City Comparison · 2026

Edinburgh vs Glasgow 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%

Scotland

Glasgow

Median Salary £35,200

Cost of Living 69/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £850/mo

Real Take-Home £25,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4.1%

Unemployment 4.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Edinburgh

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

Best for Affordability

Glasgow

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

Glasgow

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 Glasgow

Edinburgh

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

Full Edinburgh Guide →

Glasgow

Glasgow is Scotland's largest city and commercial centre with a diverse economy spanning finance, manufacturing and a growing technology sector.

Full Glasgow Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Edinburgh

Browse live Edinburgh vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Edinburgh Jobs →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Glasgow

Browse live Glasgow vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Glasgow Jobs →

More Comparisons

London vs Edinburgh

£52,800 vs £38,900

Compare →

London vs Glasgow

£52,800 vs £35,200

Compare →

Manchester vs Edinburgh

£36,500 vs £38,900

Compare →

Manchester vs Glasgow

£36,500 vs £35,200

Compare →

Birmingham vs Edinburgh

£33,200 vs £38,900

Compare →

Birmingham vs Glasgow

£33,200 vs £35,200

Compare →

All City Comparisons →