Cost of Living Comparison Between Isle of Islay and Glasgow Cost of Living Comparison Between Isle of Islay and Glasgow

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,321 per month in Isle of Islay vs $2,505 in Glasgow, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,512 per month in Isle of Islay vs $3,735 in Glasgow, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,703 per month in Isle of Islay vs $4,966 in Glasgow, rent included.

Isle of Islay is about 7% cheaper than Glasgow, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Isle of Islay and Glasgow sit above the global median – Isle of Islay by 73%, Glasgow by 87%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.21 £15.16

$20.19 £15.14

0.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$96.4 £72.3

$98.0 £73.5

-1.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.09 £7.56

$9.35 £7.01

7.91%

Cappuccino

$4.48 £3.36

$4.76 £3.57

-5.88%

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

$2.24 £1.68

$2.18 £1.64

2.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 £1.02

$1.43 £1.07

-4.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.82 £4.36

$6.68 £5.01

-12.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 £4.28

$6.72 £5.04

-15.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 £1.59

$1.77 £1.32

19.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 £1.16

$1.64 £1.23

-6.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.54 £1.91

$2.64 £1.98

-3.79%

Eggs

$4.77 £3.58

$3.85 £2.89

23.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.48 £6.36

$10.17 £7.63

-16.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.64 £7.23

$9.21 £6.91

4.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.33 £11.49

$13.83 £10.37

10.85%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 £2.42

$3.26 £2.45

-0.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.40 £1.80

$1.79 £1.34

34.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.60 £1.95

$3.37 £2.53

-22.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.57 £3.43

$3.69 £2.77

23.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 £1.58

$1.65 £1.24

27.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.86 £1.39

$1.91 £1.43

-2.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 £0.92

$1.22 £0.91

0.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 £1.55

$1.59 £1.19

30.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.84 £14.12

$21.49 £16.11

-12.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.96 £8.97

$11.31 £8.48

5.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.28 £2.46

$3.01 £2.25

8.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 £2.19

$3.37 £2.53

-13.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.30 £2.47

$4.04 £3.03

-18.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.3 £65.5

$95.0 £71.2

-8.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.84 £3.63

$5.28 £3.96

-8.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 £1.14

$2.27 £1.70

-33.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.77 £17.07

$27.65 £20.73

-17.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.94 £1.46

$1.94 £1.45

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

$38.9K £29.2K

$38.8K £29.1K

0.30%

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

$46.4K £34.8K

$38.0K £28.5K

22.21%

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

$239 £179

$378 £283

-36.83%

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

$14.26 £10.69

$17.76 £13.32

-19.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.71 £35.02

$41.41 £31.05

12.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.59 £34.18

$51.3 £38.49

-11.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.32 £14.49

Cinema Ticket

$12.89 £9.66

$17.62 £13.21

-26.84%

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

$1,608 £1,206

$1,150 £862

39.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K £12.2K

$18.0K £13.5K

-9.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$99.0 £74.2

$125 £94.0

-21.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.1 £48.77

$50.6 £37.97

28.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 £103

$106 £79.4

29.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 £92.0

$107 £80.0

14.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,235 £926

$1,393 £1,045

-11.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 £754

$1,011 £758

-0.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,010 £1,507

$2,716 £2,036

-26.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,693 £1,269

$1,884 £1,413

-10.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,697 £3,522

$4,173 £3,129

12.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,091 £2,318

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,453 £2,589

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.9

5.32

10.90%

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

Last update for Isle of Islay: May 30, 2026

Last update for Glasgow: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,235 in Isle of Islay versus $1,393 in Glasgow. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $96.0 in Isle of Islay versus $98.0 in Glasgow. Groceries tell a different story – $335 in Isle of Islay vs $314 in Glasgow – so Glasgow wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Isle of Islay vs Glasgow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,321 in Isle of Islay, $2,505 in Glasgow – roughly 8% apart. Glasgow costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,481 per month in Isle of Islay and $3,757 in Glasgow. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $1,608 per month in Isle of Islay and $1,150 in Glasgow. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Glasgow – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Isle of Islay, where all-in costs run around $2,321, than in Glasgow at $2,505. In Isle of Islay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Glasgow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Glasgow has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,321 in Isle of Islay to $2,505 in Glasgow. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Isle of Islay. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Glasgow makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.