🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $2,501 in Milton Keynes.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $3,654 in Milton Keynes.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $4,807 in Milton Keynes.
🌍Living in Lisbon costs roughly 8% less than in Milton Keynes, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Milton Keynes83% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Milton Keynes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.33
$19.94£14.90
-11.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$89.4£66.8
-29.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.10
$11.71£8.75
-1.11%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$4.80£3.58
-35.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$1.85£1.39
34.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$1.17£0.88
48.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$6.67£4.99
-47.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$6.05£4.52
-43.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Milton Keynes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.68£1.25
-31.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$1.54£1.15
24.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$2.83£2.12
-47.00%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$4.11£3.07
-3.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.59
$8.50£6.35
56.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$9.13£6.82
-12.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.73
$13.02£9.73
38.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$3.41£2.55
-31.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$1.48£1.10
18.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$2.57£1.92
-28.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$2.83£2.11
-9.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$1.88£1.41
-2.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.63£1.22
28.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$1.24£0.92
20.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$1.43£1.07
-42.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.19
$24.09£18.01
-70.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$9.44£7.05
-37.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$2.75£2.06
-52.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$2.46£1.84
-13.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Milton Keynes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$4.02£3.00
-41.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.63
$74.0£55.3
-37.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$4.98£3.72
-18.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$1.46£1.09
-21.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.90
$23.86£17.83
-28.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$2.05£1.53
12.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$39.1K£29.2K
-12.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.1K
$40.9K£30.6K
1.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Milton Keynes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$311£232
-45.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.85
$14.87£11.11
29.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.21
$41.12£30.73
-18.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Milton Keynes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.57
$37.63£28.12
29.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.94
$20.16£15.07
-3.62%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$24.02£17.95
-60.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Milton Keynes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€607
$1,886£1,410
-63.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$22.5K£16.8K
-22.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Milton Keynes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.8
$117£87.2
-9.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.62
$40.31£30.13
18.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$81.4£60.8
23.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$98.8£73.9
25.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Milton Keynes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,449
$1,489£1,113
11.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$1,258£940
-0.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,584
$2,502£1,869
18.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,786
$1,955£1,461
4.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,829
$7,516£5,616
4.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,892
$6,462£4,829
-30.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Milton Keynes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,422
$3,396£2,538
-51.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
4.67
-19.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Milton Keynes: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $1,489 in Milton Keynes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Milton Keynes pays 108% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $89.0 in Milton Keynes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $289 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Lisbon vs Milton Keynes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Milton Keynes?
Lisbon and Milton Keynes differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $2,501 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 108% lower in Milton Keynes. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Milton Keynes?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $1,489 in Milton Keynes. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Milton Keynes?
Childcare runs $696 in Lisbon versus $1,886 in Milton Keynes. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Milton Keynes. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,296 in Lisbon versus $2,501 in Milton Keynes, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Milton Keynes. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Milton Keynes?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Milton Keynes safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Milton Keynes are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Milton Keynes?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Milton Keynes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.