Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilford and Edinburgh Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilford and Edinburgh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,005 per month in Ilford vs $2,767 in Edinburgh, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,949 per month in Ilford vs $4,064 in Edinburgh, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,893 per month in Ilford vs $5,361 in Edinburgh, rent included.

Ilford costs about 9% more than Edinburgh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ilford and Edinburgh sit above the global median – Ilford by 124%, Edinburgh by 106%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.59 £15.30

$20.73 £15.41

-0.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 £65.7

$104 £76.9

-14.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.70 £7.96

$9.95 £7.40

7.54%

Cappuccino

$4.68 £3.48

$5.32 £3.96

-12.03%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 £1.13

$2.61 £1.94

-42.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 £0.81

$2.01 £1.49

-45.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.29 £3.93

$7.64 £5.68

-30.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.28 £4.67

$6.93 £5.15

-9.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 £1.05

$1.65 £1.23

-14.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 £1.05

$1.73 £1.29

-18.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 £1.61

$2.18 £1.62

-0.46%

Eggs

$3.62 £2.69

$4.37 £3.25

-17.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 £6.20

$11.93 £8.86

-30.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.44 £6.27

$10.25 £7.62

-17.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.32 £9.90

$18.87 £14.03

-29.41%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 £2.40

$3.22 £2.40

0.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 £1.16

$1.49 £1.11

4.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.87 £2.13

$4.14 £3.08

-30.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.91 £2.16

$4.74 £3.52

-38.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 £1.29

$1.82 £1.35

-4.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 £1.12

$1.42 £1.05

6.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 £0.96

$1.16 £0.87

11.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 £1.04

$1.33 £0.99

5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$20.45 £15.20

$20.21 £15.02

1.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.04 £6.72

$11.36 £8.44

-20.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.73 £2.03

$2.50 £1.86

9.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 £1.81

$3.27 £2.43

-25.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.48 £2.59

$2.64 £1.96

31.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.4 £66.4

$89.4 £66.5

-0.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.14 £4.57

$5.58 £4.15

10.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 £1.58

$3.15 £2.34

-32.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.52 £21.94

$42.77 £31.79

-30.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.93 £1.44

$1.95 £1.45

-1.03%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$38.3K £28.5K

$38.2K £28.4K

0.24%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.6K £28.7K

$38.8K £28.9K

-0.66%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$318 £236

$381 £283

-16.65%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.22 £12.05

$17.32 £12.88

-6.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.41 £26.32

$44.43 £33.03

-20.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.63 £21.28

$54.5 £40.51

-47.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.51 £18.22

Cinema Ticket

$20.71 £15.39

$14.73 £10.95

40.60%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,880 £1,397

$1,944 £1,445

-3.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.6K £16.8K

$24.1K £17.9K

-6.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 £76.3

$118 £87.9

-13.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.29 £30.69

$55.6 £41.34

-25.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 £66.9

$116 £86.5

-22.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.8 £73.4

$126 £93.4

-21.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,387 £1,031

$1,653 £1,229

-16.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,747 £1,299

$1,201 £893

45.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,015 £2,241

$3,062 £2,276

-1.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,191 £1,628

$2,168 £1,612

1.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,616 £4,918

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,869 £3,619

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,566 £2,651

$3,659 £2,720

-2.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.45

5.63

-3.20%

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

Last update for Ilford: May 31, 2026

Last update for Edinburgh: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,387 in Ilford versus $1,653 in Edinburgh. 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 3% higher in Edinburgh, 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 $88.0 in Ilford versus $104 in Edinburgh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $340 – making Ilford 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

Ilford vs Edinburgh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ilford costs about 9% more than Edinburgh, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,508 per month in Ilford and $4,150 in Edinburgh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Edinburgh, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Ilford and $104 in Edinburgh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,005 in Ilford and $2,767 in Edinburgh. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Edinburgh, where all-in costs run around $2,767, than in Ilford at $3,005. In Edinburgh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ilford it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Edinburgh – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Edinburgh. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ilford makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.