🙂A single person spends $2,441 per month in Stevenage vs $2,718 in Edinburgh, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,791 per month in Stevenage vs $4,120 in Edinburgh, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $5,141 per month in Stevenage vs $5,521 in Edinburgh, rent included.
🙂Stevenage is about 10% cheaper than Edinburgh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Stevenage and Edinburgh sit above the global median – Stevenage by 81%, Edinburgh by 102%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stevenage
Edinburgh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.89£19.93
$19.99£14.82
34.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.0£61.5
$103£76.1
-19.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.07£8.20
$9.87£7.31
12.16%
Cappuccino
$3.47£2.57
$5.33£3.95
-34.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66£1.23
$2.52£1.86
-34.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59£1.18
$1.96£1.45
-18.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.34£3.96
$7.33£5.43
-27.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.28£3.91
$6.66£4.94
-20.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stevenage
Edinburgh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88£1.39
$1.63£1.21
15.34%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52£1.13
$1.74£1.29
-12.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29£0.95
$2.07£1.54
-37.68%
Eggs
$3.21£2.38
$4.41£3.27
-27.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.95£8.85
$11.78£8.73
1.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.74£5.74
$10.59£7.85
-26.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.53£7.80
$18.60£13.78
-43.39%
Apples(1kg)
$3.65£2.71
$3.16£2.34
15.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50£1.11
$1.54£1.14
-2.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.30£2.44
$4.15£3.07
-20.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57£1.90
$4.77£3.53
-46.12%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94£0.69
$1.76£1.31
-46.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.39£1.03
$1.44£1.06
-3.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17£0.87
$1.20£0.89
-2.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03£0.77
$1.33£0.98
-22.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.47£12.20
$20.25£15.00
-18.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.18£6.81
$10.70£7.93
-14.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.66£1.97
$2.63£1.95
1.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53£2.62
$3.27£2.43
7.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Stevenage
Edinburgh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.43£2.54
$2.64£1.96
29.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$95.4£70.7
$88.3£65.4
8.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.65£3.45
$5.40£4.00
-13.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75£1.30
$3.07£2.28
-43.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.23£14.99
$43.53£32.25
-53.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91£1.41
$1.87£1.39
2.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K£28.6K
$37.7K£27.9K
2.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.7K£30.9K
$39.6K£29.3K
5.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stevenage
Edinburgh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$240£178
$378£280
-36.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.52£16.69
$17.18£12.73
31.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.43£27.00
$43.60£32.31
-16.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stevenage
Edinburgh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.6£41.17
$54.3£40.22
2.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.78£18.36
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.17£9.02
$14.99£11.11
-18.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stevenage
Edinburgh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,735£1,285
$1,888£1,399
-8.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.6K£13.7K
$23.6K£17.5K
-21.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stevenage
Edinburgh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.9£73.3
$117£86.9
-15.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.92£30.32
$55.2£40.91
-25.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.8£45.07
$115£85.5
-47.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.4£66.2
$124£92.2
-28.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stevenage
Edinburgh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,479£1,096
$1,666£1,235
-11.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,224£907
$1,241£919
-1.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,111£2,305
$3,075£2,278
1.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,355£1,745
$2,182£1,617
7.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$6,772£5,018
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,908£3,637
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stevenage
Edinburgh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,334£2,470
$3,670£2,719
-9.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.6
5.63
-0.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stevenage: April 13, 2026
Last update for Edinburgh: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,479 in Stevenage versus $1,666 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 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 $83 in Stevenage versus $103 in Edinburgh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $273 vs $339 – making Stevenage 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
Stevenage vs Edinburgh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Edinburgh cheaper than Stevenage?
Yes – Edinburgh is pricier by about 11%, 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 $3,662 per month in Stevenage and $4,078 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 Stevenage, 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 Stevenage or Edinburgh?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $83.0 in Stevenage 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 Stevenage vs Edinburgh?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,441 in Stevenage and $2,718 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 Stevenage or Edinburgh?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Stevenage, where all-in costs run around $2,441, than in Edinburgh at $2,718. In Stevenage it covers expenses comfortably, while in Edinburgh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Stevenage or Edinburgh more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Stevenage – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Stevenage 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 Stevenage. 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.