City Comparison · 2026

Edinburgh vs Derby 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%

East Midlands

Derby

Median Salary £31,500

Cost of Living 65/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £730/mo

Real Take-Home £24,200/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 4.8%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Edinburgh

Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.

Best for Affordability

Derby

Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.

Highest Headline Salary

Edinburgh

Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.

Lowest Rent

Derby

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

Edinburgh

When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Edinburgh vs Derby

Edinburgh

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

Full Edinburgh Guide →

Derby

Derby is a major aerospace and manufacturing hub. Rolls-Royce headquarters here makes it one of the UK's leading engineering cities.

Full Derby Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Edinburgh

Browse live Edinburgh vacancies on Reed right now.

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Derby

Browse live Derby vacancies on Reed right now.

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More Comparisons

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£52,800 vs £38,900

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£52,800 vs £31,500

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Manchester vs Edinburgh

£36,500 vs £38,900

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Manchester vs Derby

£36,500 vs £31,500

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Birmingham vs Edinburgh

£33,200 vs £38,900

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Birmingham vs Derby

£33,200 vs £31,500

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