Cost of Living Comparison Between Edinburgh and Chippenham Cost of Living Comparison Between Edinburgh and Chippenham

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,772 in Edinburgh versus $2,182 in Chippenham.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,140 in Edinburgh versus $3,180 in Chippenham.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,508 in Edinburgh versus $4,178 in Chippenham.

Living in Edinburgh is roughly 27% more expensive than in Chippenham, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Edinburgh 107% above, Chippenham 63% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Edinburgh
Chippenham
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.15 £15.00
$16.46 £12.25
22.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 £74.9
$61.4 £45.70
63.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.00 £7.45
$10.94 £8.14
-8.59%
Cappuccino
$5.41 £4.03
$4.10 £3.05
31.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 £1.87
$2.49 £1.85
0.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 £1.51
$1.71 £1.27
18.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.52 £5.60
$5.53 £4.12
35.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.81 £5.07
$3.96 £2.95
71.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Edinburgh
Chippenham
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 £1.25
$1.37 £1.02
22.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 £1.30
$1.76 £1.31
-1.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.08 £1.55
$3.03 £2.26
-31.35%
Eggs
$4.25 £3.17
$4.66 £3.47
-8.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.14 £9.04
$6.67 £4.97
82.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.48 £7.80
$9.05 £6.74
15.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.73 £13.94
$9.75 £7.26
92.10%
Apples (1kg)
$3.12 £2.33
$2.91 £2.17
7.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 £1.16
$1.61 £1.20
-3.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.12 £3.07
$3.36 £2.50
22.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.60 £3.42
$5.62 £4.19
-18.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 £1.36
$0.28 £0.21
553.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.43 £1.07
$1.47 £1.09
-2.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 £0.91
$0.91 £0.67
34.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 £1.01
$1.38 £1.03
-2.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$20.18 £15.02
$16.26 £12.10
24.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.18 £8.32
$10.69 £7.96
4.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50 £1.86
$3.14 £2.34
-20.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 £2.45
$3.66 £2.72
-10.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Edinburgh
Chippenham
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.70 £2.01
$3.45 £2.57
-21.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.4 £66.6
$88.3 £65.7
1.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.31 £3.95
$4.02 £2.99
32.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.01 £2.24
$2.50 £1.86
20.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.48 £31.63
$20.48 £15.25
107.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.94 £1.44
$1.95 £1.45
-0.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K £28.9K
$37.9K £28.2K
2.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9K £29.7K
$55.2K £41.1K
-27.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Edinburgh
Chippenham
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$381 £283
$293 £218
30.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.69 £13.17
$20.19 £15.03
-12.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.83 £32.63
$41.08 £30.58
6.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Edinburgh
Chippenham
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.6 £39.91
$47.36 £35.26
13.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.17 £17.99
$20.46 £15.23
18.13%
Cinema Ticket
$15.01 £11.18
$7.95 £5.92
88.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Edinburgh
Chippenham
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,937 £1,442
$1,965 £1,463
-1.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K £17.7K
$33.0K £24.6K
-27.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Edinburgh
Chippenham
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119 £88.8
$70.0 £52.1
70.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.6 £40.63
$34.00 £25.31
60.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 £87.4
$67.5 £50.3
73.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 £91.3
$66.6 £49.60
84.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Edinburgh
Chippenham
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,616 £1,203
$1,228 £914
31.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 £918
$939 £699
31.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 £2,306
$2,044 £1,522
51.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,186 £1,627
$1,727 £1,285
26.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,544 £4,872
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,733 £3,523
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Edinburgh
Chippenham
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,601 £2,681
$4,729 £3,520
-23.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.63
4.5
25.11%

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

Last update for Edinburgh: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chippenham: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,616 in Edinburgh and $1,228 in Chippenham. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chippenham pays 31% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $101 in Edinburgh vs $61.0 in Chippenham for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $340 vs $291 per month, with Chippenham 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
Edinburgh vs Chippenham: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chippenham cheaper than Edinburgh?
Chippenham is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Edinburgh or Chippenham?
On paper, salaries run 31% lower in Chippenham. 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 Edinburgh and Chippenham?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,616 in Edinburgh versus $1,228 in Chippenham. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Edinburgh and in Chippenham?
All in, you'll spend $2,772 per month in Edinburgh versus $2,182 in Chippenham – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Chippenham runs roughly 1% less than in Edinburgh. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Edinburgh or in Chippenham?
At $2,182 in Chippenham versus $2,772 in Edinburgh, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Chippenham but tight or insufficient in Edinburgh. The gap between the two cities makes Chippenham the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Edinburgh or Chippenham more family-friendly?
For families, Chippenham 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, Edinburgh or Chippenham?
Safety-wise, Edinburgh and Chippenham 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 Chippenham gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Edinburgh. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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