How much do you need to earn to live here, after U.K. takes its share?
Here's the gross monthly salary that covers rent, food, transport, and utilities once U.K.'s tax system has taken its cut. (2026)
The floor in Edinburgh is roughly £2,099/month gross, on a lean budget.
For something that feels comfortable, think £2,768/month gross (£2,198 net after ~21% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | £850 Cheapest neighborhood (Leith) | £1,200 Median neighborhood | £1,600 Premium neighborhood (New Town) |
| Groceries | £300 | £360 | £450 |
| Transport | £73 | £73 | £73 |
| Utilities | £310 | £310 | £310 |
| Dining & Entertainment | £212 | £254 | £318 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | £1,745 | £2,197 | £2,751 |
£2,099/month gross
£2,768/month gross
£3,594/month gross
Second-hand 1BR rents across 15 neighborhoods in Edinburgh.
Leith
15 min by bus
£850 - £1,100
Dalry
12 min by walk
£850 - £1,100
Gorgie
15 min by bus
£850 - £1,050
New Town
5 min by walk
£1,500 - £1,700
Stockbridge
10 min by walk
£1,400 - £1,600
Fountainbridge
10 min by walk
£1,200 - £1,400
All 15 neighborhoods, the full expense sheet, and what you could save.
Explore EdinburghPlug in what you'd really earn. Get your take-home pay, neighborhoods within reach, and monthly savings.
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We add up monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then work backwards to find the gross salary that lands on that number after U.K.'s income tax and social contributions. Rent data reflects second-hand listings, which is what expats actually pay. All figures come from 2026 official government statistics. Full attribution lives on our data sources page.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least £2,099/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Edinburgh. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for £2,768/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for U.K..
The average 1-bedroom rent across 15 neighborhoods in Edinburgh is approximately £1,187/month. Rents range from £850 in Leith to £1,700 in New Town.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Edinburgh cost approximately £300. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in U.K. are progressive. At the budget salary level of £2,099/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 17%. At the comfortable level of £2,768/month, it rises to approximately 21%. This includes income tax and social contributions.