Cost of Living in Edinburgh (2024)

FAQs

Is it expensive to live in Edinburgh? ›

Is Edinburgh an expensive city? Yes, Edinburgh is considered to be an expensive city when compared to other cities in the UK. However, it is still more affordable than in major cities like London.

To live a happy life in Edinburgh, residents have to make an average salary of £36,000, a new report has shown. But according to some who live here, that figure is just enough to "get by.” One Edinburgh mother thought a £36,000 salary was a fair assessment as 'Edinburgh is quite expensive to live in'.

If we're talking about the average cost of living, it is generally cheaper to reside in Scotland rather than the U.S, as Scotland is 1.6 times more expensive than the U.S.

Earning a salary of £40,000 in Scotland can generally be considered a good income that allows for a comfortable lifestyle. It is more than enough to live comfortably in Scotland, and it is just above the median wage for the UK.

Living in the Scottish capital is surprisingly cheap compared to the other cities in this list, ranking dead centre in our list. Compared to London, Edinburgh is around 48% cheaper to live (LivingCost.org), a massive contrast between the two capitals and a strong supporting factor for living in the Scottish capital.

Scots workers 'need £48,000 salary to live comfortably' - how much do you require? The amount workers felt that they needed was much more than the UK median of £33,000. New research has found that Scottish workers feel they need £48,000 every year on average to live 'comfortably'.

The median in Edinburgh is just about £30K. In other words half of people in Full Time work earn less than that and half earn more. (It is generally well above the UK and Scottish median average of just over £27k). It is viewed as a highly paid area but also correspondingly expensive.

Edinburgh is in the rental area of Lothian. Private rent prices rose to an average of £1,362 in July 2024, an annual increase of 14.8% from £1,186 in July 2023. This was higher than the rise in Scotland (8.2%) over the year. The average price paid by first-time buyers was £267,000 in June 2024 (provisional).

Yes, moving to Scotland for US citizen is possible, but they will need to obtain the appropriate visa depending on the purpose of their stay. For stays longer than six months, a visa is required. Common visa types include the Work Visa, Student Visa, and Family Visa.

Which US state is most like Scotland? ›

If you're looking for a U.S. state that shares some similarities with Scotland in terms of its landscape, climate, and cultural elements, you might consider the state of Vermont.

How much does it cost to buy a property around Scotland? Data recently published by Registers of Scotland (RoS) shows the median cost of property in Scotland (whole market – all property types) was £185,000 in 2023/24 while a new-build home averaged £300,000.

General living expenses for a decent living standard vary. It depends on lifestyle and personal preferences. However, to be comfortable you can expect to spend £1,500-£2,000 per month of your net income. This figure includes basic costs such as rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, and council tax.

The average selling price within Edinburgh was £295,979, an annual increase of 6.4% compared to March to May 2021. The north west suburbs recorded the highest price change within Edinburgh, a 21.4% increase in average selling price, meaning properties here sold for £282,751.

But Edinburgh is an extraordinary city, where the overall quality of life is rated as higher than anywhere else in the UK (and 7^th highest in Europe according to Numbeo.com).

Expats will enjoy excellent state-funded healthcare and education. Edinburgh has highly regarded schools that are free to attend – and with four universities within the city, Edinburgh is generally considered a major educational centre, second only in the UK to London.

Summary of cost of living in Edinburgh, United Kingdom: A family of four estimated monthly costs are 4,146.3$ (3,161.0£) without rent. A single person estimated monthly costs are 1,206.0$ (919.4£) without rent. Edinburgh is 28.7% less expensive than New York (without rent).