Cost of living · Edinburgh · 2026
What salary do you need to live in Edinburgh?
What salary do you need to live in Edinburgh?
To cover the essentials living alone in Edinburgh — about £1,900 a month — you need to earn roughly £27,000 a year before tax. To live comfortably, with money left for savings and extras, closer to £38,000. Rent alone is £1,250 a month.
Verified 12 August 2026
To get by £27,000 Covers rent and essentials with little spare
To be comfortable £38,000 Essentials plus room to save and enjoy the city
What it costs to live in Edinburgh
| Monthly cost | |
|---|---|
| Rent (one-bed) | £1,250 |
| Council tax | £120 |
| Utilities & bills | £180 |
| Transport | £65 |
| Food | £285 |
| Total | £1,900 |
On the £27,000 "get by" salary, your take-home is about £1,913 a month — just covering the £1,900 of essentials.
Sharing changes everything. Splitting rent and bills with a flatmate can cut the salary you need by thousands. Run your own numbers →