Practical Information — Unicollege International

Everything you need for daily life in Italy — climate, cost of living, banking, SIM card, mail and emergencies. A campus-specific orientation booklet is distributed on arrival.

Single emergency number — 112

Dial 112 for police (Carabinieri), State Police, emergency health assistance and fire. One number, 24/7.

Italian climate

Temperate overall, but very different North-to-South. The Alps temper Northern winds; seas keep coasts mild.

0°C

Winter low (campus cities)

35°C

Summer high

Humid

Continental climate

Fog

Winter feature

Campus-by-campus weather

Campus	Climate profile
Florence	Humid continental. Cold winters, hot-humid summers. Occasional snow, heavy fog, moderate rain (drier winter).
Milan	Humid continental. Cold winters, hot-humid summers. Occasional snow, heavy fog, moderate rain.
Turin	Humid continental (NW Italy). Cold winters, hot-humid summers. Occasional snow, characteristic fog.
Mantua	Humid continental (N Italy). Cold winters, hot-humid summers. Occasional snowfall, common fog.

Cost of living snapshot

Plan for € 200–€ 250 cash on arrival for immediate travel and food. Time currency exchange for the best rate; avoid carrying large amounts of cash.

Accommodation

Depends on housing type & city — see monthly ranges below.

Utilities

Electricity, heating, cooling, water, internet.

Groceries

Weekly shop + daily meals.

Transportation

Public transit, occasional taxi, bike share.

Health insurance

Mandatory, budget separately.

Miscellaneous

Social life, personal needs, emergencies.

Accommodation — monthly range by city

City	Monthly range
Florence	€ 400 – 750
Milan	€ 400 – 800
Turin	€ 350 – 700
Mantua	€ 300 – 600

Food — € 150–200/month

Item	Price
Milk	€ 1.20 / L
Bread	€ 4.00 / kg
Butter	€ 1.70 / 250 g
Beef	€ 9.00 – 19.00 / kg
Chicken	€ 8.00 – 10.00 / kg
Rice	€ 1.70 – 2.50 / kg
Pasta	€ 0.80 – 1.20 / kg
Mineral water	€ 0.50 – 1.00 / L

Social life — € 100–200/month

Activity	Price
Cinema	€ 9 – 11
Eating out	€ 20 – 35
Pizza	€ 15 – 20
Fast food menu	€ 6.50
Happy hour	€ 8 – 12
Clubs & bars	€ 10 – 20
Concerts	€ 40 – 50
Private gym	€ 40 – 50 / month
University gym	€ 15 – 20 / month

Transport — € 20–30/month

Public transport ≈ € 22/mo Taxi € 15–20/ride Bike sharing ≈ € 9

Daily-life setup — topic by topic

Five essentials to sort out in your first weeks.

Mobile & SIM

Most modern smartphones support eSIM — activate a plan digitally, even before arriving.

eSIM-ready Prepaid cards Contract plans

Phone sign-up

To activate any Italian SIM or contract you need:

Valid ID / passport Codice fiscale Activation in hours

Bank account

Requirements:

18+ years old Valid ID / passport Codice fiscale Not bankrupt

Banking hours

Typical schedule:

Mon–Fri 08:30–13:30 15:00–16:30

Initial deposit required. You’ll receive IBAN and BIC/SWIFT for international wires.

Mail — Poste Italiane

Open 08:00–13:35 (Milan until 19:05). Stamps also sold at “T” signs (tobacconists / bars). Registered mail only at post offices. Poste Italiane also offers checking accounts and prepaid cards.

www.posteitaliane.it

Currency & cash

Exchange at banks, currency-exchange offices, major stations, airports. Travellers’ checks and foreign currency accepted. € 200–250 cash recommended for arrival.

Useful numbers & related services

Service	Number / info
General emergencies (EU 112)	Police, State Police, health, fire — dial 112
Poste Italiane	posteitaliane.it — mail, banking, prepaid cards
Tobacconists “T”	Stamps, revenue stamps, public transport tickets