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City Comparison

Edinburgh is 10% cheaper

The Verdict

Living in Edinburgh is 10% cheaper than Frankfurt.
If you move from Edinburgh to Frankfurt, you will pay more for housing and less for daily groceries. To maintain the same standard of life as a £40,000 salary in Edinburgh, you would need to earn about £45,128 in Frankfurt.

Edinburgh Wins
4

of 6 categories

Tied
0

categories

Frankfurt Wins
2

of 6 categories

Category Breakdown

Compare costs across 6 key categories

Overall Cost
78
Edinburgh
vs
88
Frankfurt
Edinburgh is 10 pts cheaper
Rent
65
Edinburgh
vs
82
Frankfurt
Edinburgh is 17 pts cheaper
Groceries
96
Edinburgh
vs
85
Frankfurt
Frankfurt is 11 pts cheaper
Restaurants
85
Edinburgh
vs
82
Frankfurt
Frankfurt is 3 pts cheaper
Transport
88
Edinburgh
vs
92
Frankfurt
Edinburgh is 4 pts cheaper
Utilities
92
Edinburgh
vs
102
Frankfurt
Edinburgh is 10 pts cheaper

City Profiles

What makes each city unique

EdinburghUnited Kingdom
Edinburgh combines historic charm with strong financial and tech sectors.

Why people love Edinburgh:

Historic architectureFestival cityStrong financeBeautiful scenery
Population
524,930
Avg. Salary
£2,800/mo
FrankfurtGermany
Frankfurt is the financial capital of continental Europe.

Why people love Frankfurt:

Financial hubHigh salariesInternational airportCentral location
Population
753,056
Avg. Salary
£3,268/mo

Real Monthly Costs

Estimated costs based on London baseline prices

ExpenseEdinburghFrankfurtSavings
1-bed apartment (city centre)£1,300£1,640+£340
Monthly groceries£336£298£-38
Dining out (10 meals)£213£205£-8
Public transport pass£141£147+£6
Utilities (electric, heating, water)£166£184+£18
Total Monthly£2,155£2,473+£318

* Estimates based on London = 100 index. Actual costs vary by lifestyle and location within city.

Who Should Choose Which City?

Recommendations based on your priorities

Choose Edinburgh if you...
  • Want lower overall living costs (10% cheaper)
  • Are looking for more affordable housing
  • Have children (lower childcare costs)
Choose Frankfurt if you...
  • Want higher earning potential (£3,268/mo avg)

Quality of Life & Safety

Beyond just costs - what matters for daily life

Edinburgh
80

Quality of Life Score

Frankfurt
82

Quality of Life Score

Edinburgh
85

Safety Score

Frankfurt
85

Safety Score

Salary Equivalence

How much you'd need in Frankfurt to match a Edinburgh salary

Salary in EdinburghEquivalent in FrankfurtDifference
£30,000£33,846£3,846 more
£40,000£45,128£5,128 more
£50,000£56,410£6,410 more
£60,000£67,692£7,692 more
£80,000£90,256£10,256 more
£100,000£112,821£12,821 more

Edinburgh vs Frankfurt: Summary

The overall cost of living differs by 10%. Edinburgh is the more affordable option.

Rent: Edinburgh has a rent index of 65, while Frankfurt has 82.

Average Salaries: Edinburgh: £2,800/month vs Frankfurt: £3,268/month (both in GBP).

Out of 6 categories, Edinburgh wins 4, while Frankfurt wins 2.

Compare more cities or calculate your UK take-home pay.