Cost of Living Comparison Between Sutton and Edinburgh Cost of Living Comparison Between Sutton and Edinburgh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,229 per month in Sutton vs $2,691 in Edinburgh, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,085 per month in Sutton vs $4,039 in Edinburgh, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,941 per month in Sutton vs $5,386 in Edinburgh, rent included.

Sutton is about 17% cheaper than Edinburgh, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sutton and Edinburgh sit above the global median – Sutton by 62%, Edinburgh by 96%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sutton
Edinburgh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.18 £20.11
$24.27 £17.95
11.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.0 £70.3
$109 £81.0
-13.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.00 £8.13
$10.91 £8.07
0.82%
Cappuccino
$4.99 £3.69
$5.18 £3.83
-3.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 £2.12
$2.53 £1.87
13.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 £1.57
$2.17 £1.60
-1.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.90 £6.58
$8.19 £6.06
8.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.96 £5.15
$8.12 £6.01
-14.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sutton
Edinburgh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.96 £1.45
$1.76 £1.30
11.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.73 £1.28
$2.33 £1.72
-25.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.44 £1.81
$2.33 £1.72
4.72%
Eggs
$3.70 £2.74
$5.09 £3.76
-27.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.42 £8.45
$9.30 £6.88
22.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.75 £6.48
$9.54 £7.06
-8.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.65 £9.36
$15.99 £11.83
-20.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.03 £2.24
$3.01 £2.22
0.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 £1.10
$1.79 £1.33
-17.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 £2.07
$3.46 £2.56
-19.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.25 £2.41
$3.53 £2.61
-7.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.62 £1.20
$2.19 £1.62
-26.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 £1.01
$1.52 £1.12
-9.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 £0.75
$1.27 £0.94
-19.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56 £1.15
$1.91 £1.41
-18.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.87 £17.66
$24.28 £17.96
-1.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.57 £10.04
$11.30 £8.36
20.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 £1.72
$3.02 £2.23
-22.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 £2.40
$3.17 £2.35
2.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Sutton
Edinburgh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.29 £2.44
$2.95 £2.18
11.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$101 £74.6
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.53 £4.09
$5.45 £4.03
1.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 £2.47
$1.95 £1.44
70.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.37 £9.89
$28.94 £21.41
-53.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 £1.48
$2.05 £1.52
-2.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9K £28.8K
$39.3K £29.0K
-0.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.5K £30.7K
$41.4K £30.6K
0.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sutton
Edinburgh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$284 £210
$343 £254
-17.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.14 £13.42
$17.03 £12.60
6.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.20 £30.48
$43.01 £31.82
-4.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sutton
Edinburgh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$47.96 £35.48
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$23.68 £17.52
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.08 £11.16
$15.04 £11.13
0.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sutton
Edinburgh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,821 £1,347
$1,824 £1,350
-0.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.1K £22.3K
$25.5K £18.8K
18.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sutton
Edinburgh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.3 £56.4
$85.8 £63.5
-11.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.8 £40.55
$50.3 £37.21
8.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 £87.4
$108 £79.6
9.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 £80.0
$118 £87.6
-8.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sutton
Edinburgh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,550 £1,146
$1,644 £1,217
-5.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$940 £695
$1,229 £909
-23.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,660 £1,968
$2,844 £2,104
-6.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,160 £858
$2,187 £1,618
-46.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$6,732 £4,980
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,651 £5,660
$4,734 £3,502
61.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sutton
Edinburgh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,389 £3,247
$3,581 £2,649
22.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
4.78
4.60%

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

Last update for Sutton: August 29, 2026

Last update for Edinburgh: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,550 in Sutton versus $1,644 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 23% higher in Sutton, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in Sutton versus $109 in Edinburgh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $333 – making Sutton 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
Sutton vs Edinburgh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Edinburgh cheaper than Sutton?
Yes – Edinburgh is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $3,344 per month in Sutton and $4,037 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 Sutton, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Sutton and in Edinburgh?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,229 in Sutton and $2,691 in Edinburgh. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,821 per month in Sutton and $1,824 in Edinburgh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Sutton or in Edinburgh?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sutton, where all-in costs run around $2,229, than in Edinburgh at $2,691. In Sutton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Edinburgh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sutton or Edinburgh more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sutton – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Sutton 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 Sutton. 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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