Milan the most expensive, Naples the cheapest: here is the map of the cost of living in Italy
Where it pays to go shopping according to the association's analysis of price trends for goods and services in 18 cities
by Enrico Netti
The unenviable record of the most expensive city in Italy goes to Milan, while Naples stands out as the cheapest. These are the two extremes of the cost of living in 2025 according to an analysis by Codacons, which sifted through the price trends of goods and services in 18 capitals.
In Bolzano, one spends more to fill a shopping trolley while one has to travel more than 1,200 kilometres to Catanzaro to find the cheapest one.
As a starting point, the association has created a basket with fruit, vegetables, food and services of all kinds, from dental fillings to dry cleaning and dog grooming. A mix, elaborated by Codacons on data from the Mimit Price Observatory, which in Milan is worth almost EUR 600, 62% more than in Naples.
Among the most expensive cities are also Aosta with EUR 586 and Bolzano with EUR 574.
The podium of the most economical cities sees Naples on the top step with around 369 euro followed by Palermo with 408 euro and Catanzaro with 424 euro. The capital of Calabria takes the encore as the champion city of convenience for food shopping with a trolley of around 165 euro.
