Cost of Living Comparison Between Slough and Edinburgh Cost of Living Comparison Between Slough and Edinburgh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,665 per month in Slough vs $2,704 in Edinburgh, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,932 per month in Slough vs $4,119 in Edinburgh, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,199 per month in Slough vs $5,535 in Edinburgh, rent included.

Slough is about 1% cheaper than Edinburgh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Slough and Edinburgh sit above the global median – Slough by 99%, Edinburgh by 102%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Slough
Edinburgh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.07 £14.87
$20.53 £15.21
-2.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.8 £65.8
$104 £76.9
-14.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.04 £8.18
$9.92 £7.35
11.29%
Cappuccino
$4.92 £3.65
$5.32 £3.94
-7.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 £2.19
$2.59 £1.92
14.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 £1.65
$2.00 £1.48
11.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.05 £4.48
$7.45 £5.52
-18.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.61 £4.89
$6.95 £5.15
-4.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Slough
Edinburgh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 £1.06
$1.65 £1.22
-13.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 £0.97
$1.66 £1.23
-21.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.63 £1.95
$2.09 £1.55
25.84%
Eggs
$3.54 £2.62
$4.34 £3.22
-18.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 £7.40
$11.93 £8.84
-16.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.15 £6.04
$10.21 £7.57
-20.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.33 £9.88
$18.53 £13.73
-28.06%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 £2.18
$3.28 £2.43
-10.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 £1.15
$1.56 £1.16
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.98 £2.21
$4.21 £3.12
-29.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.27 £2.43
$4.78 £3.54
-31.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 £1.10
$1.75 £1.29
-14.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.52 £1.13
$1.50 £1.11
1.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 £0.75
$1.18 £0.87
-14.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 £1.13
$1.30 £0.97
16.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$20.72 £15.35
$20.45 £15.15
1.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.37 £6.94
$10.71 £7.94
-12.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 £1.72
$2.62 £1.94
-11.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 £2.00
$3.38 £2.50
-20.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Slough
Edinburgh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.68 £4.21
$2.76 £2.05
105.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.5 £66.3
$87.9 £65.1
1.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.05 £4.48
$5.48 £4.06
10.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 £1.02
$3.04 £2.25
-54.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.74 £10.92
$42.23 £31.29
-65.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.95 £1.45
$1.87 £1.39
4.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K £28.9K
$37.8K £28.0K
3.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.7K £30.9K
$39.8K £29.5K
4.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Slough
Edinburgh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$297 £220
$383 £284
-22.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.24 £14.25
$17.20 £12.74
11.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52 £29.29
$44.72 £33.14
-11.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Slough
Edinburgh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.95 £25.89
$53.5 £39.66
-34.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.38 £2.51
$24.76 £18.34
-86.35%
Cinema Ticket
$16.36 £12.12
$14.74 £10.93
10.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Slough
Edinburgh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,882 £1,394
$1,892 £1,402
-0.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.8K £16.9K
$23.5K £17.4K
-3.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Slough
Edinburgh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.4 £61.8
$119 £88.1
-29.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.91 £30.32
$54.2 £40.14
-24.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.9 £65.8
$115 £85.4
-22.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 £74.1
$126 £93.3
-20.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Slough
Edinburgh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,606 £1,190
$1,651 £1,223
-2.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,391 £1,031
$1,212 £898
14.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,026 £2,242
$3,071 £2,276
-1.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,475 £1,834
$2,188 £1,621
13.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$27.0K £20.0K
$6,829 £5,060
296.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$20.4K £15.1K
$4,906 £3,635
315.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Slough
Edinburgh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,980 £2,208
$3,585 £2,657
-16.89%
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 Slough: April 27, 2026

Last update for Edinburgh: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,606 in Slough versus $1,651 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 20% 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 $89.0 in Slough versus $104 in Edinburgh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $281 vs $338 – making Slough 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
Slough vs Edinburgh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Edinburgh cheaper than Slough?
Yes – Edinburgh is pricier by about 1%, 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 $3,997 per month in Slough and $4,055 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 Slough, 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 Slough or Edinburgh?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Slough and $104 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 Slough vs Edinburgh?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,665 in Slough and $2,704 in Edinburgh. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 enough to cover costs in Slough or Edinburgh?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,665 in Slough and $2,704 in Edinburgh. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Slough or Edinburgh more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Slough – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Slough 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 Slough. 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.

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