😐A single person spends $2,674 per month in Edinburgh vs $2,119 in Taunton, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,023 per month in Edinburgh vs $3,314 in Taunton, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,372 per month in Edinburgh vs $4,509 in Taunton, rent included.
😐Edinburgh costs about 26% more than Taunton, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Edinburgh and Taunton sit above the global median – Edinburgh by 100%, Taunton by 59%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Edinburgh
Taunton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.30£15.17
$15.83£11.83
28.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101£75.8
$83.6£62.5
21.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.07£7.53
$8.60£6.43
17.09%
Cappuccino
$5.17£3.87
$3.74£2.79
38.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51£1.87
$1.86£1.39
34.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04£1.52
$1.38£1.03
47.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.29£5.45
$4.70£3.51
55.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.59£4.93
$5.51£4.12
19.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Edinburgh
Taunton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68£1.26
$1.56£1.17
7.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.67£1.25
$1.69£1.27
-1.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17£1.62
$2.68£2.01
-19.03%
Eggs
$4.38£3.27
$4.85£3.63
-9.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.07£9.02
$9.92£7.41
21.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.58£7.90
$9.22£6.89
14.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.69£13.97
$14.77£11.04
26.54%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17£2.37
$1.95£1.46
62.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49£1.12
$1.10£0.83
35.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.05£3.03
$3.67£2.75
10.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.71£3.52
$3.33£2.49
41.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79£1.34
$1.18£0.88
51.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45£1.08
$1.28£0.96
13.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16£0.87
$1.51£1.13
-23.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.37£1.03
$1.61£1.20
-14.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$20.09£15.01
$24.06£17.98
-16.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.24£8.40
$9.75£7.29
15.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.58£1.93
$2.14£1.60
20.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36£2.51
$4.12£3.08
-18.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Edinburgh
Taunton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.67£2.00
$3.31£2.47
-19.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.7£67.1
$89.2£66.6
0.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.57£4.16
$3.04£2.27
83.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.04£2.27
$1.74£1.30
74.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.13£31.49
$23.06£17.23
82.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91£1.42
$1.97£1.48
-3.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0K£28.4K
$39.1K£29.2K
-2.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9K£29.8K
$39.4K£29.5K
1.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Edinburgh
Taunton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$382£285
$353£263
8.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.32£12.95
$15.36£11.48
12.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.52£32.52
$43.34£32.39
0.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Edinburgh
Taunton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.5£40.74
$60.4£45.12
-9.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.48£18.30
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.67£10.96
$13.16£9.83
11.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Edinburgh
Taunton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,907£1,425
$2,715£2,029
-29.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.3K£17.4K
$8,085£6,043
188.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Edinburgh
Taunton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$117£87.1
$53.4£39.91
118.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8£41.72
$51.5£38.48
8.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118£88.2
$94.6£70.7
24.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124£92.3
$82.9£62.0
49.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Edinburgh
Taunton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,622£1,212
$1,091£815
48.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,240£927
$803£601
54.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,054£2,283
$2,013£1,505
51.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,224£1,662
$1,862£1,391
19.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,732£5,032
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,663£3,485
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Edinburgh
Taunton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,572£2,670
$3,321£2,482
7.55%
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: July 19, 2026
Last update for Taunton: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,622 in Edinburgh versus $1,091 in Taunton. 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 8% 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 $101 in Edinburgh versus $84.0 in Taunton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $341 vs $300 – making Taunton 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 Taunton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Taunton cheaper than Edinburgh?
Yes – Edinburgh is pricier by about 26%, 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 $4,011 per month in Edinburgh and $3,179 in Taunton. 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 Taunton, 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 Taunton?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Edinburgh and $84.0 in Taunton. 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 Taunton?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,674 in Edinburgh and $2,119 in Taunton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Edinburgh or in Taunton?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Taunton, where all-in costs run around $2,119, than in Edinburgh at $2,674. In Taunton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Edinburgh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Edinburgh or Taunton more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Taunton – 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 Taunton?
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 Taunton. 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.