Milan - Post Report Question and Answers
What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Our housing is centrally located, large and very nice, though not super modern. We have a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom flat for our family of 3. Most of the consulate families live within walking distance to work, some live a bit further out. I think the longest commutes are 20-30 minutes. - Jun 2018
Spacious apartment in the center of town. Most apartments are spacious and within a 15 min walking radius to the consulate. Some are modern, and many are old. Our apartment is in an 1930's building, another apartment is part of an old palazzo. - Sep 2016
Milan is very urban. Good urban in my opinion. All USG housing is urban apartments near the Consulate. If you like urban living, you will like it here. If you like suburban living, then if you are with the USG you are out of luck. If you are not with the USG, you can find places on the outskirts of the city that are less urban, but don't expect a picket fence and nice yard. USG housing is good and getting better. Generally 2 or 3 beds if you are a single or a couple. 3 or 4 if you have kids. Parking garages are not always in the building you live in, but a short walk away. Remember this is an urban environment - noise is a common complaint. Otherwise, people seem pretty happy with the housing. - Aug 2013
Rent is VERY expensive in Milan. Fortunately, USG employees have their housing provided for them. All employees live in apartments. Some are nicer than others, but all are more than adequate. I had a terrific apartment with an unexpectedly large kitchen and lots of storage space (unusual for Italy). Most USG apartments had more storage than the Italian norm. Most USG employees had a walking commute of 10 minutes or less. A few families lived farther from the consulate, but still in the center of the city. They often used public transportation to get to work. - Jun 2010
Almost entirely apartments. We live about 10 minutes outside the city, in the suburbs. More space, more green, more quiet. - Dec 2008
Most housing is adaquate in size. Most do not have closets and very small balconies. There is no grass to speak of. Marble or hardwood is very common for flooring and wall A/C units are the norm. - Jan 2008
