Edinburgh vs Glasgow
Renting in Edinburgh costs £149/month more than Glasgow.
Rent comparison
Overall, renting in Glasgow is £149/month cheaper than Edinburgh - that's £1,788/year.
Source: ONS Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR)
Earnings comparison
Residents of Edinburgh earn £5,259/year more than those in Glasgow.
Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings
House prices comparison
House price data is not currently available for either area.
Source: ONS / HM Land Registry
Council tax comparison
You would pay £80/year more in council tax (Band D) living in Glasgow than in Edinburgh.
| Band | Edinburgh | Glasgow | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | £1,084 | £1,137 | Glasgow +£53/yr |
| Band B | £1,265 | £1,327 | Glasgow +£62/yr |
| Band C | £1,445 | £1,516 | Glasgow +£71/yr |
| Band D Benchmark | £1,626 | £1,706 | Glasgow +£80/yr |
| Band E | £2,136 | £2,241 | Glasgow +£105/yr |
| Band F | £2,642 | £2,772 | Glasgow +£130/yr |
| Band G | £3,184 | £3,341 | Glasgow +£157/yr |
| Band H | £3,984 | £4,180 | Glasgow +£196/yr |
Source: MHCLG / Scottish Government / Welsh Government
Band D is used as the standard benchmark for comparing council tax across areas. Other bands are set as fixed proportions of the Band D amount.
Energy comparison
| Measure | Edinburgh | Glasgow |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | £1,723 | £1,723 |
| Monthly | £144 | £144 |
| Energy region | South Scotland | South Scotland |
Energy estimates are based on the Ofgem price cap, which is set nationally. Regional variation is small; we show the same headline figure across regions for transparency.
Source: Ofgem Energy Price Cap, Q4 2026
Water comparison
| Measure | Edinburgh | Glasgow |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | £652 | £652 |
| Monthly | £54 | £54 |
| Water company | Scottish Water | Scottish Water |
Source: Water UK / Discover Water, 2026-27
Water company boundaries don't always align cleanly with local authority boundaries; the company shown here is the most common provider in each area.
Climate comparison
Edinburgh gets around 309mm less rainfall per year and 74 more hours of sunshine than Glasgow.
Source: Met Office HadUK-Grid, 1991-2020 averages. Crown copyright. Open Government Licence v3.0.
Crime comparison
Edinburgh has a lower crime rate than Glasgow, with 744 vs 849 recorded crimes per 10,000 people.
Source: Home Office / Scottish Government recorded crime
Recording practices vary between police forces. Crime rates reflect reported and recorded crime only.
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