Cost of Living Comparison Between Edinburgh and Shrewsbury, Shropshire Cost of Living Comparison Between Edinburgh and Shrewsbury, Shropshire

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,718 per month in Edinburgh vs $2,092 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,120 per month in Edinburgh vs $2,937 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,521 per month in Edinburgh vs $3,781 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, rent included.

Edinburgh costs about 30% more than Shrewsbury, Shropshire, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Edinburgh and Shrewsbury, Shropshire sit above the global median – Edinburgh by 102%, Shrewsbury, Shropshire by 55%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Edinburgh
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.99 £14.82
$16.11 £11.94
24.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$103 £76.1
$66.8 £49.48
53.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.87 £7.31
$8.58 £6.36
15.03%
Cappuccino
$5.33 £3.95
$4.27 £3.17
24.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 £1.86
$2.65 £1.97
-4.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 £1.45
$1.77 £1.31
10.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.33 £5.43
$5.41 £4.01
35.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.66 £4.94
$5.42 £4.02
22.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Edinburgh
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 £1.21
$1.62 £1.20
0.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 £1.29
$1.79 £1.33
-2.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 £1.54
$2.17 £1.61
-4.61%
Eggs
$4.41 £3.27
$4.10 £3.04
7.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.78 £8.73
$8.05 £5.97
46.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.59 £7.85
$9.29 £6.88
13.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.60 £13.78
$9.41 £6.97
97.66%
Apples (1kg)
$3.16 £2.34
$2.32 £1.72
36.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 £1.14
$1.18 £0.87
30.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.15 £3.07
$2.47 £1.83
68.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.77 £3.53
$1.23 £0.91
287.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 £1.31
$1.33 £0.98
32.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.44 £1.06
$1.45 £1.07
-0.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 £0.89
$1.00 £0.74
20.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 £0.98
$1.31 £0.97
1.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$20.25 £15.00
$16.65 £12.33
21.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.70 £7.93
$9.41 £6.97
13.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 £1.95
$2.45 £1.82
7.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 £2.43
$3.59 £2.66
-8.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Edinburgh
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.64 £1.96
$2.69 £1.99
-1.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.3 £65.4
$87.1 £64.5
1.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.40 £4.00
$5.36 £3.98
0.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.07 £2.28
$1.14 £0.84
169.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.53 £32.25
$24.69 £18.29
76.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 £1.39
$1.96 £1.46
-4.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K £27.9K
$32.6K £24.2K
15.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K £29.3K
$32.0K £23.7K
23.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Edinburgh
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$378 £280
$298 £221
27.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.18 £12.73
$22.74 £16.85
-24.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.60 £32.31
$39.26 £29.09
11.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Edinburgh
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 £40.22
$86.0 £63.7
-36.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.78 £18.36
$11.01 £8.16
125.07%
Cinema Ticket
$14.99 £11.11
$13.63 £10.10
9.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Edinburgh
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,888 £1,399
$1,270 £941
48.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.6K £17.5K
$16.3K £12.1K
44.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Edinburgh
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$117 £86.9
$60.4 £44.74
94.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.2 £40.91
$41.53 £30.77
32.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 £85.5
$84.7 £62.8
36.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 £92.2
$99.0 £73.4
25.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Edinburgh
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,666 £1,235
$1,072 £795
55.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,241 £919
$875 £648
41.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,075 £2,278
$1,589 £1,178
93.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,182 £1,617
$1,268 £940
72.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,772 £5,018
$4,124 £3,056
64.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,908 £3,637
$3,016 £2,235
62.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Edinburgh
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,670 £2,719
$2,731 £2,023
34.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.63
5.9
-4.58%

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

Last update for Edinburgh: April 12, 2026

Last update for Shrewsbury, Shropshire: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,666 in Edinburgh versus $1,072 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. 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 34% 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 $103 in Edinburgh versus $67 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $339 vs $258 – making Shrewsbury, Shropshire 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 Shrewsbury, Shropshire: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shrewsbury, Shropshire cheaper than Edinburgh?
Yes – Edinburgh is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $4,078 per month in Edinburgh and $3,138 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. 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 Shrewsbury, Shropshire, 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 Shrewsbury, Shropshire?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $103 in Edinburgh and $67.0 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. 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 Shrewsbury, Shropshire?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,718 in Edinburgh and $2,092 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Edinburgh or Shrewsbury, Shropshire?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, where all-in costs run around $2,092, than in Edinburgh at $2,718. In Shrewsbury, Shropshire it covers expenses comfortably, while in Edinburgh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Edinburgh or Shrewsbury, Shropshire more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Shrewsbury, Shropshire – 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 Shrewsbury, Shropshire?
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 Shrewsbury, Shropshire. 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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