Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Milton Keynes and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,210 a month against $2,516 in Milton Keynes, rent and utilities included – about $3,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Lisbon, Portugal
Milton Keynes
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,516
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Milton Keynes and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Milton Keynes and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,516 in Milton Keynes versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

  • Milton Keynes $2,516
  • Lisbon $2,210

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,566 in Milton Keynes versus $3,275 in Lisbon.

  • Milton Keynes $3,566
  • Lisbon $3,275

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,616 in Milton Keynes versus $4,341 in Lisbon.

  • Milton Keynes $4,616
  • Lisbon $4,341

Living in Milton Keynes is roughly 14% more expensive than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Milton Keynes 85% above, Lisbon 62% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Milton Keynes
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.12 £15.01
$16.65 €14.87
20.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.8 £64.7
$61.7 €55.2
40.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.62 £8.67
$11.36 €10.14
2.29%
Cappuccino
$4.65 £3.47
$2.97 €2.65
56.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 £1.43
$2.29 €2.04
-16.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 £0.86
$1.74 €1.56
-33.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.70 £5.00
$3.40 €3.04
97.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.04 £4.50
$3.31 €2.96
82.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Milton Keynes
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 £1.23
$1.16 €1.03
42.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 £1.13
$1.91 €1.71
-20.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.78 £2.07
$1.51 €1.35
84.11%
Eggs
$3.93 £2.93
$4.02 €3.59
-2.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 £6.42
$12.94 €11.56
-33.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.62 £6.43
$7.77 €6.94
10.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 £9.77
$17.76 €15.86
-26.24%
Apples (1kg)
$3.25 £2.42
$2.30 €2.06
41.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 £1.11
$1.73 €1.55
-13.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.54 £1.90
$1.86 €1.66
36.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.77 £2.06
$2.59 €2.31
6.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 £1.39
$1.82 €1.63
2.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.57 £1.17
$1.97 €1.76
-20.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 £0.95
$1.47 €1.31
-13.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 £1.02
$0.72 €0.65
88.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.91 £17.83
$6.58 €5.88
263.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.08 £6.77
$5.61 €5.01
61.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.72 £2.03
$1.36 €1.22
100.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 £1.75
$2.14 €1.91
9.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Milton Keynes
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.96 £2.95
$2.33 €2.08
69.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.8 £63.2
$44.68 €39.91
89.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.07 £3.78
$3.85 €3.44
31.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 £1.11
$1.07 €0.96
39.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.89 £17.81
$16.46 €14.70
45.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 £1.49
$2.20 €1.97
-9.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K £28.9K
$34.2K €30.5K
13.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.5K £30.2K
$38.7K €34.6K
4.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Milton Keynes
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$310 £231
$161 €144
92.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.55 £10.85
$18.41 €16.44
-20.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.97 £30.55
$32.74 €29.24
25.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Milton Keynes
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.11 £26.93
$44.55 €39.79
-18.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.67 £14.67
$19.10 €17.06
2.98%
Cinema Ticket
$23.79 £17.74
$9.60 €8.57
147.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Milton Keynes
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,264 £1,688
$668 €596
239.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.6K £16.9K
$17.6K €15.7K
28.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Milton Keynes
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$114 £84.7
$102 €91.1
11.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.99 £29.82
$44.46 €39.72
-10.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.9 £58.9
$98.5 €88.0
-19.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.4 £70.4
$124 €110
-23.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Milton Keynes
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,578 £1,177
$1,608 €1,437
-1.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,214 £906
$1,190 €1,063
2.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,345 £1,749
$2,812 €2,512
-16.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,776 £1,325
$2,013 €1,798
-11.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,149 £5,331
$7,839 €7,002
-8.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,640 £4,206
$4,576 €4,087
23.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Milton Keynes
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,459 £2,580
$1,575 €1,407
119.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.67
3.85
21.30%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Milton Keynes: October 26, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Milton Keynes
$1.2K
Lisbon
$1.2K 2% $24
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Milton Keynes
$365
Lisbon
$212 41.8% $153
Eating Out
Milton Keynes
$309
Lisbon
$243 21.6% $67
Groceries & Markets
Milton Keynes
$283
Lisbon
$272 3.6% $10
Clothing & Footwear
Milton Keynes
$147
Lisbon
$166 12.8% $19
Getting Around
Milton Keynes
$113
Lisbon
$63 44.1% $50
Sport & Entertainment
Milton Keynes
$84
Lisbon
$64 23.8% $20

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,578 in Milton Keynes and $1,608 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Milton Keynes pays about 2.2 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $87 in Milton Keynes vs $62 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $272 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇧 Milton Keynes
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
05:24 5:24 AM
05:24 5:24 AM
Same time as Milton Keynes
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
229,941
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to GBP – British Pound Converter

British Pound exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 0.746 GBP (1 GBP = 1.34 USD). 1 EUR = 0.836 GBP (1 GBP = 1.2 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 0.893 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Milton Keynes Lisbon 1,620 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Milton Keynes
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Milton Keynes vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Milton Keynes and in Lisbon?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,516 in Milton Keynes and $2,210 in Lisbon, so Lisbon is about 12% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Milton Keynes or Lisbon?
Average pay in Milton Keynes is about 2.2 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Milton Keynes and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,578 in Milton Keynes versus $1,608 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Milton Keynes and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $2,264 in Milton Keynes versus $668 in Lisbon. 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.
How far does $3,000 go in Milton Keynes compared to Lisbon?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Lisbon gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Milton Keynes and Lisbon?
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 Milton Keynes or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Milton Keynes and Lisbon are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
How do I decide between Milton Keynes and Lisbon?
It comes down to priorities – Lisbon wins on affordability, Milton Keynes on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Milton Keynes vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?