Prices have grown strongly in the last six years: Milan remains the most expensive, Bari leads the increases, while Messina is the cheapest. Record increases especially in cities with large universities
Rental prices for university students accelerate, rocketing out of control. In the last six years the cost of single rooms has grown up to 59% (Immobiliare.it survey), with increases widespread throughout Italy. As the new academic year approaches, thousands of students are preparing to enter an increasingly competitive market, with territorial and social inequalities accentuated by economic capacity which inevitably has an impact on the right to study.
University student rentals out of control: record increases (up to 59%) where the large universities are located
In the period between March 2020 and March 2026, the rental room market experienced record increases. And the imbalance is evident. On the one hand, those looking for a room are finding it increasingly difficult to cover the costs; on the other hand, rents continue to rise precisely as a result of demand, especially in large university centres. Here, in cities with universities with over 40 thousand students, rents for single rooms have increased on average by 41% in six years, exceeding the growth of studio apartments by approximately ten percentage points. Leading the list of increases are Bari (+59%) and Palermo (+55%), followed by Padua and Florence (both +46%). Immediately after come Turin (+45%) and Rome (+40%). Bologna, Naples and Milan also recorded significant increases, of 37%, 36% and 31% respectively. The only exception is Pisa, where growth stops at +16%.
If we look at cities with large and medium-sized universities, the average increase is around 31%, therefore a less intense growth compared to the large poles, but still significant. Cases such as Cagliari stand out, where the increase was 58% and Messina (+46%) and Genoa (+41%). Further behind are Ferrara (+30%), Parma (+29%), Verona (+25%) and Pavia (+20%). Even for these realities, however, the increases in room prices for university students exceed those of studio apartments, which have grown on average by 22%.
University students: the most expensive and cheapest cities for a room
There are territorial differences in the increases. Milan confirms itself as the most expensive city for students, with an average rent of 729 euros per month for a single room. Followed by Florence (625 euros), Rome (609 euros) and Bologna (599 euros). Padua closes the top five with 490 euros, already at a significant distance from the top positions. The cheapest, on the other side of the ranking, are Messina and Catania which, with an average of 284 euros per month, are the only ones under the 300 euro threshold. Immediately after are Perugia (300 euros), Palermo (309 euros) and Udine (310 euros).
