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Cost index: 112 (Scotland avg = 100) · 25% cheaper than London
Cost Index
112
vs London
25% cheaper
Avg Salary
£31,000
2-bed Rent
£925/m
St Andrews is above the Scottish average cost of living, with a cost index of 112 — 12% higher than the Scotland average of 100, though still 25% cheaper than London. Rents are a key driver: a 2-bedroom flat costs £925/month, representing 40% of median monthly gross income. At the average salary of £31,000, renters will find more of their income committed to housing than in most Scottish cities. Non-rent monthly essentials run to around £561.
Pint of beer
£5.50
Coffee
£3.60
Meal for two
£55
At the median salary of £27,500, estimated monthly take-home pay is £1,558. A 2-bed rent of £925/month takes up 59% of take-home pay. Housing costs here are high relative to earnings — splitting a 2-bed significantly reduces the burden.
St Andrews is above the Scottish average, with a cost index of 112 — 12% higher than the Scotland average of 100. Housing is the main pressure point: 2-bed rents of £925/month represent 40% of median monthly gross income. That said, it is still 25% cheaper than London.
In St Andrews, average monthly rents are: 1-bedroom — £725, 2-bedroom — £925, 3-bedroom — £1,200. 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 St Andrews — covering a 2-bedroom rent (or splitting with a flatmate), groceries, transport, utilities, and some savings — typically requires a gross salary of around £33,000. At this level, take-home pay after Scottish income tax and NI is approximately £1,848/month. A couple sharing a 2-bed flat would each need a gross income of roughly £20,000 to live comfortably. These figures do not include childcare, which adds £1,050/month if applicable.
St Andrews is 6% cheaper than Edinburgh based on cost index (112 vs 118; Scotland average = 100). Renting a 2-bedroom property costs £925/month in St Andrews compared to £1,250/month in Edinburgh. Average salaries are £31,000 in St Andrews versus £38,500 in Edinburgh.
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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 theFife council area (data to March 2026); council tax is Fife'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.