😐A single person spends $2,767 per month in Edinburgh vs $2,168 in Oswestry, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,064 per month in Edinburgh vs $2,813 in Oswestry, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,361 per month in Edinburgh vs $3,457 in Oswestry, rent included.
😐Edinburgh costs about 28% more than Oswestry, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Edinburgh and Oswestry sit above the global median – Edinburgh by 106%, Oswestry by 62%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Edinburgh
Oswestry
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.73£15.44
$14.86£11.07
39.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$104£77.1
$69.1£51.5
49.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.95£7.41
$9.32£6.94
6.76%
Cappuccino
$5.32£3.97
$3.47£2.59
53.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61£1.94
$2.06£1.54
26.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01£1.50
$1.38£1.03
45.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.64£5.69
$3.99£2.97
91.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.93£5.16
$4.45£3.31
55.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Edinburgh
Oswestry
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65£1.23
$1.53£1.14
7.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.73£1.29
$1.56£1.16
10.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18£1.62
$2.54£1.89
-14.17%
Eggs
$4.37£3.26
$4.33£3.23
0.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.93£8.88
$10.61£7.90
12.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.25£7.63
$7.42£5.53
38.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.87£14.06
$15.46£11.51
22.06%
Apples(1kg)
$3.22£2.40
$2.18£1.62
47.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49£1.11
$1.77£1.32
-15.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.14£3.09
$2.87£2.13
44.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.74£3.53
$3.51£2.61
35.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82£1.36
$1.54£1.15
18.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42£1.06
$1.81£1.35
-21.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16£0.87
$1.04£0.77
11.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33£0.99
$1.19£0.89
11.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$20.21£15.06
$16.99£12.66
18.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.36£8.46
$9.74£7.26
16.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50£1.86
$2.66£1.98
-6.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27£2.44
$1.92£1.43
70.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Edinburgh
Oswestry
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.64£1.97
$3.04£2.26
-13.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.4£66.6
$89.0£66.3
0.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.58£4.16
$4.12£3.07
35.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.15£2.34
$1.38£1.03
128.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.77£31.86
$24.69£18.39
73.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95£1.45
$1.96£1.46
-0.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K£28.5K
$34.1K£25.4K
12.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K£28.9K
$43.2K£32.2K
-10.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Edinburgh
Oswestry
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$381£284
$254£190
49.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.32£12.91
$16.29£12.14
6.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.43£33.10
$43.15£32.15
2.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Edinburgh
Oswestry
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.5£40.60
$46.22£34.44
17.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.51£18.26
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.73£10.98
$11.40£8.49
29.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Edinburgh
Oswestry
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,944£1,448
$1,417£1,056
37.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.1K£18.0K
$13.9K£10.3K
73.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Edinburgh
Oswestry
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$118£88.1
$60.3£44.95
96.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.6£41.43
$36.10£26.90
54.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116£86.7
$58.0£43.19
100.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126£93.6
$82.8£61.7
51.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Edinburgh
Oswestry
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653£1,231
$1,246£928
32.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,201£895
$1,019£759
17.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,062£2,281
$1,020£760
200.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,168£1,615
$972£724
123.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,616£4,929
$5,146£3,834
28.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,869£3,628
$3,221£2,400
51.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Edinburgh
Oswestry
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,659£2,726
$2,227£1,659
64.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.63
5.79
-2.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Edinburgh: May 31, 2026
Last update for Oswestry: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,653 in Edinburgh versus $1,246 in Oswestry. 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 64% 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 $104 in Edinburgh versus $69.0 in Oswestry. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $288 – making Oswestry 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 Oswestry: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oswestry cheaper than Edinburgh?
Yes – Edinburgh is pricier by about 28%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $4,150 per month in Edinburgh and $3,252 in Oswestry. 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 Oswestry, 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 Oswestry?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $104 in Edinburgh and $69.0 in Oswestry. 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 Oswestry?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,767 in Edinburgh and $2,168 in Oswestry. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Edinburgh or Oswestry?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Oswestry, where all-in costs run around $2,168, than in Edinburgh at $2,767. In Oswestry it covers expenses comfortably, while in Edinburgh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Edinburgh or Oswestry more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Oswestry – 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 Oswestry?
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 Oswestry. 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.