Cost of Living Comparison Between Edinburgh and Eastleigh Cost of Living Comparison Between Edinburgh and Eastleigh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,704 per month in Edinburgh vs $2,301 in Eastleigh, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,119 per month in Edinburgh vs $3,388 in Eastleigh, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,535 per month in Edinburgh vs $4,475 in Eastleigh, rent included.

Edinburgh costs about 17% more than Eastleigh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Edinburgh and Eastleigh sit above the global median – Edinburgh by 102%, Eastleigh by 72%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Edinburgh
Eastleigh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.53 £15.21
$20.22 £14.98
1.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$104 £76.9
$79.9 £59.2
29.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.92 £7.35
$10.04 £7.44
-1.20%
Cappuccino
$5.32 £3.94
$4.77 £3.53
11.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 £1.92
$2.30 £1.70
12.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 £1.48
$1.61 £1.19
24.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.45 £5.52
$6.33 £4.69
17.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.95 £5.15
$6.26 £4.64
11.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Edinburgh
Eastleigh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 £1.22
$1.63 £1.21
1.23%
White Bread (500g)
$1.66 £1.23
$1.58 £1.17
5.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.09 £1.55
$2.21 £1.64
-5.43%
Eggs
$4.34 £3.22
$3.87 £2.87
12.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.93 £8.84
$10.07 £7.46
18.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.21 £7.57
$8.64 £6.40
18.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.53 £13.73
$13.96 £10.34
32.74%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 £2.43
$3.15 £2.34
4.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 £1.16
$1.58 £1.17
-1.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.21 £3.12
$2.77 £2.05
51.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.78 £3.54
$3.61 £2.67
32.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.75 £1.29
$1.71 £1.26
2.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 £1.11
$1.48 £1.09
1.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 £0.87
$1.06 £0.79
11.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 £0.97
$1.46 £1.08
-10.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$20.45 £15.15
$18.92 £14.02
8.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.71 £7.94
$10.02 £7.43
6.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 £1.94
$2.67 £1.98
-1.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 £2.50
$3.15 £2.33
7.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Edinburgh
Eastleigh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.76 £2.05
$3.28 £2.43
-15.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.9 £65.1
$88.6 £65.6
-0.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.48 £4.06
$5.38 £3.98
1.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.04 £2.25
$1.60 £1.19
90.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.23 £31.29
$23.23 £17.22
81.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 £1.39
$1.88 £1.39
-0.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K £28.0K
$38.1K £28.2K
-0.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8K £29.5K
$41.9K £31.0K
-4.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Edinburgh
Eastleigh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$383 £284
$297 £220
29.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.20 £12.74
$17.21 £12.75
-0.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.72 £33.14
$43.09 £31.93
3.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Edinburgh
Eastleigh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.5 £39.66
$46.43 £34.40
15.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.76 £18.34
$12.00 £8.89
106.33%
Cinema Ticket
$14.74 £10.93
$13.65 £10.11
7.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Edinburgh
Eastleigh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,892 £1,402
$1,595 £1,182
18.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K £17.4K
$18.3K £13.6K
28.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Edinburgh
Eastleigh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119 £88.1
$84.3 £62.4
41.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.2 £40.14
$44.15 £32.72
22.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 £85.4
$94.0 £69.6
22.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 £93.3
$99.2 £73.5
26.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Edinburgh
Eastleigh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 £1,223
$1,209 £896
36.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,212 £898
$1,001 £741
21.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,071 £2,276
$2,042 £1,513
50.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,188 £1,621
$1,708 £1,266
28.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,829 £5,060
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,906 £3,635
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Edinburgh
Eastleigh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,585 £2,657
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.63
5.63
-

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

Last update for Edinburgh: April 27, 2026

Last update for Eastleigh: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,651 in Edinburgh versus $1,209 in Eastleigh. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $104 in Edinburgh versus $80.0 in Eastleigh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $338 vs $296 – making Eastleigh 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 Eastleigh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Edinburgh or Eastleigh?
Edinburgh costs about 17% more than Eastleigh, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Edinburgh vs Eastleigh?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,055 per month in Edinburgh and $3,452 in Eastleigh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Edinburgh or Eastleigh?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Eastleigh, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Edinburgh vs Eastleigh?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $104 in Edinburgh and $80.0 in Eastleigh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Edinburgh compared to Eastleigh?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,704 in Edinburgh and $2,301 in Eastleigh. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Edinburgh or Eastleigh?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Eastleigh, where all-in costs run around $2,301, than in Edinburgh at $2,704. In Eastleigh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Edinburgh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Edinburgh or Eastleigh?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Eastleigh costs $2,301 versus $2,704 in Edinburgh. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Edinburgh compared to Eastleigh?
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 Edinburgh or Eastleigh?
If budget matters most, go with Eastleigh. 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.

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