🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,988 in Carmarthen versus $2,767 in Edinburgh.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,922 in Carmarthen versus $4,064 in Edinburgh.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,857 in Carmarthen versus $5,361 in Edinburgh.
🙂Living in Carmarthen costs roughly 28% less than in Edinburgh, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Carmarthen48% above, Edinburgh106% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Carmarthen
Edinburgh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.75£15.46
$20.73£15.44
0.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.9£49.81
$104£77.1
-35.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.60£7.15
$9.95£7.41
-3.52%
Cappuccino
$3.55£2.64
$5.32£3.97
-33.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57£1.91
$2.61£1.94
-1.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73£1.29
$2.01£1.50
-13.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.52£4.12
$7.64£5.69
-27.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86£3.62
$6.93£5.16
-29.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Carmarthen
Edinburgh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82£1.35
$1.65£1.23
10.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22£0.91
$1.73£1.29
-29.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.96£2.20
$2.18£1.62
35.78%
Eggs
$4.90£3.65
$4.37£3.26
12.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.60£7.90
$11.93£8.88
-11.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.57£7.87
$10.25£7.63
3.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.68£13.17
$18.87£14.06
-6.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.68£2.74
$3.22£2.40
14.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.04£0.77
$1.49£1.11
-30.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.63£3.45
$4.14£3.09
11.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.65£3.47
$4.74£3.53
-1.90%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93£0.69
$1.82£1.36
-48.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.64£1.22
$1.42£1.06
15.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71£0.53
$1.16£0.87
-38.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58£0.43
$1.33£0.99
-56.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.47£13.01
$20.21£15.06
-13.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.93£7.40
$11.36£8.46
-12.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42£1.80
$2.50£1.86
-3.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20£2.38
$3.27£2.44
-2.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Carmarthen
Edinburgh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.57£3.40
$2.64£1.97
73.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.2£66.5
$89.4£66.6
-0.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.00£2.98
$5.58£4.16
-28.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59£1.18
$3.15£2.34
-49.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.74£19.92
$42.77£31.86
-37.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94£1.45
$1.95£1.45
-0.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.7K£29.6K
$38.2K£28.5K
3.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.3K£32.2K
$38.8K£28.9K
11.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Carmarthen
Edinburgh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$358£267
$381£284
-5.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.92£14.10
$17.32£12.91
9.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.5£40.61
$44.43£33.10
22.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Carmarthen
Edinburgh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.2£40.38
$54.5£40.60
-0.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.51£18.26
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.72£5.00
$14.73£10.98
-54.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Carmarthen
Edinburgh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,576£1,174
$1,944£1,448
-18.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.6K£12.3K
$24.1K£18.0K
-31.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Carmarthen
Edinburgh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.3£63.5
$118£88.1
-27.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.98£22.33
$55.6£41.43
-46.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.6£68.2
$116£86.7
-21.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.5£65.2
$126£93.6
-30.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Carmarthen
Edinburgh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$824£614
$1,653£1,231
-50.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$613£457
$1,201£895
-48.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,296£966
$3,062£2,281
-57.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,100£819
$2,168£1,615
-49.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,826£4,341
$6,616£4,929
-11.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,869£3,628
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Carmarthen
Edinburgh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,997£1,488
$3,659£2,726
-45.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.9
5.63
4.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Carmarthen: May 31, 2026
Last update for Edinburgh: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $824 in Carmarthen and $1,653 in Edinburgh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Edinburgh pays 83% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $67.0 in Carmarthen vs $104 in Edinburgh for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $340 per month, with Carmarthen cheaper across the board.
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
Carmarthen vs Edinburgh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Edinburgh cheaper than Carmarthen?
Carmarthen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Carmarthen or Edinburgh?
On paper, Edinburgh earns 83% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Carmarthen and Edinburgh?
Rent for a central apartment: $824 in Carmarthen versus $1,653 in Edinburgh. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Carmarthen and Edinburgh?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Edinburgh. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Carmarthen or Edinburgh?
Dining out is cheaper in Carmarthen – a meal for two runs $67.0 versus $104 in Edinburgh. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Carmarthen or Edinburgh?
At $1,988 in Carmarthen versus $2,767 in Edinburgh, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Carmarthen but tight or insufficient in Edinburgh. The gap between the two cities makes Carmarthen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Carmarthen or Edinburgh more family-friendly?
For families, Carmarthen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Edinburgh, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Carmarthen or Edinburgh?
Safety-wise, Carmarthen and Edinburgh are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Carmarthen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Edinburgh. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Carmarthen vs other spots: cost of living compared