πA single person spends $3,139 per month in Brentwood vs $2,767 in Edinburgh, rent included.
πA couple spends around $4,369 per month in Brentwood vs $4,064 in Edinburgh, rent included.
πA family of three spends $5,598 per month in Brentwood vs $5,361 in Edinburgh, rent included.
πBrentwood costs about 13% more than Edinburgh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth Brentwood and Edinburgh sit above the global median β Brentwood by 134%, Edinburgh by 106%.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Brentwood
Edinburgh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.12Β£14.95
$20.73Β£15.41
-2.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.4Β£59.8
$104Β£76.9
-22.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.84Β£8.06
$9.95Β£7.40
8.94%
Cappuccino
$4.80Β£3.57
$5.32Β£3.96
-9.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57Β£1.17
$2.61Β£1.94
-39.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09Β£0.81
$2.01Β£1.49
-45.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.46Β£4.06
$7.64Β£5.68
-28.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.28Β£4.67
$6.93Β£5.15
-9.38%
π Groceries & Markets
Brentwood
Edinburgh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46Β£1.08
$1.65Β£1.23
-11.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.09Β£0.81
$1.73Β£1.29
-36.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.14Β£1.59
$2.18Β£1.62
-1.83%
Eggs
$3.65Β£2.71
$4.37Β£3.25
-16.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.44Β£6.27
$11.93Β£8.86
-29.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.05Β£5.24
$10.25Β£7.62
-31.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.02Β£9.68
$18.87Β£14.03
-31.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.18Β£2.36
$3.22Β£2.40
-1.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55Β£1.15
$1.49Β£1.11
4.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.86Β£2.13
$4.14Β£3.08
-30.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.86Β£2.13
$4.74Β£3.52
-39.66%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95Β£0.70
$1.82Β£1.35
-47.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.28Β£0.95
$1.42Β£1.05
-9.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.87Β£0.65
$1.16Β£0.87
-25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.41Β£1.05
$1.33Β£0.99
6.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.89Β£12.56
$20.21Β£15.02
-16.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.17Β£6.82
$11.36Β£8.44
-19.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35Β£1.75
$2.50Β£1.86
-6.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44Β£1.81
$3.27Β£2.43
-25.38%
π Getting Around
Brentwood
Edinburgh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.21Β£3.87
$2.64Β£1.96
97.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.5Β£65.8
$89.4Β£66.5
-1.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.46Β£4.06
$5.58Β£4.15
-2.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.23Β£0.92
$3.15Β£2.34
-60.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.55Β£16.76
$42.77Β£31.79
-47.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88Β£1.40
$1.95Β£1.45
-3.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0KΒ£29.0K
$38.2KΒ£28.4K
1.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.7KΒ£30.3K
$38.8KΒ£28.9K
4.88%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brentwood
Edinburgh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$335Β£249
$381Β£283
-12.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.29Β£10.62
$17.32Β£12.88
-17.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.35Β£25.53
$44.43Β£33.03
-22.69%
π Sport & Entertainment
Brentwood
Edinburgh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.96Β£28.22
$54.5Β£40.51
-30.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.30Β£16.58
$24.51Β£18.22
-9.02%
Cinema Ticket
$15.22Β£11.31
$14.73Β£10.95
3.33%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Brentwood
Edinburgh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,714Β£1,274
$1,944Β£1,445
-11.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.7KΒ£16.9K
$24.1KΒ£17.9K
-5.94%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Brentwood
Edinburgh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.8Β£63.1
$118Β£87.9
-28.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.37Β£30.75
$55.6Β£41.34
-25.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.8Β£65.3
$116Β£86.5
-24.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101Β£75.0
$126Β£93.4
-19.78%
π Accommodation & Living
Brentwood
Edinburgh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,540Β£1,145
$1,653Β£1,229
-6.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,855Β£1,379
$1,201Β£893
54.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,832Β£2,105
$3,062Β£2,276
-7.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,924Β£2,173
$2,168Β£1,612
34.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,150Β£3,828
$6,616Β£4,918
-22.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,627Β£2,696
$4,869Β£3,619
-25.52%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Brentwood
Edinburgh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,451Β£2,565
$3,659Β£2,720
-5.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.45
5.63
-3.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brentwood: May 30, 2026
Last update for Edinburgh: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $1,540 in Brentwood 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.
π°Salaries run about 6% higher in Edinburgh, which reinforces the cost advantage β you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Brentwood versus $104 in Edinburgh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $340 β making Brentwood 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
Brentwood vs Edinburgh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Brentwood or Edinburgh?
Brentwood costs about 13% more than Edinburgh, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Brentwood vs Edinburgh?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Brentwood and $4,150 in Edinburgh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Brentwood or Edinburgh?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Edinburgh, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Brentwood vs Edinburgh?
How much does it cost to live in Brentwood compared to Edinburgh?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,139 in Brentwood and $2,767 in Edinburgh. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Brentwood or Edinburgh?
$2,500 is a stretch for both β monthly costs hit $3,139 in Brentwood and $2,767 in Edinburgh. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Brentwood or Edinburgh?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Edinburgh costs $2,767 versus $3,139 in Brentwood. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Brentwood compared to Edinburgh?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Brentwood or Edinburgh?
If budget matters most, go with Edinburgh. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brentwood makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.