Cost of Living Comparison Between Edinburgh and Slough Cost of Living Comparison Between Edinburgh and Slough

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,704 per month in Edinburgh vs $2,665 in Slough, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,119 per month in Edinburgh vs $3,932 in Slough, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,535 per month in Edinburgh vs $5,199 in Slough, rent included.

Edinburgh costs about 1% more than Slough, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Edinburgh and Slough sit above the global median – Edinburgh by 102%, Slough by 99%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Edinburgh
Slough
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.53 £15.21
$20.07 £14.87
2.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$104 £76.9
$88.8 £65.8
16.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.92 £7.35
$11.04 £8.18
-10.14%
Cappuccino
$5.32 £3.94
$4.92 £3.65
8.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 £1.92
$2.96 £2.19
-12.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 £1.48
$2.22 £1.65
-9.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.45 £5.52
$6.05 £4.48
23.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.95 £5.15
$6.61 £4.89
5.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Edinburgh
Slough
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 £1.22
$1.43 £1.06
15.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.66 £1.23
$1.31 £0.97
26.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.09 £1.55
$2.63 £1.95
-20.53%
Eggs
$4.34 £3.22
$3.54 £2.62
22.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.93 £8.84
$9.99 £7.40
19.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.21 £7.57
$8.15 £6.04
25.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.53 £13.73
$13.33 £9.88
39.01%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 £2.43
$2.94 £2.18
11.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 £1.16
$1.56 £1.15
-
Oranges (1kg)
$4.21 £3.12
$2.98 £2.21
41.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.78 £3.54
$3.27 £2.43
46.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.75 £1.29
$1.49 £1.10
17.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 £1.11
$1.52 £1.13
-1.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 £0.87
$1.01 £0.75
16.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 £0.97
$1.52 £1.13
-14.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$20.45 £15.15
$20.72 £15.35
-1.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.71 £7.94
$9.37 £6.94
14.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 £1.94
$2.33 £1.72
12.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 £2.50
$2.69 £2.00
25.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Edinburgh
Slough
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.76 £2.05
$5.68 £4.21
-51.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.9 £65.1
$89.5 £66.3
-1.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.48 £4.06
$6.05 £4.48
-9.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.04 £2.25
$1.38 £1.02
120.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.23 £31.29
$14.74 £10.92
186.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 £1.39
$1.95 £1.45
-4.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K £28.0K
$39.0K £28.9K
-3.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8K £29.5K
$41.7K £30.9K
-4.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Edinburgh
Slough
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$383 £284
$297 £220
28.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.20 £12.74
$19.24 £14.25
-10.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.72 £33.14
$39.52 £29.29
13.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Edinburgh
Slough
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.5 £39.66
$34.95 £25.89
53.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.76 £18.34
$3.38 £2.51
632.54%
Cinema Ticket
$14.74 £10.93
$16.36 £12.12
-9.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Edinburgh
Slough
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,892 £1,402
$1,882 £1,394
0.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K £17.4K
$22.8K £16.9K
3.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Edinburgh
Slough
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119 £88.1
$83.4 £61.8
42.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.2 £40.14
$40.91 £30.32
32.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 £85.4
$88.9 £65.8
29.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 £93.3
$100 £74.1
25.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Edinburgh
Slough
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 £1,223
$1,606 £1,190
2.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,212 £898
$1,391 £1,031
-12.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,071 £2,276
$3,026 £2,242
1.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,188 £1,621
$2,475 £1,834
-11.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,829 £5,060
$27.0K £20.0K
-74.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,906 £3,635
$20.4K £15.1K
-75.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Edinburgh
Slough
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,585 £2,657
$2,980 £2,208
20.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.63
5.45
3.30%

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

Last update for Edinburgh: April 27, 2026

Last update for Slough: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,651 in Edinburgh versus $1,606 in Slough. 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 20% 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 $89.0 in Slough. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $338 vs $281 – making Slough 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 Slough: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Slough cheaper than Edinburgh?
Yes – Edinburgh is pricier by about 1%, 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 $4,055 per month in Edinburgh and $3,997 in Slough. 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 Slough, 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 Slough?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $104 in Edinburgh and $89.0 in Slough. 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 Slough?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,704 in Edinburgh and $2,665 in Slough. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 enough to cover costs in Edinburgh or Slough?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,704 in Edinburgh and $2,665 in Slough. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Edinburgh or Slough more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Slough – 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 Slough?
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 Slough. 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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