City Comparison · 2026

Edinburgh vs Shrewsbury 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%

West Midlands

Shrewsbury

Median Salary £28,500

Cost of Living 63/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £720/mo

Real Take-Home £22,400/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3%

Unemployment 3.8%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Edinburgh

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

Best for Affordability

Shrewsbury

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

Shrewsbury

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 Shrewsbury

Edinburgh

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

Full Edinburgh Guide →

Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire with a strong public sector and growing tourism economy.

Full Shrewsbury Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Edinburgh

Browse live Edinburgh vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Edinburgh Jobs →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Shrewsbury

Browse live Shrewsbury vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Shrewsbury Jobs →

More Comparisons

London vs Edinburgh

£52,800 vs £38,900

Compare →

London vs Shrewsbury

£52,800 vs £28,500

Compare →

Manchester vs Edinburgh

£36,500 vs £38,900

Compare →

Manchester vs Shrewsbury

£36,500 vs £28,500

Compare →

Birmingham vs Edinburgh

£33,200 vs £38,900

Compare →

Birmingham vs Shrewsbury

£33,200 vs £28,500

Compare →

All City Comparisons →