How expensive is Edinburgh compared to the rest of United Kingdom?

Edinburgh ranks #84 out of 577 cities globally. It is 3.0% more expensive than the United Kingdom average, based on 23 cities. The rent index is 35.3 and local purchasing power is 123.2.

What is the average rent in Edinburgh?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Edinburgh city centre costs approximately GBP 1,209 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to GBP 889 (saving 27%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around GBP 2,080.

Is Edinburgh affordable to live in?

Edinburgh is expensive by global standards. Groceries are average, restaurants are expensive, and local purchasing power is average. Workers in United Kingdom earning GBP 42,720 gross take home approximately GBP 2,857 per month after tax.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom · 2026

Levnadskostnader i Edinburgh

3.0% över United Kingdom-genomsnittet

Placering #84 av 577 städer · Dyrare än 85.4% av städerna i världen

+3.0%

Levnadskostnader

+6.0%

Hyra

+4.2%

Livsmedel

-4.6%

Köpkraft

Jämfört med United Kingdom-genomsnittet · Se United Kingdom-ranking →

Hyrespriser i Edinburgh

Lägenhet	Innerstad	Utanför centrum	Du sparar
1 rum	GBP 1,209/mo ≈ $1,601	GBP 889/mo ≈ $1,177	27%
3 rum	GBP 2,080/mo ≈ $2,756	GBP 1,589/mo ≈ $2,106	24%

Numbeo · 2026-10-02

Prices of Goods & Services in Edinburgh

Groceries

Item	Price	Sources
Apples (1kg)	GBP 2.22	2 sources
Beer (0.5L, supermarket)	GBP 2.02	2 sources
Bread (500g)	GBP 1.29	2 sources
Local cheese (1kg)	GBP 8.94	2 sources
Chicken (1kg)	GBP 8.30	2 sources
Cigarettes (Marlboro)	GBP 15.56	2 sources
Eggs (12)	GBP 3.76	1 source
Milk (1L)	GBP 1.30	2 sources
Potatoes (1kg)	GBP 1.05	1 source
Tomatoes (1kg)	GBP 3.13	1 source
Wine (mid-range)	GBP 9.00	2 sources

Apples (1kg)

GBP 2.22

Beer (0.5L, supermarket)

GBP 2.02

Bread (500g)

GBP 1.29

Local cheese (1kg)

GBP 8.94

Chicken (1kg)

GBP 8.30

Cigarettes (Marlboro)

GBP 15.56

Eggs (12)

GBP 3.76

Milk (1L)

GBP 1.30

Potatoes (1kg)

GBP 1.05

Tomatoes (1kg)

GBP 3.13

Wine (mid-range)

GBP 9.00

Restaurants

Item	Price	Sources
Draft beer (0.5L)	GBP 6.00	2 sources
Cappuccino	GBP 3.56	1 source
McMeal	GBP 8.00	1 source
Cheap meal	GBP 19.00	2 sources
Mid-range dinner (2 people)	GBP 76.50	2 sources

Draft beer (0.5L)

GBP 6.00

Cappuccino

GBP 3.56

McMeal

GBP 8.00

Cheap meal

GBP 19.00

Mid-range dinner (2 people)

GBP 76.50

Clothing & Shoes

Item	Price	Sources
Business shoes (leather)	GBP 97.00	1 source
Jeans (Levi's 501)	GBP 89.00	1 source
Sport shoes (Nike)	GBP 84.53	2 sources
Summer dress (Zara/H&M)	GBP 37.97	2 sources

Business shoes (leather)

GBP 97.00

Jeans (Levi's 501)

GBP 89.00

Sport shoes (Nike)

GBP 84.53

Summer dress (Zara/H&M)

GBP 37.97

Leisure

Item	Price	Sources
Cinema ticket	GBP 11.25	2 sources
Gym membership	GBP 41.75	2 sources

Cinema ticket

GBP 11.25

Gym membership

GBP 41.75

Transportation

Item	Price	Sources
Gasoline (1L)	GBP 1.42	2 sources
Taxi start	GBP 4.00	1 source
Monthly pass	GBP 69.00	2 sources

Gasoline (1L)

GBP 1.42

Taxi start

GBP 4.00

Monthly pass

GBP 69.00

Utilities

Item	Price	Sources
Basic utilities (85m²)	GBP 221.77	2 sources

Basic utilities (85m²)

GBP 221.77

Prices in local currency, cross-referenced from multiple independent sources. October 2026.

Multi-Source Comparison

★★★ High Confidence

Edinburgh has a cost of living index of 55.3 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 4 of 4 data sources.

55.3

Index

Sources

7.7

Gap between sources

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo

55.8

Expatistan

59.0

LivingCost

54.9

ShouldIMove price index

51.3

ShouldIMove price index: our own basket of real item prices plus rent.

Eurostat Validation (EU27 = 100) Gov. Data

Eurostat

111.2

Based on 117 country PLI x 0.95 city factor

View all 577 cities | Data last updated: 2026-03-18

Kostnadsindex

Levnadskostnader

+3.0% Average

Hyra

+6.0% Average

Livsmedel

+4.2% Average

Restauranger

+8.4% Expensive

Köpkraft

-4.6% Average

Att bo i Edinburgh: vad du kan förvänta dig

Edinburgh är expensive enligt globala mått (plats #84 av 577 städer). 3.0% dyrare än United Kingdom-genomsnittet, baserat på 23 städer.

Matvaror är average, medan att äta ute är expensive. Groceries erbjuder bäst värde, medan Restaurants är dyrast.

Anställda i United Kingdom med GBP 42,720 brutto får GBP 2,857/mån netto efter skatt (effektiv skattesats: 19.8%%). Se hela skattekalkylatorn för United Kingdom →