Student accommodation in Milan 2026/27: a room in a home, DSU or a shared flat

What a room in Milan costs in 2026/27, how university DSU housing places work, what the law says about the contract and the deposit, and how to avoid scams.

Updated 14/11/2026 · Gomfy

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What a room costs in Milan as a student

Milan is the most expensive Italian city for students. According to Immobiliare.it Insights data reported by La Nazione on 24 August 2026, a single room in Milan was advertised at an average of €704 a month, the highest among the student cities compared, ahead of Florence (€627), Rome (€615) and Bologna (€585); the Italian average was €575, 6.2% lower than a year earlier. These are asking prices in listings, not signed rents: you can negotiate, and areas well served by the metro cost more.

A room in a host’s home

Living with a host is the easiest way to arrive: the bed is ready, you do not put bills in your name and, if you are learning Italian, you use it every day. Agree beforehand on times, meals, use of the kitchen, visitors and any diet. It is a shared home, not a hotel. If you are coming for a language course, check first whether the school has its own host families; if you are not enrolled at a school, or you want to choose the home and talk to the host first, look for independent hosts.

University residences and the DSU housing service

In Lombardy each university publishes its own right-to-study (DSU) call for scholarships and housing places, based on ISEE, merit and the other requirements of the call. At the Politecnico di Milano, for example, applications for the 2026/27 housing service closed at 12:00 on 5 August 2026 for first-year students and at 12:00 on 21 July for later years. If you do not have a place now, the way forward is a room on the private market, and remember to check your university’s call next summer if you meet the requirements.

Shared flats and the contract

Italian law provides a specific contract for university students (art. 5, paragraph 2, law 431/1998): it applies if you are enrolled on a course in a municipality other than the one where you are resident, and under the 2017 ministerial decree it lasts from six months to three years. Under art. 11 of law 392/1978 the deposit cannot be more than three months’ rent, and it earns legal interest that must be paid to you every year. In any case, check the type of contract you are offered, who registers it and what is included (bills, internet) before paying any money.

When to look

To start in September, look in spring and early summer; for the second semester, in October or November. For short stays and language courses a few weeks’ notice is usually enough.

How to avoid rental scams

Money.it (1 December 2022) lists warning signs that keep coming back:

• the advertiser asks for documents or money before you have even seen the home;
• they say they are abroad and ask for a few months’ rent to send you the keys;
• they ask you to pay with prepaid cards or untraceable services;
• beautiful photos or none at all, a price far below the area, contact only by chat or email and no answer on the phone.

Do not pay before you have seen the room, in person or on a live video call, and keep the conversation on the platform. If you have already paid, call your bank straight away and report it: online to the Polizia Postale (then in person within 48 hours) or to the police or carabinieri.

What Gomfy offers in Milan

To be frank: Gomfy has no host in Milan at the moment, so no listing appears below. Students look for rooms in Milan on Gomfy, and that is why we are looking for hosts in the city. Check the Milan page before you book, because new listings appear there first. On Gomfy you choose your dates, you can talk to the host through Gomfy messages before booking, and the host’s price plus the Gomfy service fee is shown before you book.

Do you live in Milan and have a spare room?

Every year students and language course participants look for a room in a home. On Gomfy you decide who to host, for how long and at what price, and publishing your room is free.

Rooms and host families on Gomfy in Milan

There are no listings in Milan on Gomfy right now. See the nearest options or post your search on our city page.

See all accommodation in Milan

Want to take a course too? Language courses in Milano on LanguageBookings

Frequently asked questions

How much does a room in Milan cost for a student?

According to Immobiliare.it Insights (La Nazione, 24 August 2026), a single room in Milan was advertised at an average of €704 a month, the highest among Italian student cities, against an Italian average of €575. These are asking prices, not signed rents.

Can I get a university housing place in Milan?

In Lombardy each university publishes its own DSU call, based on ISEE, merit and other requirements. At the Politecnico di Milano, applications for 2026/27 closed on 5 August 2026 for first-year students and on 21 July for later years.

How big can the deposit be?

Art. 11 of law 392/1978 says the deposit cannot be more than three months’ rent and earns legal interest that must be paid every year. Check the type of contract you are offered.

How long is a contract for university students?

The student contract (art. 5, paragraph 2, law 431/1998) is for students enrolled in a municipality other than the one where they are resident; under the 2017 ministerial decree it lasts from six months to three years.

How do I spot a rental scam?

Be wary if they ask for documents or money before you see the home, say they are abroad and want rent to send the keys, or ask for payment on prepaid cards. If it happens, report it to the Polizia Postale, the police or the carabinieri.

Other guides

• Student accommodation in Rome 2026/27: a room in a home, DiSCo or a shared flat
• Student accommodation in Florence 2026/27: homestay, DSU or shared flat

Sources

1. La Nazione, single-room rents in university cities, Immobiliare.it Insights data (24 Aug 2026)
2. Politecnico di Milano, DSU 2026/27: application deadlines and rankings (housing service and scholarship)
3. Legge 431/1998, art. 5 (student leases), Brocardi
4. Legge 392/1978, art. 11 (deposit), Brocardi
5. Money.it, rental scams and how to report them to the Polizia Postale (1 Dec 2022)

Prices and rules change: check the source before you decide. Information read on 14/11/2026.