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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
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.
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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.