Cost of Living Comparison Between Milton and LisbonCost of Living Comparison Between Milton and Lisbon
Monthly Cost of Living
πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $3,044 in Milton versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,159 in Milton versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,275 in Milton versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
πLiving in Milton is roughly 38% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Milton127% above, Lisbon65% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Milton
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.65CA$20.29
$15.91β¬13.69
-7.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.4CA$100
$64.8β¬55.7
11.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.96CA$17.95
$10.51β¬9.04
23.31%
Cappuccino
$3.86CA$5.34
$2.87β¬2.47
34.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23CA$4.48
$2.24β¬1.93
44.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50CA$3.46
$1.50β¬1.29
66.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.00CA$11.08
$3.49β¬3.00
129.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.40CA$7.48
$3.88β¬3.34
39.18%
π Groceries & Markets
Milton
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.50CA$3.47
$1.14β¬0.98
119.30%
White Bread(500g)
$2.61CA$3.61
$1.75β¬1.51
49.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.55CA$6.30
$1.76β¬1.51
158.52%
Eggs
$3.47CA$4.81
$3.22β¬2.77
7.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.61CA$9.15
$13.49β¬11.61
-51.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$29.96CA$41.49
$7.91β¬6.81
278.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.04CA$26.37
$15.87β¬13.65
19.97%
Apples(1kg)
$5.60CA$7.76
$2.31β¬1.99
142.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57CA$2.18
$1.70β¬1.46
-7.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.91CA$4.03
$2.01β¬1.73
44.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.29CA$4.56
$2.46β¬2.12
33.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04CA$1.44
$1.84β¬1.59
-43.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.26CA$1.74
$2.00β¬1.72
-37.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.65CA$2.29
$1.93β¬1.66
-14.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.27CA$3.15
$0.79β¬0.68
187.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.57CA$17.40
$6.61β¬5.68
90.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.56CA$18.77
$5.72β¬4.92
137.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26CA$3.12
$1.37β¬1.17
64.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70CA$3.74
$2.97β¬2.56
-9.09%
π Getting Around
Milton
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.93CA$4.06
$2.37β¬2.04
23.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.77CA$63.4
$45.56β¬39.19
0.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13CA$4.34
$4.29β¬3.69
-27.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.45CA$2.01
$0.82β¬0.70
76.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$37.15CA$51.4
$18.30β¬15.74
103.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09CA$1.51
$2.06β¬1.78
-47.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8KCA$34.4K
$34.3Kβ¬29.5K
-27.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2KCA$33.5K
$39.3Kβ¬33.8K
-38.35%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Milton
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$247CA$341
$148β¬127
66.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.4CA$83.6
$20.52β¬17.65
194.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.7CA$93.8
$39.61β¬34.08
70.97%
π Sport & Entertainment
Milton
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.36CA$46.19
$47.85β¬41.16
-30.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92β¬16.28
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.87CA$23.35
$9.18β¬7.90
83.77%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Milton
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$556CA$770
$614β¬528
-9.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.8KCA$16.3K
$16.0Kβ¬13.8K
-26.67%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Milton
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.5CA$79.6
$105β¬90.0
-45.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.7CA$74.3
$42.06β¬36.18
27.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.0CA$132
$94.0β¬80.8
1.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129CA$179
$120β¬103
8.08%
π Accommodation & Living
Milton
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,783CA$2,469
$1,628β¬1,400
9.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,672CA$2,315
$1,255β¬1,080
33.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,588CA$3,583
$3,030β¬2,607
-14.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,288CA$3,168
$2,020β¬1,738
13.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,840CA$6,701
$7,800β¬6,709
-37.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,220CA$5,843
$4,273β¬3,675
-1.23%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Milton
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,162CA$4,378
$1,603β¬1,379
97.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.8
3.81
78.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Milton: May 30, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,783 in Milton and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Milton pays 97% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $72.0 in Milton vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $459 vs $269 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
Milton vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Milton and Lisbon?
Milton and Lisbon differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($3,044 vs $2,210 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Milton or Lisbon?
Milton pays 97% more on average, 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 and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,783 in Milton versus $1,628 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 and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $556 in Milton versus $614 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 70% higher in Milton. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lisbon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Milton and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Milton or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Milton and Lisbon 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: Milton or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet β expenses run 38% less than in Milton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.