Loading...
Lothian
Cost of Living in Edinburgh 2026
Cost index: 118 (Scotland avg = 100) · 28% cheaper than London
Cost Index
118
vs London
28% cheaper
Avg Salary
£38,500
2-bed Rent
£1,250/m
Cost of living in Edinburgh — 2026 overview
Edinburgh is one of Scotland's more expensive places to live, with a cost index of 118 — 18% above the Scotland average of 100. Despite this, it remains 28% cheaper than London, so the comparison with the capital remains favourable. Renting a 2-bedroom property costs £1,250/month — 45% of median gross monthly income — which is high by Scottish standards. Average salaries of £38,500 partially offset the higher costs, but budgeting carefully is more important here than in cheaper Scottish cities. Monthly non-rent essentials total approximately £580.
Housing costs
Monthly expenses
Eating & drinking out
Pint of beer
£5.80
Coffee
£3.80
Meal for two
£55
Salary & take-home pay
At the median salary of £33,200, estimated monthly take-home pay is £1,881. A 2-bed rent of £1,250/month takes up 66% of take-home pay. Housing costs here are high relative to earnings — splitting a 2-bed significantly reduces the burden.
Lothian — cost of living comparison
Frequently asked questions — living in Edinburgh
Is Edinburgh cheap to live in?
Edinburgh is above the Scottish average, with a cost index of 118 — 18% higher than the Scotland average of 100. Housing is the main pressure point: 2-bed rents of £1,250/month represent 45% of median monthly gross income. That said, it is still 28% cheaper than London.
What is the average rent in Edinburgh?
In Edinburgh, average monthly rents are: 1-bedroom — £950, 2-bedroom — £1,250, 3-bedroom — £1,650. These are private rented sector averages for 2026 based on Scottish Government Private Rent Statistics and Zoopla data. Rents vary significantly by neighbourhood — city centre and West End properties typically run 15–25% above these averages, while suburban and outer areas tend to be lower. Under Scotland's Private Residential Tenancy rules, rent increases must be notified 3 months in advance and are currently subject to the rent adjudication process.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Edinburgh?
A comfortable single-person lifestyle in Edinburgh — covering a 2-bedroom rent (or splitting with a flatmate), groceries, transport, utilities, and some savings — typically requires a gross salary of around £39,000. At this level, take-home pay after Scottish income tax and NI is approximately £2,185/month. A couple sharing a 2-bed flat would each need a gross income of roughly £23,000 to live comfortably. These figures do not include childcare, which adds £1,150/month if applicable.
More on Edinburgh from our sister sites
Browse other cities
AberdeenAyrCumbernauldDumfriesDundeeDunfermlineEast KilbrideEdinburghFalkirkFort WilliamGlasgowHamiltonInvernessKilmarnockKirkcaldyLivingstonPaisleyPerthSt AndrewsStirling
Get the Scottish Money Memo
One Scottish money thing worth knowing, every Thursday. Free.
Data: Numbeo, ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Zoopla and Scottish Government Private Rent Statistics (April 2026). The average house price is the official UK House Price Index figure for theCity of Edinburgh council area (data to March 2026); council tax is City of Edinburgh's2026/27 full Band D bill including Scottish Water charges, before any discount. Cost index: 100 = Scotland average. Other figures are approximate. Childcare costs reflect full-time nursery averages.