🙂A single person spends $2,347 per month in Newquay vs $2,772 in Edinburgh, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,378 per month in Newquay vs $4,140 in Edinburgh, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,409 per month in Newquay vs $5,508 in Edinburgh, rent included.
🙂Newquay is about 15% cheaper than Edinburgh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Newquay and Edinburgh sit above the global median – Newquay by 76%, Edinburgh by 107%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Newquay
Edinburgh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.00£14.89
$20.15£15.00
-0.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.6£60.0
$101£74.9
-19.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.55£7.11
$10.00£7.45
-4.50%
Cappuccino
$4.09£3.05
$5.41£4.03
-24.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36£1.75
$2.51£1.87
-5.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77£1.31
$2.03£1.51
-12.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.94£4.42
$7.52£5.60
-21.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.37£4.00
$6.81£5.07
-21.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Newquay
Edinburgh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63£1.21
$1.68£1.25
-2.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.21£0.90
$1.74£1.30
-30.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.65£1.97
$2.08£1.55
27.40%
Eggs
$3.41£2.54
$4.25£3.17
-19.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.78£7.28
$12.14£9.04
-19.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.90£5.14
$10.48£7.80
-34.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.40£9.98
$18.73£13.94
-28.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68£1.99
$3.12£2.33
-14.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48£1.10
$1.55£1.16
-4.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30£1.71
$4.12£3.07
-44.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24£1.67
$4.60£3.42
-51.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70£1.27
$1.83£1.36
-7.10%
Onion(1kg)
$1.29£0.96
$1.43£1.07
-9.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.93£0.70
$1.22£0.91
-23.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39£1.04
$1.35£1.01
2.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.69£13.17
$20.18£15.02
-12.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.89£8.11
$11.18£8.32
-2.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.59£1.93
$2.50£1.86
3.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54£1.89
$3.29£2.45
-22.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Newquay
Edinburgh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.32£2.47
$2.70£2.01
22.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.9£65.4
$89.4£66.6
-1.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.02£2.99
$5.31£3.95
-24.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.54£1.89
$3.01£2.24
-15.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.40£18.91
$42.48£31.63
-40.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87£1.39
$1.94£1.44
-3.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K£28.4K
$38.8K£28.9K
-1.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.9K£28.9K
$39.9K£29.7K
-2.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Newquay
Edinburgh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$347£259
$381£283
-8.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.50£12.28
$17.69£13.17
-6.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.78£33.34
$43.83£32.63
2.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Newquay
Edinburgh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.86£35.63
$53.6£39.91
-10.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.25£7.63
$24.17£17.99
-57.59%
Cinema Ticket
$11.75£8.75
$15.01£11.18
-21.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Newquay
Edinburgh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,336£1,739
$1,937£1,442
20.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.0K£17.9K
$23.8K£17.7K
0.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Newquay
Edinburgh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.3£65.0
$119£88.8
-26.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.64£35.47
$54.6£40.63
-12.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102£75.9
$117£87.4
-13.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.8£67.6
$123£91.3
-25.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Newquay
Edinburgh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,228£914
$1,616£1,203
-24.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$989£736
$1,232£918
-19.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,999£1,488
$3,098£2,306
-35.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,687£1,256
$2,186£1,627
-22.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$6,544£4,872
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,733£3,523
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Newquay
Edinburgh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,119£1,578
$3,601£2,681
-41.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.82
5.63
3.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Newquay: July 12, 2026
Last update for Edinburgh: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,228 in Newquay versus $1,616 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 70% 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 $81.0 in Newquay versus $101 in Edinburgh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $340 – making Newquay 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
Newquay vs Edinburgh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Edinburgh cheaper than Newquay?
Yes – Edinburgh is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $3,521 per month in Newquay and $4,158 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 Newquay, 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 Newquay or in Edinburgh?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Newquay and $101 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 Newquay and in Edinburgh?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,347 in Newquay and $2,772 in Edinburgh. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Newquay or in Edinburgh?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Newquay, where all-in costs run around $2,347, than in Edinburgh at $2,772. In Newquay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Edinburgh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Newquay or Edinburgh more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Newquay – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Newquay 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 Newquay. 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.