Cost of Living

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Live cost-of-living data for Edinburgh — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
42/ 10058% cheaper than New York
+27% rent since Jul 2026
$2,650/mo
Median Income
78/100
Safety
29%
Income Tax
temperate oceanic
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
70/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,545/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$1,137/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$2,710/month
Food & Groceries
58/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.35/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.1/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$2.2/kg
Transportation
55/100
Monthly Transit Pass$90/month
One-Way Ticket$2.56/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.92/km
Utilities
52/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$330/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$50/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$35/month
Healthcare
85/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$0/visit
Dentist Visit$120/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
75/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$640/month
International Primary School (yearly)$15,360/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$640/course
Entertainment
60/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$14/ticket
Theater Ticket$50/ticket
Museum Entry$16/ticket
Clothing
62/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$83/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$51/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$115/pair
Personal Care
58/100
Haircut (Men)$26/cut
Haircut (Women)$51/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$6.4/bottle
Dining Out
62/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$23/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$102/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$11.52/meal
Childcare
65/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$1,024/month
Babysitter (per hour)$19.2/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$25.6/pack
Fitness & Sports
58/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$57.6/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$25.6/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$10.24/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

67 Mbps
Internet Speed
$200
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
high
English Level
small
Nomad Community
72/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Canonmills, Stockbridge, Marchmont

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Edinburgh cheap to live in?

Edinburgh has a cost of living index of 42/100, where New York = 100. It is 58% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,500–$2,100 per month.

How much does rent cost in Edinburgh?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Edinburgh costs approximately $1,545/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $1,137/month.

Is Edinburgh good for digital nomads?

Edinburgh has a small digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 67 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $200/month. English proficiency is high.

What is the average salary in Edinburgh?

The median net monthly salary in Edinburgh is approximately $2,650 USD. The income tax rate is around 29%.

How does Edinburgh compare to New York for cost of living?

Edinburgh (cost index 42) is 58% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,450/month by moving from New York to Edinburgh.

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