Home / Compare / Edinburgh vs Aberdeen
City Comparison · 2026

Edinburgh vs Aberdeen 2026

Scotland
Edinburgh
Median Salary £38,900
Cost of Living 79/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,050/mo
Real Take-Home £27,500/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4.5%
Unemployment 3.2%
VS
Scotland
Aberdeen
Median Salary £40,000
Cost of Living 76/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £900/mo
Real Take-Home £28,200/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.2%
Unemployment 3.5%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Aberdeen
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Aberdeen
Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.
Highest Headline Salary
Aberdeen
Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.
Lowest Rent
Aberdeen
More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.
Best for Career Growth
Edinburgh
Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.
Best Overall Value
Aberdeen
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Edinburgh vs Aberdeen

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is Scotland's capital and financial centre with above-average UK salaries and a thriving technology and fintech scene.

Full Edinburgh Guide →

Aberdeen

Aberdeen is the oil capital of Europe with above-average salaries driven by the energy sector despite a challenging transition period.

Full Aberdeen Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Edinburgh

Browse live Edinburgh vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Edinburgh Jobs →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Aberdeen

Browse live Aberdeen vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Aberdeen Jobs →

More Comparisons

London vs Edinburgh
£52,800 vs £38,900
Compare →
London vs Aberdeen
£52,800 vs £40,000
Compare →
Manchester vs Edinburgh
£36,500 vs £38,900
Compare →
Manchester vs Aberdeen
£36,500 vs £40,000
Compare →
Birmingham vs Edinburgh
£33,200 vs £38,900
Compare →
Birmingham vs Aberdeen
£33,200 vs £40,000
Compare →
All City Comparisons →
Scroll to Top