Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chatham and Edinburgh

For one person, living is cheaper in Edinburgh: $2,601 a month against $2,947 in Chatham, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Chatham outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Chatham
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,947
/mo nomad
Edinburgh
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,601
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chatham and in Edinburgh

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chatham and in Edinburgh actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,947 per month in Chatham vs $2,601 in Edinburgh, rent included.

  • Chatham $2,947
  • Edinburgh $2,601

A couple spends around $4,017 per month in Chatham vs $3,985 in Edinburgh, rent included.

  • Chatham $4,017
  • Edinburgh $3,985

A family of three spends $5,088 per month in Chatham vs $5,369 in Edinburgh, rent included.

  • Chatham $5,088
  • Edinburgh $5,369

Chatham costs about 13% more than Edinburgh, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chatham and Edinburgh sit above the global median – Chatham by 118%, Edinburgh by 92%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chatham
Edinburgh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.40 £10.05
$23.67 £17.76
-43.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.9 £71.2
$108 £81.4
-12.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.85 £7.39
$10.71 £8.04
-8.03%
Cappuccino
$3.75 £2.82
$5.25 £3.94
-28.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 £2.21
$2.48 £1.86
18.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 £1.26
$2.17 £1.63
-22.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.38 £4.78
$7.94 £5.96
-19.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.83 £5.12
$8.00 £6.00
-14.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chatham
Edinburgh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 £1.43
$1.69 £1.27
12.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.10 £1.57
$2.35 £1.77
-10.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.10 £1.58
$2.36 £1.77
-11.02%
Eggs
$4.09 £3.07
$4.96 £3.72
-17.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.74 £8.06
$9.20 £6.91
16.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.29 £6.97
$9.33 £7.00
-0.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.54 £11.66
$15.79 £11.85
-1.58%
Apples (1kg)
$3.10 £2.33
$3.01 £2.26
2.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.92 £1.44
$1.88 £1.41
2.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.71 £2.03
$3.42 £2.57
-20.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.67 £2.75
$3.67 £2.75
-
Potato (1kg)
$2.01 £1.51
$2.01 £1.51
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 £1.37
$1.55 £1.16
17.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 £0.86
$1.32 £0.99
-12.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 £1.28
$1.93 £1.45
-11.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$21.64 £16.24
$23.23 £17.43
-6.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.94 £8.21
$11.20 £8.40
-2.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.06 £2.29
$3.12 £2.34
-1.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 £1.78
$3.27 £2.46
-27.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Chatham
Edinburgh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.04 £3.03
$3.14 £2.35
28.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$114 £85.6
$97.0 £72.8
17.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.10 £3.83
$5.43 £4.08
-6.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.58 £1.94
$1.82 £1.37
41.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.18 £15.14
$28.32 £21.25
-28.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 £1.56
$2.08 £1.56
0.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9K £29.2K
$38.6K £28.9K
0.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.1K £27.8K
$39.9K £29.9K
-6.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chatham
Edinburgh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$287 £215
$328 £246
-12.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.80 £12.61
$16.47 £12.36
2.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.54 £19.91
$42.32 £31.75
-37.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chatham
Edinburgh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$114 £85.8
$44.41 £33.32
157.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.37 £7.03
$23.05 £17.30
-59.35%
Cinema Ticket
$17.40 £13.05
$14.39 £10.79
20.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chatham
Edinburgh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,080 £1,561
$1,775 £1,331
17.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.4K £22.8K
$25.6K £19.2K
18.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chatham
Edinburgh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.6 £68.7
$81.2 £60.9
12.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.69 £34.28
$49.04 £36.79
-6.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 £78.4
$108 £81.2
-3.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.5 £68.6
$115 £85.9
-20.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chatham
Edinburgh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 £1,538
$1,600 £1,200
28.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,601 £1,201
$1,168 £876
37.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,430 £1,823
$2,803 £2,103
-13.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 £1,568
$2,155 £1,617
-3.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,877 £5,909
$6,714 £5,037
17.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,449 £5,588
$4,715 £3,538
57.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chatham
Edinburgh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,972 £2,230
$3,558 £2,669
-16.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.12
4.77
7.34%

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

Last update for Chatham: October 20, 2026

Last update for Edinburgh: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chatham
$1.6K
Edinburgh
$1.2K 27.1% $433
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chatham
$330
Edinburgh
$387 17.1% $57
Groceries & Markets
Chatham
$323
Edinburgh
$332 2.8% $8.9
Eating Out
Chatham
$246
Edinburgh
$359 45.9% $113
Clothing & Footwear
Chatham
$150
Edinburgh
$159 5.9% $8.9
Sport & Entertainment
Chatham
$149
Edinburgh
$73 50.9% $76
Getting Around
Chatham
$148
Edinburgh
$124 16.3% $24

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,050 in Chatham versus $1,600 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 20% higher in Edinburgh, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in Chatham versus $108 in Edinburgh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $323 vs $332 – making Chatham the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇬🇧 Chatham
🇬🇧 Edinburgh
🕒 Local time
19:36 7:36 PM
19:36 7:36 PM
Same time as Chatham
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
76,792
488,050
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to GBP – British Pound Converter

British Pound exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chatham Edinburgh 560 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Chatham
  • Edinburgh

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Chatham vs Edinburgh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chatham or Edinburgh?
Chatham costs about 13% more than Edinburgh, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Chatham and in Edinburgh?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,421 per month in Chatham and $3,902 in Edinburgh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chatham 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 much does it cost to live in Chatham compared to Edinburgh?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,947 in Chatham and $2,601 in Edinburgh. That's a gap of about 13%.
How expensive is transport in Chatham compared to Edinburgh?
Public transport costs about 18% less in Edinburgh. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Chatham or in Edinburgh?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,947 in Chatham and $2,601 in Edinburgh. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chatham or Edinburgh?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Edinburgh costs $2,601 versus $2,947 in Chatham. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chatham 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 – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chatham or to Edinburgh?
If budget matters most, go with Edinburgh. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chatham makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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