Cost of Living Comparison Between Bedford and Edinburgh Cost of Living Comparison Between Bedford and Edinburgh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,196 per month in Bedford vs $2,691 in Edinburgh, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,440 per month in Bedford vs $4,039 in Edinburgh, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,684 per month in Bedford vs $5,386 in Edinburgh, rent included.

Bedford is about 18% cheaper than Edinburgh, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Bedford and Edinburgh sit above the global median – Bedford by 60%, Edinburgh by 96%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.10 £14.86

$24.27 £17.94

-17.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.1 £65.1

$109 £80.9

-19.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 £8.06

$10.91 £8.06

-0.09%

Cappuccino

$4.68 £3.46

$5.18 £3.83

-9.65%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 £1.55

$2.53 £1.87

-17.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.25 £0.92

$2.17 £1.60

-42.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.97 £5.15

$8.19 £6.05

-14.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.92 £4.38

$8.12 £6.00

-27.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 £1.23

$1.76 £1.30

-5.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 £1.15

$2.33 £1.72

-33.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 £1.24

$2.33 £1.72

-27.90%

Eggs

$3.97 £2.93

$5.09 £3.76

-22.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.72 £7.18

$9.30 £6.87

4.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.06 £6.70

$9.54 £7.06

-5.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.08 £9.67

$15.99 £11.82

-18.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 £2.42

$3.01 £2.22

8.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 £1.03

$1.79 £1.33

-22.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.56 £1.89

$3.46 £2.56

-26.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.19 £2.36

$3.53 £2.61

-9.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.35 £1.00

$2.19 £1.62

-38.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 £1.02

$1.52 £1.12

-9.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 £0.77

$1.27 £0.94

-18.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 £0.99

$1.91 £1.41

-29.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$23.92 £17.68

$24.28 £17.95

-1.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 £7.97

$11.30 £8.35

-4.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 £1.88

$3.02 £2.23

-15.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 £1.78

$3.17 £2.35

-23.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.63 £1.95

$2.95 £2.18

-10.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 £74.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.10 £3.77

$5.45 £4.03

-6.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 £1.08

$1.95 £1.44

-25.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.04 £17.77

$28.94 £21.39

-16.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.90 £1.40

$2.05 £1.51

-7.32%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$38.4K £28.4K

$39.3K £29.0K

-2.05%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$42.2K £31.2K

$41.4K £30.6K

1.87%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$358 £265

$343 £253

4.45%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.91 £13.24

$17.03 £12.59

5.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.41 £29.87

$43.01 £31.80

-6.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.22 £27.52

$47.96 £35.45

-22.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.68 £17.50

Cinema Ticket

$16.39 £12.12

$15.04 £11.12

8.98%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$937 £692

$1,824 £1,349

-48.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K £15.9K

$25.5K £18.8K

-15.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.55 £18.15

$85.8 £63.4

-71.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.57 £18.90

$50.3 £37.18

-49.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.3 £60.9

$108 £79.5

-23.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.0 £65.8

$118 £87.6

-24.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 £857

$1,644 £1,216

-29.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$981 £725

$1,229 £909

-20.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,392 £1,768

$2,844 £2,103

-15.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,010 £1,486

$2,187 £1,617

-8.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,732 £4,976

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,734 £3,499

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,368 £2,490

$3,581 £2,647

-5.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.84

4.78

1.26%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bedford: August 31, 2026

Last update for Edinburgh: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,159 in Bedford versus $1,644 in Edinburgh. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 6% higher in Edinburgh, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Bedford versus $109 in Edinburgh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 vs $333 – making Bedford the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Bedford vs Edinburgh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Edinburgh costs about 23% more than Bedford, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,294 per month in Bedford and $4,037 in Edinburgh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bedford, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,196 in Bedford and $2,691 in Edinburgh. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $937 per month in Bedford and $1,824 in Edinburgh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bedford, where all-in costs run around $2,196, than in Edinburgh at $2,691. In Bedford it covers expenses comfortably, while in Edinburgh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bedford costs $2,196 versus $2,691 in Edinburgh. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bedford. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Edinburgh makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.