😐A single person spends $2,764 per month in Edinburgh vs $2,200 in Barrow-in-Furness, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,108 per month in Edinburgh vs $3,281 in Barrow-in-Furness, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,452 per month in Edinburgh vs $4,363 in Barrow-in-Furness, rent included.
😐Edinburgh costs about 26% more than Barrow-in-Furness, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Edinburgh and Barrow-in-Furness sit above the global median – Edinburgh by 106%, Barrow-in-Furness by 64%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Edinburgh
Barrow-in-Furness
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.62£15.33
$27.28£20.28
-24.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100£74.6
$75.1£55.8
33.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.00£7.43
$10.65£7.91
-6.10%
Cappuccino
$5.22£3.88
$4.81£3.58
8.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52£1.87
$2.78£2.07
-9.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03£1.51
$1.79£1.33
13.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.53£5.60
$5.33£3.96
41.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.80£5.06
$7.13£5.30
-4.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Edinburgh
Barrow-in-Furness
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71£1.27
$1.51£1.12
13.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.73£1.28
$1.74£1.29
-0.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.08£1.55
$2.06£1.53
0.97%
Eggs
$4.32£3.22
$3.80£2.82
13.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.17£9.05
$9.18£6.83
32.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.44£7.77
$9.25£6.88
12.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.84£14.01
$10.60£7.88
77.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.11£2.31
$2.89£2.15
7.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48£1.10
$1.67£1.24
-11.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.17£3.10
$2.52£1.87
65.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.65£3.46
$4.65£3.45
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.74£1.29
$1.82£1.36
-4.40%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48£1.10
$1.56£1.16
-5.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18£0.87
$0.93£0.69
26.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31£0.98
$1.40£1.04
-6.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$20.32£15.11
$16.24£12.08
25.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.95£8.14
$11.93£8.87
-8.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.51£1.87
$4.28£3.18
-41.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39£2.52
$3.87£2.88
-12.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Edinburgh
Barrow-in-Furness
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.75£2.04
$3.71£2.76
-25.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$90.2£67.1
$90.0£66.9
0.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.35£3.98
$3.65£2.71
46.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.02£2.25
$1.41£1.05
114.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.45£31.56
$16.08£11.96
163.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98£1.47
$1.98£1.47
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K£28.1K
$34.3K£25.5K
10.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.0K£29.7K
$24.3K£18.0K
64.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Edinburgh
Barrow-in-Furness
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$386£287
$207£154
86.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.32£12.88
$15.79£11.74
9.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.86£33.36
$41.06£30.53
9.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Edinburgh
Barrow-in-Furness
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.4£41.18
$46.06£34.24
20.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.05£17.88
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.69£10.92
$8.13£6.05
80.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Edinburgh
Barrow-in-Furness
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,888£1,404
$1,369£1,018
37.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.9K£17.8K
$15.0K£11.1K
60.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Edinburgh
Barrow-in-Furness
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119£88.5
$59.0£43.88
101.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.5£41.29
$38.96£28.96
42.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117£86.7
$72.1£53.6
61.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125£93.0
$86.6£64.4
44.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Edinburgh
Barrow-in-Furness
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,615£1,200
$1,222£909
32.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,214£903
$1,005£747
20.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,107£2,310
$2,071£1,540
50.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,221£1,651
$1,696£1,261
30.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,672£4,960
$4,904£3,646
36.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,747£3,529
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Edinburgh
Barrow-in-Furness
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,502£2,603
$2,035£1,513
72.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.63
5.9
-4.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Edinburgh: June 7, 2026
Last update for Barrow-in-Furness: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,615 in Edinburgh versus $1,222 in Barrow-in-Furness. 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 72% 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 $100 in Edinburgh versus $75.0 in Barrow-in-Furness. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $301 – making Barrow-in-Furness 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
Edinburgh vs Barrow-in-Furness: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Edinburgh and Barrow-in-Furness compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,764 in Edinburgh, $2,200 in Barrow-in-Furness – roughly 26% apart. Edinburgh costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Edinburgh compared to Barrow-in-Furness?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,145 per month in Edinburgh and $3,300 in Barrow-in-Furness. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Edinburgh and Barrow-in-Furness?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Barrow-in-Furness, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Edinburgh and Barrow-in-Furness?
Kindergarten costs $1,888 per month in Edinburgh and $1,369 in Barrow-in-Furness. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 13% more in Edinburgh, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Barrow-in-Furness, where all-in costs run around $2,200, than in Edinburgh at $2,764. In Barrow-in-Furness it covers expenses comfortably, while in Edinburgh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Edinburgh and Barrow-in-Furness?
It depends on your priorities. Edinburgh has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,200 in Barrow-in-Furness to $2,764 in Edinburgh. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Edinburgh or Barrow-in-Furness safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Edinburgh and Barrow-in-Furness?
If budget matters most, go with Barrow-in-Furness. 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.