Scotland

Cost of living in Highland

Data last updated: 14 May 2026

Page last reviewed: 14 May 2026

£723/mo
Average rent
£31,416/yr
Average earnings
£1,634/yr
Council tax (Band D)
£177/mo
Est. energy & water

Rent in Highland

The average monthly rent in Highland is £723.

  • 1 Bed
    £524 /mo
  • 2 Bed
    £698 /mo
  • 3 Bed
    £920 /mo
  • 4+ Bed
    £1,438 /mo

Source: ONS Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR)

Scottish rent figures are based on Broad Rental Market Area (BRMA) averages from the Scottish Government Private Sector Rent Statistics and ONS PIPR, not directly at council level. Councils within the same BRMA share the same headline figure.

Earnings in Highland

The average annual salary for residents of Highland is £31,416.

Median
£31,416
per year
Mean
£33,925
per year

We use the median (middle value) as the average throughout this site. This is more representative than the mean, which can be skewed by extremely high or low values.

Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE)

Got a job offer in Highland?

Use our salary calculator to see your take home pay and how it compares to the local average.

Calculate your take home pay

Average house prices in Highland

House price data is not currently available for Highland.

Source: ONS / HM Land Registry. Historical trend based on quarterly rolling-year median prices.

Council tax in Highland

Band D council tax in Highland is £1,634 per year.

  • Band A
    £1,089
  • Band B
    £1,271
  • Band C
    £1,452
  • Band D
    Benchmark
    £1,634
  • Band E
    £2,147
  • Band F
    £2,655
  • Band G
    £3,200
  • Band H
    £4,003

Source: MHCLG / Scottish Government / Welsh Government

Energy costs in Highland

A typical household in Highland pays approximately £1,641/year (£137/month) for gas and electricity.

Annual
£1,641
per year
Monthly
£137
per month

Energy region: North Scotland

This estimate is based on the Ofgem price cap for a typical dual-fuel household using 2,700 kWh of electricity and 11,500 kWh of gas per year, paying by Direct Debit. Your actual costs will depend on your usage, tariff, and whether you're on a fixed deal.

Source: Ofgem Energy Price Cap, Q2 2026

Water costs in Highland

The average annual water and sewerage bill for Scottish Water customers is £480/year (£40/month).

Annual
£480
per year
Monthly
£40
per month

Water company: Scottish Water

Water bills vary based on whether you have a meter and your household's water usage. This figure is the company average for unmetered customers.

Source: Water UK / Discover Water, 2026-27

Want a personalised estimate?

Adjust for your household size, housing type and transport to get a monthly cost tailored to you.

Calculate your costs in Highland

Crime in Highland

There were 434 recorded crimes per 10,000 people in Highland, which is below the national average of 813.2. Highland ranks #25 out of 303 areas for lowest crime rate.

Violence & sexual offences
137/10k
(3,230 offences)
Burglary
10/10k
(244 offences)
Theft
128/10k
(3,029 offences)
Criminal damage
59/10k
(1,405 offences)
Drug offences
50/10k
(1,179 offences)
Public order
0/10k
(0 offences)
Other
49/10k
(1,169 offences)

Recorded crime statistics reflect crimes reported to and recorded by police. They may not capture the full picture of crime in an area, and recording practices vary between forces.

Source: Home Office police recorded crime, 2024-25

Compare Highland with another area

Pick one more area to compare.

Nearby areas

Explore the cost of living in areas close to Highland.

Frequently asked questions about Highland

Data on this page is sourced from: ONS Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR), Scottish Government Private Sector Rent Statistics, ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, ONS / HM Land Registry House Price Statistics, MHCLG / Scottish Government / Welsh Government council tax data, Ofgem Energy Price Cap, and Water UK / Discover Water. All official data is published under the Open Government Licence.