vodafone, which works out at slightly more expensive than the other providers.
Internet provision is expensive, and not all providers are available throughout the area. You can expect to pay around 40 euros per month for unlimited broadband (ADSL) use.
SKY television provides international programming, with news and entertainment channels from across Europe, the US and more for around 30 euros per month. International newspapers and magazines are widely available, mostly in the city centre.
The postal service is fairly hit and miss. Mail arriving from abroad tends to take less time to make its journey than mail which is posted in Milan - the reasons are unknown. It is always a good idea to take out some sort of basic insurance on your mail prior to sending it (available at any post office). |
| |
|
| |
|
|
If you wish to work in Milan, you must speak good Italian.
The exception is if you intend to work as an English teacher, in which case it is often desirable but not necessarily obligatory. English language schools are very popular, and there are many throughout the city. Likewise, if you are interested in learning Italian, there are wide opportunities, although courses can be quite expensive. Italians are notoriously bad at learning foreign languages, although the younger generations are increasingly keen to learn and pratice English, so even if you don't understand Italian, you are likely to survive at least from a social point of view. |
|
|
|
|
Tap water is safe to drink but very hard and contains large amounts of limescale. For this reason, bottled water is recommended, even for the local population. All habitable dwellings in the city are connected to the main supply. Gas and electricity are reasonably priced, again depending on your usage and the way in which your property is connected. Many properties have electric water heaters in the bathroom, which tend to be more expensive than the gas-fired version. Most apartment buildings have centralised heating, the cost of which is covered by your condominium fees. |
|
|
|
|
|
The unemplyment rate is high in Italy, even for skilled workers and graduates. It is a good idea to look for a job from your home country, perhaps through an organisation which has an office in Milan, as the local job market is extremely competitive. Salaries are low when you take into account the cost of living, and intern contracts are very widespread, which means a low wage and no paid holiday, maternity leave, sickness etc. |
|
|
|
|
|
The local currency is the euro. Banking is expensive - you can expect to pay up to 30 euros per month just to keep your bank account open if you are non-resident, and around 10 euros per month if you are a resident. Each operation is charged, and opening times are limited. You can therefore easily spend half an hour queuing just to pay in a cheque. To open a bank account you need a tax code, which is fairly easy to get and involves a trip to the local tax office to 'sign up'. This code will then be required in order to do just about anything.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Once you have applied for residency, you can choose a doctor. If you do not have a resident's permit, and are not European you will need to go privately, which can be very costly. As a European citizen you can use your country's reciprocal agreement, which usually requires a small cost.
In order to choose a doctor you need to visit your local health office (ASL). Medical care is good, but is it difficult to make an appointment to see the doctor, as most tend to work with the 'turn up and wait in line'
system. This can mean spending several hours in the waiting room, depending on how many people arrived before you. Doctors do not have receptionists, and many do not take telephone calls. Milan has several large hospitals, where the quality of care is generally good, but expect a poor 'bedside manner' from virtually every healthcare professional that you meet! |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
The traffic situation in Milan is chaotic. Public transport can be good, but there are frequent strikes. Driving is erratic and many of the road systems are complex and confusing. The metro connects most of the city, although is fairly grubby and closes at around 11pm. |
|
|
|
|
Shopping is king in Milan. Designer items are widely available, and costs can be very high. The major 'high street' stores provide decent quality at reasonable prices. Major department chains are 'Rinascente' and 'Coin'. Rinascente tends to be fairly expensive but is enormous and provides a wide variety of products. Likewise, hair stylists and beauty salons are easy to find and can be reasonably priced if you avoid the city centre. |
|
|
|
|
|
The Milanese are crazy about two teams: Milan and Inter. Never at the same time however. These are the city's football teams, both to be found at the San Siro stadium. For non - sporting entertainment, there is a wide range of bars, restaurants and cafès. The 'coolest' areas are Brera (just north of the centre) and Navigli (on the river, to the south of the city). Milan's large student population tend to congregate around the Navigli, whilst Brera is reserved for the Gucci bag clan. |
|
|
|
|
| No information supplied.. |
|
|
|
|
Useful Resources: Expats in Italy provides a wide range of information, with a forum for users' input: My personal blog provides a humorous, honest insight into city life: |
|
|
|
|
When it comes to living in Milan, the best philosophy to adopt is (strangely enough) "When in Rome....". There is much about the city that could be improved, but if you are willing to just go with the flow and accept the things that you cannot change, only then can you enjoy the city at its best.
See too: |
|
|
|
|
City Description
Healthcare
