Frequently Asked Questions
What salary in Edinburgh matches £90,000 in London?
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£64,800 in Edinburgh provides the same purchasing power as £90,000 in London.
This is based on London's COL index of 100 vs Edinburgh's 72 (London = 100, Numbeo 2025).
The 28% cost difference translates directly to a 28% lower equivalent salary.
Is Edinburgh significantly cheaper than London?
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Edinburgh is 28% cheaper overall than London.
The most visible difference is rent: London averages £2,050/month for a 1-bed flat
vs £1,100/month in Edinburgh
— a saving of £950/month (£11,400/year).
How is the salary equivalence calculated?
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SalaryDex uses city-level cost-of-living indices from Numbeo 2025, normalised so London = 100.
The formula is: equivalent = salary × (cityB COL ÷ cityA COL).
For this page: £90,000 × (72 ÷ 100) = £64,800.
The index captures overall cost differences including rent, food, transport, utilities and services.
It does not account for individual tax positions or lifestyle choices.
Should I accept a lower salary to move from London to Edinburgh?
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Financially, yes — up to 28% less. Any offer above £64,800 in Edinburgh
is a real-terms pay rise compared to your London salary of £90,000.
You'd also save £950/month on rent alone, giving you
more disposable income despite a lower nominal salary.