Cost of Living Comparison Between Edinburgh and Crawley Cost of Living Comparison Between Edinburgh and Crawley

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,696 in Edinburgh versus $3,003 in Crawley.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,099 in Edinburgh versus $4,246 in Crawley.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,502 in Edinburgh versus $5,490 in Crawley.

Living in Edinburgh costs roughly 10% less than in Crawley, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Edinburgh 97% above, Crawley 120% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Edinburgh
Crawley
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.27 £18.14
$19.71 £14.73
23.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$108 £80.7
$66.7 £49.81
62.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.91 £8.15
$10.53 £7.87
3.61%
Cappuccino
$5.13 £3.83
$5.02 £3.75
2.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 £1.79
$2.43 £1.82
-1.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 £1.65
$1.99 £1.49
11.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.21 £6.13
$6.15 £4.60
33.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.99 £5.97
$5.98 £4.47
33.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Edinburgh
Crawley
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 £1.34
$1.39 £1.04
28.78%
White Bread (500g)
$2.42 £1.81
$1.28 £0.96
89.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.28 £1.71
$1.03 £0.77
121.36%
Eggs
$5.02 £3.76
$3.48 £2.60
44.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.60 £7.18
$11.56 £8.64
-16.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.59 £7.17
$8.45 £6.32
13.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.75 £11.77
$13.30 £9.94
18.42%
Apples (1kg)
$3.11 £2.32
$3.46 £2.58
-10.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 £1.38
$1.88 £1.40
-2.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.31 £2.48
$3.04 £2.27
8.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.53 £2.64
$2.04 £1.53
73.04%
Potato (1kg)
$2.07 £1.55
$1.61 £1.20
28.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 £1.13
$1.33 £1.00
13.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 £0.98
$1.23 £0.92
6.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 £1.44
$1.53 £1.15
25.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.51 £17.57
$22.71 £16.97
3.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.02 £8.24
$9.44 £7.05
16.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.13 £2.34
$2.06 £1.54
51.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 £2.49
$2.19 £1.64
52.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Edinburgh
Crawley
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.94 £2.20
$4.07 £3.04
-27.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.9 £72.4
$154 £115
-37.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.34 £3.99
$5.26 £3.93
1.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 £1.38
$1.64 £1.22
12.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.78 £21.51
$20.28 £15.15
41.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.07 £1.55
$1.87 £1.40
10.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K £29.0K
$39.7K £29.7K
-2.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.7K £30.4K
$37.5K £28.0K
8.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Edinburgh
Crawley
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$335 £250
$514 £384
-34.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.42 £12.27
$15.28 £11.42
7.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.73 £31.93
$42.78 £31.97
-0.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Edinburgh
Crawley
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.98 £34.36
$59.2 £44.20
-22.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.69 £17.70
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.71 £10.99
$10.74 £8.02
36.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Edinburgh
Crawley
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,843 £1,377
$1,921 £1,435
-4.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.1K £19.5K
$7,961 £5,949
227.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Edinburgh
Crawley
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.2 £63.7
$91.0 £68.0
-6.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.0 £38.08
$40.45 £30.23
25.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 £80.8
$103 £77.1
4.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 £87.9
$124 £92.4
-4.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Edinburgh
Crawley
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 £1,202
$1,732 £1,294
-7.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 £916
$1,400 £1,046
-12.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,862 £2,139
$2,716 £2,029
5.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,163 £1,616
$2,430 £1,816
-11.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,804 £5,085
$6,336 £4,735
7.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,688 £3,504
$5,953 £4,449
-21.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Edinburgh
Crawley
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,512 £2,624
$3,307 £2,472
6.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.78
5.64
-15.25%

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

Last update for Edinburgh: September 12, 2026

Last update for Crawley: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,608 in Edinburgh and $1,732 in Crawley. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Edinburgh pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $108 in Edinburgh vs $67.0 in Crawley for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $335 vs $277 per month, with Crawley 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 Crawley: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Edinburgh or Crawley?
Edinburgh wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Crawley. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Edinburgh the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Edinburgh or in Crawley?
Average pay runs 6% higher in Edinburgh, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Edinburgh compared to Crawley?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,608 in Edinburgh versus $1,732 in Crawley. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Edinburgh and in Crawley?
Dining out is cheaper in Edinburgh – a meal for two runs $108 versus $67.0 in Crawley. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Edinburgh compared to Crawley?
All in, you'll spend $2,696 per month in Edinburgh versus $3,003 in Crawley – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Edinburgh or in Crawley?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Edinburgh is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Edinburgh or Crawley?
Both work as nomad bases, but Edinburgh delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,696 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Edinburgh hard to pass up.
How safe is Edinburgh compared to Crawley?
Safety-wise, Edinburgh and Crawley 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Edinburgh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Crawley. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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