😐A single person spends $3,103 per month in Lewisham vs $2,736 in Edinburgh, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,031 per month in Lewisham vs $4,085 in Edinburgh, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,959 per month in Lewisham vs $5,435 in Edinburgh, rent included.
😐Lewisham costs about 13% more than Edinburgh, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Lewisham and Edinburgh sit above the global median – Lewisham by 133%, Edinburgh by 106%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lewisham
Edinburgh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.53£15.36
$20.57£15.39
-0.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.9£60.5
$103£76.7
-21.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.95£7.45
$10.02£7.49
-0.70%
Cappuccino
$4.73£3.54
$5.24£3.92
-9.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99£1.49
$2.54£1.90
-21.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85£1.39
$1.96£1.46
-5.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.73£6.53
$7.28£5.45
19.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.04£6.77
$6.88£5.15
31.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lewisham
Edinburgh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.12£1.58
$1.70£1.27
24.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.60£1.94
$1.73£1.29
50.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.07£2.30
$2.14£1.60
43.46%
Eggs
$5.82£4.36
$4.26£3.18
36.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.74£5.04
$12.00£8.98
-43.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.51£5.62
$10.58£7.92
-29.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.25£9.16
$18.31£13.69
-33.10%
Apples(1kg)
$4.81£3.60
$3.15£2.36
52.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59£1.19
$1.55£1.16
2.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83£2.12
$4.01£3.00
-29.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.18£3.12
$4.79£3.59
-12.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.62£1.21
$1.81£1.36
-10.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.69£2.01
$1.43£1.07
88.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.86£0.64
$1.21£0.90
-28.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50£1.13
$1.36£1.02
10.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$25.73£19.25
$20.70£15.48
24.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.09£8.29
$10.95£8.19
1.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.37£1.77
$2.59£1.94
-8.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94£1.45
$3.43£2.57
-43.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Lewisham
Edinburgh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$6.17£4.62
$2.67£2.00
131.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.6£65.5
$90.3£67.5
-3.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.76£4.31
$5.45£4.07
5.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.18£1.63
$3.12£2.33
-30.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.12£17.30
$42.72£31.96
-45.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.23£1.67
$1.93£1.45
15.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.6K£28.9K
$38.7K£28.9K
-0.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.3K£30.9K
$39.4K£29.4K
4.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lewisham
Edinburgh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$415£311
$385£288
7.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.43£13.04
$17.38£13.00
0.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.81£29.78
$44.71£33.45
-10.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lewisham
Edinburgh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.79£33.50
$54.8£40.99
-18.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.93£18.65
-
Cinema Ticket
$20.44£15.29
$14.65£10.96
39.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lewisham
Edinburgh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,584£1,185
$1,953£1,461
-18.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.7K£14.0K
$23.2K£17.4K
-19.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lewisham
Edinburgh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$158£118
$118£88.3
33.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.7£46.16
$54.5£40.80
13.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$149£112
$118£88.5
26.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$169£126
$123£92.1
36.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lewisham
Edinburgh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,121£1,586
$1,668£1,248
27.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,566£1,171
$1,209£905
29.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034£1,521
$3,102£2,321
-34.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,697£2,766
$2,181£1,632
69.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$6,695£5,008
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,621£3,457
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lewisham
Edinburgh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,955£2,959
$3,581£2,679
10.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.93
5.63
23.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lewisham: July 26, 2026
Last update for Edinburgh: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,121 in Lewisham versus $1,668 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 10% higher in Lewisham, 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 $81.0 in Lewisham versus $103 in Edinburgh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $313 vs $340 – making Lewisham 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
Lewisham vs Edinburgh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Edinburgh cheaper than Lewisham?
Yes – Lewisham is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $4,655 per month in Lewisham and $4,104 in Edinburgh. 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 Edinburgh, 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 Lewisham or in Edinburgh?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Lewisham and $103 in Edinburgh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Lewisham and in Edinburgh?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,103 in Lewisham and $2,736 in Edinburgh. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Lewisham or in Edinburgh?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,103 in Lewisham and $2,736 in Edinburgh. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Lewisham or Edinburgh more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Lewisham or Edinburgh?
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 Edinburgh. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lewisham makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.