Edinburgh VS Stockholm

Cost of Living & Salary Comparison 2026

Edinburgh
United Kingdom
62.1
COLI Index
#41
Global Rank
GBP
Currency
Stockholm
Sweden
64.3
COLI Index
#34
Global Rank
SEK
Currency

Key Differences

Cost of Living
62.1
64.3
1BR Rent (USD/mo)
$1,300
$1,500
Total Deductions
25.1%
39.0%
Exchange Rate
1 GBP = 12.0900 SEK
Is Edinburgh cheaper than Stockholm?

Yes, Edinburgh is 3% cheaper than Stockholm based on our cost of living index. Edinburgh has a COLI of 62.1, while Stockholm has a COLI of 64.3. 3% cheaper

Key Takeaways: Edinburgh vs Stockholm

Overall, Edinburgh is approximately 3% cheaper than Stockholm based on our cost of living index. Edinburgh has a COLI of 62.1 (ranked #41 of 182 cities), while Stockholm has a COLI of 64.3 (ranked #34).

When it comes to housing, one-bedroom apartment rent in Edinburgh averages $1,300/month compared to $1,500/month in Stockholm. That makes Edinburgh approximately 13% cheaper for rent alone.

Edinburgh has lower total deductions (25.1%) compared to Stockholm (39.0%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Edinburgh. When evaluating a relocation, remember that total deductions directly impact your take-home pay and should be weighed alongside cost of living differences.

Tax & Deductions Comparison

Full breakdown of mandatory payroll deductions for a mid-range salary as a local employee in each city.

Edinburgh

Income Tax
13%
National Insurance (NI)
8.0%
Council Tax (avg)
4.3%
Total: 25.1%Take-Home: £26,266/yr

Stockholm

Income Tax
32%
Employee Social Fees
7.0%
Total: 39.0%Take-Home: kr 267,812/yr

Rates shown for local employees. Expat deductions may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.

Salary Equivalent

If you earn £56,476 in Edinburgh, you would need approximately kr 706,983 in Stockholm to maintain the same purchasing power. That is 3% more due to higher cost of living.

Salary Comparison by Job Title

Estimated mid-level annual salaries in local currency, adjusted for each city's cost of living:

Job Title Edinburgh (GBP) Stockholm (SEK)
Doctor (General) £84,172 kr 1,053,687
Software Engineer £39,748 kr 497,575
Product Manager £46,762 kr 585,382
Lawyer £46,762 kr 585,382
Data Scientist £44,424 kr 556,113
Marketing Manager £33,669 kr 421,475
Teacher £22,446 kr 280,983
Nurse £27,122 kr 339,521

Salary estimates are adjusted by each city's COLI relative to the New York baseline. Actual salaries vary by company, experience, and industry.

Neighborhoods

Edinburgh (Top 5)

NeighborhoodMultiplier
New Town1.25x (+25%)
Old Town1.18x (+18%)
Stockbridge1.15x (+15%)
Dean Village1.15x (+15%)
Morningside1.10x (+10%)

Stockholm (Top 5)

NeighborhoodMultiplier
Östermalm1.32x (+32%)
Norrmalm1.22x (+22%)
Gamla Stan1.20x (+20%)
Djurgården1.18x (+18%)
Södermalm1.15x (+15%)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Edinburgh or Stockholm more expensive?

Stockholm is more expensive overall. Edinburgh has a COLI of 62.1 while Stockholm has a COLI of 64.3, making Edinburgh approximately 3% cheaper.

What salary in Stockholm equals £56,476 in Edinburgh?

To maintain the same standard of living as £56,476 in Edinburgh, you would need approximately kr 706,983 in Stockholm.

Is rent cheaper in Edinburgh or Stockholm?

Average one-bedroom rent in Edinburgh is $1,300/month compared to $1,500/month in Stockholm. Edinburgh has lower rent by approximately 13%.

Which city has lower taxes, Edinburgh or Stockholm?

Edinburgh has lower total deductions (25.1%) compared to Stockholm (39.0%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Edinburgh.

Explore Each City

Data Sources & Methodology

Cost of living indices (COLI) are benchmarked to New York City = 100 and derived from Numbeo and Expatistan crowd-sourced price surveys, cross-referenced with national statistics agencies. Rent data from Numbeo Property Prices.

Salary ranges are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OES), Glassdoor, and PayScale. Tax rates are approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages and national tax authorities. Exchange rates from the European Central Bank. Neighborhood multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data.

Last updated: 2026-02-28. Data is refreshed periodically. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.