The number of people living alone in Milan has risen by more than 140,000 over the past 25 years, reaching nearly 450,000. Single buyers accounted for 48.5% of purchases at Tecnocasa agencies in the city during the first half of 2026, raising questions about whether buying or renting makes more financial sense.
Milan has gained around 63,000 residents over the past 25 years, but the number of people living alone has grown much faster. According to the latest figures, the number of single-person households increased from 309,216 in 2000 to 449,235 at the end of 2025.
People living alone accounted for 23.1% of Milan’s population in 2000. By the end of 2025, that share had risen to 32.1%. Single-person households also represented 57.5% of the city’s 780,935 registered households, up from 46% a quarter of a century earlier.
The largest concentration of people living alone is in the former Zone 10, covering areas around Viale Monza and Via Padova, with 42,586 residents. Città Studi and Argonne follow with 33,385, while Magenta and Sempione have 31,197. The lowest figures are recorded in Forlanini and Ponte Lambro, with 10,086, followed by Feltre and Cimiano with 10,635.
However, not everyone registered as a one-person household is necessarily single or a potential homebuyer. Excluding people under 25 and those over 65, the number of potential buyers living alone falls to 315,379. Some people in relationships also maintain separate registered residences, including for tax reasons.
Small homes dominate Milan’s property market
The growing number of smaller households is having a direct impact on the housing market. Milan has the smallest average size of homes sold among Italy’s major cities, at 80.5 square metres, compared with 93.6 square metres in Rome. It is also the only major Italian city where properties smaller than 50 square metres account for more than 20% of sales.
A recent report by property agency network Tecnocasa found that single buyers accounted for 48.5% of purchases made through its Milan agencies in the first half of 2026. This was the highest proportion among Italy’s major cities.
Tecnocasa provided a national figure of 47.5% for single renters, but the share in Milan is likely to be higher, partly because of students under 25 who move to the city for education.
Renting may offer greater flexibility
For people living alone, the choice between buying and renting depends largely on their financial circumstances and expectations about the future. The report argues that renting is often the more sensible option, particularly for those who can only afford a small property and would need a mortgage to buy it.
Buying can become less practical if personal circumstances change, such as entering a relationship and needing a larger home. It can also prove less financially attractive if property prices do not rise enough to generate a substantial capital gain.
For many solo residents, renting may therefore provide greater flexibility and, in some cases, prove cheaper than purchasing a property.
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