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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
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.
Pint of beer
£5.80
Coffee
£3.80
Meal for two
£55
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.
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.
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.
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Data: Numbeo, ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Zoopla, Scottish Government Private Rent Statistics, and local authority council tax schedules. Cost index: 100 = Scotland average. Figures are approximate and based on the most recent available data (April 2026). Childcare costs reflect full-time nursery averages.