🛒 1. Popular Supermarkets & Grocery Chains in Italy

Italy has a wide range of budget and premium supermarkets offering fresh produce, packaged foods, bakery items, and international goods.

🛍️ Top Budget-Friendly Chains:

• Eurospin – Cheapest, great for bulk buys → https://www.eurospin.it
• Lidl – Affordable fresh produce and snacks → https://www.lidl.it
• Penny Market – Great for fruits, dairy, and pantry staples → https://www.pennymarket.it

🛍️ Mainstream Supermarkets:

• Coop → https://www.coop.it
• Conad → https://www.conad.it
• Esselunga – Good for quality produce and ready meals → https://www.esselunga.it
• Carrefour Italia – Large hypermarkets in cities → https://www.carrefour.it

💡 Tip: Register for loyalty cards to get discounts and coupons.

🧂 2. Buying Indian, Asian & African Groceries in Italy

For students from South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa, there are many ethnic grocery stores that stock essentials like rice, spices, lentils, frozen foods, and halal meat.

📍 Where to Find Them:

• Rome: Mini Market India, Gandhi Bazaar, Asian Market
• Milan: India Market Milan, Bangla Bazaar, Supermercato Asia
• Bologna: Halal Bazar, Pak Indian Market
• Florence: India Bazaar Firenze, Bangladesh Market

🛒 Online Delivery Stores:

• Spicy World Italy → https://www.spicyworld.it
• Desi Indian Market → https://desimarketitaly.com
• Asian Food Store EU → https://www.asianfoodstore.eu

🧄 Popular products available: Basmati rice, atta (wheat flour), lentils (masoor, moong), pickles, spices, tea, ghee, frozen parathas, Maggi noodles, South Asian snacks.

🍲 3. University Canteens & Mensa Services

Most public universities in Italy offer affordable student canteens (mensa) with subsidized meals through regional agencies like DSU, EDISU, LAZIODISCO, ER-GO.
💰 Meal cost: €3 – €5 for a full meal (starter + main + side + fruit)
📍 Access: Requires student ID and registration with regional student service body

📌 Useful Links:

• Bologna (ER-GO): https://www.er-go.it/index.php?id=2080
• Florence, Pisa, Siena (DSU Toscana): https://www.dsu.toscana.it
• Rome (LAZIODISCO): https://www.laziodisco.it
• Turin (EDISU Piemonte): https://www.edisu.piemonte.it

🍕 4. Eating Out in Italy on a Student Budget

Italy is known for its delicious yet affordable cuisine. Students can enjoy quick bites or full meals at local eateries, pizzerias, and takeaways.

🥪 Cheap Eats:

• Pizza slices (pizza al taglio): €2 – €3
• Panini/Sandwiches: €3 – €5
• Pasta at tavola calda (hot counters): €4 – €6

🍽️ Student-Friendly Restaurant Chains:

• Roadhouse Grill
• Old Wild West
• Spizzico
• Autogrill

🥗 Vegetarian & Halal Options available in major cities (search via HappyCow or Zomato).
💡 Pro Tip: Many cafes offer student discounts or lunch menus (menu del giorno) at fixed prices.

🍱 5. Cooking at Home: Costs & Essentials

Most international students in Italy prefer home-cooked meals to save money and eat healthier.

🧾 Monthly grocery budget: €120 – €180 (cooking 5–6 days/week)
🥘 Basic staples: Pasta, rice, bread, vegetables, chicken, cheese, legumes, milk, eggs, Indian/Asian spices and grains for South Asian cooking.
🔥 Use shared kitchens in dorms or apartments – bring basic cookware or buy locally at IKEA or Eurospin.

📦 6. Online Grocery Delivery Platforms

Don’t want to visit stores often? These platforms deliver groceries to your doorstep:

• Everli – Groceries from local supermarkets → https://www.everli.com
• Carrefour Online → https://www.carrefour.it
• EasyCoop → https://www.easycoop.com
• Amazon Fresh Italy → https://www.amazon.it

💸 Estimated Monthly Food Costs for Students (2025)

Type of Expense	Estimated Cost (€)
Groceries (home cooking)	€120 – €180
Eating out occasionally	€50 – €100
Monthly food total	€150 – €250