Cost of Living Comparison Between Blackburn and Edinburgh Cost of Living Comparison Between Blackburn and Edinburgh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,070 per month in Blackburn vs $2,767 in Edinburgh, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,079 per month in Blackburn vs $4,064 in Edinburgh, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,088 per month in Blackburn vs $5,361 in Edinburgh, rent included.

Blackburn is about 25% cheaper than Edinburgh, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Blackburn and Edinburgh sit above the global median – Blackburn by 54%, Edinburgh by 106%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 £12.30

$20.73 £15.44

-20.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.6 £43.64

$104 £77.1

-43.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.54 £6.36

$9.95 £7.41

-14.17%

Cappuccino

$4.07 £3.03

$5.32 £3.97

-23.50%

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

$2.31 £1.72

$2.61 £1.94

-11.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 £1.07

$2.01 £1.50

-28.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.89 £3.64

$7.64 £5.69

-35.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.49 £4.09

$6.93 £5.16

-20.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 £1.16

$1.65 £1.23

-6.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.66 £1.24

$1.73 £1.29

-4.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 £1.03

$2.18 £1.62

-36.70%

Eggs

$3.13 £2.33

$4.37 £3.26

-28.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.66 £7.94

$11.93 £8.88

-10.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.10 £6.03

$10.25 £7.63

-20.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.29 £12.88

$18.87 £14.06

-8.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.60 £1.19

$3.22 £2.40

-50.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 £1.24

$1.49 £1.11

11.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 £1.78

$4.14 £3.09

-42.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.72 £2.77

$4.74 £3.53

-21.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 £1.02

$1.82 £1.36

-24.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 £1.30

$1.42 £1.06

22.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 £0.37

$1.16 £0.87

-56.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 £1.40

$1.33 £0.99

41.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.30 £13.63

$20.21 £15.06

-9.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.34 £6.96

$11.36 £8.46

-17.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 £1.67

$2.50 £1.86

-10.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 £1.38

$3.27 £2.44

-43.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.70 £2.01

$2.64 £1.97

2.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.42 £36.07

$89.4 £66.6

-45.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 £2.00

$5.58 £4.16

-51.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 £1.08

$3.15 £2.34

-53.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.33 £12.17

$42.77 £31.86

-61.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.94 £1.44

$1.95 £1.45

-0.51%

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

$38.9K £29.0K

$38.2K £28.5K

1.81%

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

$41.9K £31.2K

$38.8K £28.9K

7.87%

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

$290 £216

$381 £284

-23.80%

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

$17.42 £12.98

$17.32 £12.91

0.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.08 £22.41

$44.43 £33.10

-32.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.44 £30.13

$54.5 £40.60

-25.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.28 £9.15

$24.51 £18.26

-49.90%

Cinema Ticket

$6.83 £5.09

$14.73 £10.98

-53.63%

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

$1,095 £816

$1,944 £1,448

-43.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,923 £5,158

$24.1K £18.0K

-71.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.5 £51.0

$118 £88.1

-42.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.62 £32.50

$55.6 £41.43

-21.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.3 £59.8

$116 £86.7

-30.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.9 £52.1

$126 £93.6

-44.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 £896

$1,653 £1,231

-27.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$964 £718

$1,201 £895

-19.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,878 £1,399

$3,062 £2,281

-38.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,717 £1,280

$2,168 £1,615

-20.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,733 £5,016

$6,616 £4,929

1.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,706 £3,506

$4,869 £3,628

-3.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,899 £1,415

$3,659 £2,726

-48.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.6

5.63

-0.53%

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

Last update for Blackburn: May 31, 2026

Last update for Edinburgh: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,203 in Blackburn versus $1,653 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 93% 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 $59.0 in Blackburn versus $104 in Edinburgh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $340 – making Blackburn 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

Blackburn vs Edinburgh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,070 in Blackburn, $2,767 in Edinburgh – roughly 34% apart. Edinburgh costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,105 per month in Blackburn and $4,150 in Edinburgh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Blackburn, 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 $2,070 in Blackburn and $2,767 in Edinburgh. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 85% less in Blackburn. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Blackburn, where all-in costs run around $2,070, than in Edinburgh at $2,767. In Blackburn it covers expenses comfortably, while in Edinburgh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Edinburgh has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,070 in Blackburn to $2,767 in Edinburgh. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Blackburn. 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.