Cost of Living Comparison Between Edinburgh and Epsom Cost of Living Comparison Between Edinburgh and Epsom

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,704 per month in Edinburgh vs $2,387 in Epsom, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,119 per month in Edinburgh vs $3,575 in Epsom, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,535 per month in Edinburgh vs $4,764 in Epsom, rent included.

Edinburgh costs about 13% more than Epsom, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Edinburgh and Epsom sit above the global median – Edinburgh by 102%, Epsom by 78%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Edinburgh
Epsom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.53 £15.21
$22.79 £16.89
-9.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$104 £76.9
$84.8 £62.9
22.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.92 £7.35
$10.70 £7.93
-7.29%
Cappuccino
$5.32 £3.94
$4.55 £3.37
16.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 £1.92
$2.75 £2.04
-5.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 £1.48
$1.84 £1.37
8.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.45 £5.52
$7.91 £5.86
-5.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.95 £5.15
$6.14 £4.55
13.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Edinburgh
Epsom
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 £1.22
$1.71 £1.27
-3.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.66 £1.23
$1.54 £1.14
7.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.09 £1.55
$2.53 £1.88
-17.39%
Eggs
$4.34 £3.22
$4.50 £3.33
-3.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.93 £8.84
$11.10 £8.22
7.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.21 £7.57
$7.36 £5.45
38.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.53 £13.73
$14.60 £10.81
26.92%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 £2.43
$3.35 £2.48
-2.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 £1.16
$2.00 £1.48
-22.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.21 £3.12
$2.92 £2.17
44.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.78 £3.54
$3.49 £2.58
36.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.75 £1.29
$1.68 £1.24
4.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 £1.11
$1.84 £1.36
-18.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 £0.87
$1.05 £0.78
12.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 £0.97
$1.87 £1.39
-30.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$20.45 £15.15
$16.78 £12.44
21.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.71 £7.94
$12.77 £9.46
-16.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 £1.94
$2.90 £2.15
-9.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 £2.50
$2.08 £1.54
62.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Edinburgh
Epsom
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.76 £2.05
$3.45 £2.55
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.9 £65.1
$87.9 £65.2
-0.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.48 £4.06
$4.58 £3.39
19.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.04 £2.25
$1.53 £1.14
98.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.23 £31.29
$16.58 £12.28
154.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 £1.39
$1.96 £1.45
-4.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K £28.0K
$37.7K £27.9K
0.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8K £29.5K
$38.7K £28.7K
2.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Edinburgh
Epsom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$383 £284
$348 £258
10.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.20 £12.74
$15.45 £11.45
11.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.72 £33.14
$41.56 £30.80
7.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Edinburgh
Epsom
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.5 £39.66
$46.16 £34.20
15.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.76 £18.34
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.74 £10.93
$20.26 £15.01
-27.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Edinburgh
Epsom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,892 £1,402
$1,277 £946
48.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K £17.4K
$18.1K £13.4K
30.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Edinburgh
Epsom
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119 £88.1
$85.5 £63.3
39.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.2 £40.14
$42.54 £31.52
27.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 £85.4
$88.1 £65.3
30.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 £93.3
$136 £101
-7.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Edinburgh
Epsom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 £1,223
$1,231 £912
34.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,212 £898
$1,009 £747
20.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,071 £2,276
$2,069 £1,533
48.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,188 £1,621
$1,709 £1,266
28.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,829 £5,060
$7,383 £5,471
-7.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,906 £3,635
$6,040 £4,476
-18.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Edinburgh
Epsom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,585 £2,657
$3,797 £2,814
-5.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.63
5.5
2.36%

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

Last update for Edinburgh: April 27, 2026

Last update for Epsom: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,651 in Edinburgh versus $1,231 in Epsom. 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 6% higher in Epsom, 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 $104 in Edinburgh versus $85.0 in Epsom. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $338 vs $312 – making Epsom 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 Epsom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Epsom cheaper than Edinburgh?
Yes – Edinburgh is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,055 per month in Edinburgh and $3,581 in Epsom. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Epsom, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Edinburgh or Epsom?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $104 in Edinburgh and $85.0 in Epsom. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Edinburgh vs Epsom?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,704 in Edinburgh and $2,387 in Epsom. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for Edinburgh or Epsom?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Epsom, where all-in costs run around $2,387, than in Edinburgh at $2,704. In Epsom it covers expenses comfortably, while in Edinburgh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Edinburgh or Epsom more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Epsom – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Edinburgh or Epsom?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Epsom. 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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