Monolocale in Milano
Monolocale in Milano. Needs renovation.
What it really costs
Can you move in?
Livable, but something basic is worn out
In the listingNeeds renovationSee what needs doing and what each job costs
At €55,000 plus an estimated €15,400 renovation, the effective cost is about €3,200/m²—over four times the local comparison level of €767/m². The description is extremely sparse and does not explain features that could justify this premium.
More on the house and the area
This is a real, furnished studio that appears usable rather than an empty shell, but it is extremely compact and visually ordinary. The dated finishes, cramped bathroom, and apparent wall moisture reduce its appeal, with no proven view or character to create a dream-home effect.
Certified wiring, water and drainage, a heat source, a roof that keeps the water out, one working bathroom. Facade, insulation, a second bathroom and the floors wait.
All the services redone, bathrooms, kitchen, windows. The structure is left alone.
Our read of the photos, €700/m², falls in this band.
Turnkey, facade and insulation included.
Materials only, work you may do yourself€4,000 – €8,000
Wiring, water and sanitary work of any kind, heating, air conditioning and gas go to a registered firm by law, and so do flues and the air openings for gas appliances. That labour stays in the bill. Yours is the stripping out, plaster, paint, floors, tiling and carpentry.
Labour is 61% of a renovation price on average and 67% at the median, across 191 items of the Emilia-Romagna 2025 public price list. Materials are the rest. An averaged price list, not a quote.
Materials you buy yourself carry 22% VAT; supplied by the firm doing the work they go at the 10% renovation rate. On a €30,000 materials bill that is €3,600 of extra tax.
Household wiring installed before 13 March 1990 counts as compliant if it has a main breaker with overcurrent protection, protection against direct contact and a 30 mA RCD. Having a firm bring the existing wiring up to that and certify it is the cheapest lawful route.
Bringing a house that has stood empty back into service: new water, sewer and electricity, plus the practices. The same sum on an 80 m² house and on a 300 m² one, which is why a €40,000 house is not a €40,000 project.
Show more
Water 1,800 · sewer 2,500 · electricity 700–1,600 · CILA 1,000 · cadastral filing 500 · structural design 700 · Legge 10 report 900 · safety coordination 1,800
No mains drain: add €2,000–4,500 for a septic tank. Listings never say, so ask.
- Very small 22 sqm studio with a cramped combined living/kitchen layout.
- Interior appears dated and cluttered, with visible moisture or staining around the bathroom.
- Renovation and modernization are likely needed; no notable view, outdoor space, or historic character is shown.
Estimate from the listing and its photos, not a survey. Treat it as the starting point for your own quotes. An Italian builder's quote is normally written without VAT and without design fees, so add about a quarter to any figure a firm gives you.
The area around
Location score 55/100The cluster is inside the built-up area of Milan (population ~1.36 million). The city sits on the flat Po Valley plain; there are no mountains within about 15 km. The Navigli canal system runs through and near central Milan and small urban waterways and irrigation channels are present across the metropolitan area. The Lambro river crosses the eastern suburbs; the Olona river and related streams run through parts of the western/northwestern suburbs. Urban parks within the 15 km radius include Parco Sempione, Boscoincittà, Parco Nord Milano and sections of the Parco Agricolo Sud Milano; the Parco delle Groane lies near the northern edge of the metropolitan area. Milano Linate airport is about 8–10 km from the city centre; Malpensa and Bergamo-Orio al Serio airports are farther (tens of kilometres). Nearest ski lifts are in the Orobic/Bergamo Alps and other Pre-Alpine areas roughly 70–120 km away (about 1–2 hours’ drive depending on traffic). Milan is Lombardy’s regional capital and Italy’s principal rail hub with high-speed connections (Milano Centrale), major trade-fair facilities (Fiera Milano), La Scala opera house, large museums, universities and long-standing roles in finance, industry, fashion and design. The church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (the Last Supper) is a UNESCO World Heritage site within the city.