😐A single person spends $2,772 per month in Edinburgh vs $2,322 in Sutton, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,140 per month in Edinburgh vs $3,441 in Sutton, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,508 per month in Edinburgh vs $4,560 in Sutton, rent included.
😐Edinburgh costs about 19% more than Sutton, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Edinburgh and Sutton sit above the global median – Edinburgh by 107%, Sutton by 74%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Edinburgh
Sutton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.15£15.00
$27.43£20.42
-26.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101£74.9
$94.6£70.4
6.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.00£7.45
$10.76£8.01
-7.06%
Cappuccino
$5.41£4.03
$4.94£3.68
9.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51£1.87
$2.76£2.05
-9.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03£1.51
$1.78£1.33
14.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.52£5.60
$8.25£6.14
-8.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.81£5.07
$6.75£5.02
0.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Edinburgh
Sutton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68£1.25
$1.77£1.32
-5.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74£1.30
$1.36£1.02
27.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.08£1.55
$2.44£1.82
-14.75%
Eggs
$4.25£3.17
$3.59£2.67
18.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.14£9.04
$9.97£7.42
21.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.48£7.80
$8.23£6.12
27.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73£13.94
$13.15£9.79
42.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.12£2.33
$3.01£2.24
3.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55£1.16
$1.55£1.15
-
Oranges(1kg)
$4.12£3.07
$2.88£2.14
43.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.60£3.42
$3.25£2.42
41.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83£1.36
$1.48£1.10
23.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.43£1.07
$1.37£1.02
4.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22£0.91
$0.96£0.71
27.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35£1.01
$1.52£1.13
-11.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$20.18£15.02
$20.61£15.34
-2.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.18£8.32
$13.11£9.76
-14.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50£1.86
$2.34£1.74
6.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29£2.45
$3.49£2.60
-5.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Edinburgh
Sutton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.70£2.01
$3.24£2.41
-16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.4£66.6
$87.6£65.2
2.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.31£3.95
$5.52£4.11
-3.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.01£2.24
$1.57£1.17
91.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.48£31.63
$14.97£11.15
183.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94£1.44
$1.96£1.46
-1.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K£28.9K
$38.2K£28.5K
1.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9K£29.7K
$39.0K£29.0K
2.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Edinburgh
Sutton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$381£283
$224£166
70.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.69£13.17
$19.32£14.38
-8.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.83£32.63
$44.58£33.19
-1.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Edinburgh
Sutton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.6£39.91
$45.51£33.88
17.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.17£17.99
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.01£11.18
$14.15£10.54
6.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Edinburgh
Sutton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,937£1,442
$1,927£1,435
0.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.8K£17.7K
$26.3K£19.6K
-9.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Edinburgh
Sutton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119£88.8
$83.4£62.1
42.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.6£40.63
$48.27£35.94
13.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117£87.4
$110£81.9
6.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123£91.3
$98.0£73.0
25.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Edinburgh
Sutton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,616£1,203
$1,236£920
30.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232£918
$1,006£749
22.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098£2,306
$2,013£1,499
53.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,186£1,627
$1,665£1,239
31.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,544£4,872
$5,640£4,199
16.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,733£3,523
$7,449£5,546
-36.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Edinburgh
Sutton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,601£2,681
$4,446£3,310
-19.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.63
5.53
1.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Edinburgh: July 13, 2026
Last update for Sutton: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,616 in Edinburgh versus $1,236 in Sutton. 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 23% higher in Sutton, 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 $101 in Edinburgh versus $95.0 in Sutton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $292 – making Sutton 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 Sutton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sutton cheaper than Edinburgh?
Yes – Edinburgh is pricier by about 19%, 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 $4,158 per month in Edinburgh and $3,484 in Sutton. 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 Sutton, 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 in Sutton?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Edinburgh and $95.0 in Sutton. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Edinburgh and in Sutton?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,772 in Edinburgh and $2,322 in Sutton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Edinburgh or in Sutton?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sutton, where all-in costs run around $2,322, than in Edinburgh at $2,772. In Sutton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Edinburgh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Edinburgh or Sutton more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sutton – 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 Sutton?
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 Sutton. 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.