Milan leads Italy with record rental costs as housing crisis expands to Legnano

In the second quarter of 2026 Milan posted an average rental price of €23.3 per square metre, the highest level recorded in Italy. The national average rose 4.2% to €15.4 per square metre, while other major cities saw continued growth – Turin up 4.7%, Bologna 2%, Rome 0.2% and Napoli 0.5%. Milan’s rent levels have stabilised compared with previous quarters, but the market remains the most expensive in the country, putting pressure on families and young people.

In nearby Legnano, average rents stand at about €600 for a two‑room flat, equivalent to €11.95 per square metre, with sale prices around €1,982 per square metre. Local officials and housing experts cite the “Milano inside out” report and data from Idealista to warn of an affordability crisis. The municipal administration has introduced “buoni affitto” vouchers to assist households that earn too much for public housing but cannot afford market rents, and regional authorities are encouraging coordinated super‑municipal housing plans.

Both reports underline a structural imbalance between demand and supply in the Milan metropolitan area, calling for expanded social‑housing measures and price‑moderation policies.