About

  • About Tech Cities Index
  • Methodology
  • FAQ

Tools

  • Salary Converter
  • LinkedIn Network

Built with ❤️ by Mohamed Oun

Tech Cities Index LogoTech Cities Index
Salary ConverterLinkedIn NetworkAbout
Edinburgh
#76 of 124
Europe

Edinburgh

United Kingdom

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Edinburgh compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Edinburgh is 51% worse off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Edinburgh compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$79,349
-$193K (-71%) vs San Francisco
Based on 137 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$53,957
-$119K (-69%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 32%

Community Insights

New

Edinburgh offers a compelling alternative to London for software engineers who value work-life balance and scenery over maximizing raw earning potential. It is a mature tech hub with a mix of legacy banking and modern unicorns. However, the city is currently grappling with a severe housing shortage, making the initial move stressful. Once settled, residents enjoy a safe, walkable, and culturally rich environment that punches well above its weight for a city of its size.

Resident Sentiment

Long-term residents often express deep affection for the city, citing it as one of the most beautiful places to live. However, recent transplants express significant frustration with the rental market, noting that finding a flat can take months. There is a consensus that while the tech market is decent, it doesn't match the dynamism of London, but the lifestyle trade-off is generally considered worth it.

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Pollution Score

Top 14%

#17

of 124 cities

27.2/100

Current value (lower is better)

Safety Index

Top 24%

#30

of 124 cities

69.5/100

Current value

Net Income

Middle of the pack

#59

of 124 cities

$53,957/yr

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Edinburgh compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$5,775 / m²
42% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Edinburgh to maintain the same standard of living.

$

Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
36% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Edinburgh

Amazon logo
Amazon
Flutter logo
Flutter
Huawei logo
Huawei
  • Strong Tech Scene: Recognized as a key tech hub outside London, home to major companies like Skyscanner, Rockstar North, and a robust fintech sector (large banking presence).
  • High Quality of Life: Frequently praised for its stunning architecture, walkability, and access to green spaces (Arthur's Seat, The Meadows) which offers a relaxed pace compared to London.
  • Cultural vibrancy: Hosting the Fringe Festival and other cultural events makes it a world-class city for arts and entertainment.
  • Safety: Consistently ranked as one of the safest cities in the UK, with a strong sense of community.
  • Salary-to-Cost Ratio: While salaries are lower than London, the cost of living is significantly lower, offering good purchasing power for senior engineers.

    • The Bad

    • Housing Crisis: The rental market is described as brutal and "heaving," with extremely high demand, fiercely competitive viewings, and rapidly rising rents.
    • August Crowds: The city population swells massively during the Fringe Festival (August), making commuting difficult and local services overcrowded for residents.
    • Weather: Complained about frequently for being grey, windy, and dark (especially in winter), with very limited sunshine hours compared to other tech hubs.
    • Salary Ceiling: While good for the UK, salaries are significantly lower than US or London equivalents, which can be a shock for international transplants.
    • Public Transport Quirks: While generally good (Lothian Buses), traffic congestion in the city center is a common complaint, particularly during tourist seasons.

    The Verdict

    You'll love it if...

    Engineers looking for a walkable, historic city with a slower pace than London but plenty of career opportunities. Ideal for those who enjoy nature (hiking nearby), history, and arts, and who prioritize safety and community feel over the chaos of a megalopolis.

    Skip it if...

    Those focused purely on maximizing Total Compensation (TC) or who cannot tolerate gloomy weather and strong winds. It is also ill-suited for people who are easily frustrated by tourist crowds or who need to secure immediate, affordable housing without a struggle.

    Updated 11/29/2025

    Weather3.4/10-61% vs San Francisco
    Safety70+76%
    Pollution27-45%
    Events0-100%
    3.4/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

    0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

    Weather snapshot

    Average High
    12°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
    Average Low
    5°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
    Sunshine Hours
    1,427h/yr-1635h/yr(-53%)
    Hottest Month High
    18°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
    Coldest Month Low
    1°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
    Rainy Days
    112/yr+63/yr(+130%)

    Community & Quality

    Edinburgh community pulse

    Edinburgh has 0 Luma events listed.

    100% fewer events than San Francisco.

    Tax Rate

    Middle of the pack

    #65

    of 124 cities

    32%

    Current value (lower is better)

    Home Affordability

    Middle of the pack

    #68

    of 124 cities

    ≈8.6 yrs to buy 80m²

    Current value

    Purchasing Power

    Middle of the pack

    #76

    of 124 cities

    Cost of Living

    Middle of the pack

    #80

    of 124 cities

    57/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Community Events

    Bottom 30%

    #88

    of 124 cities

    0 events on luma

    Current value

    Comfortable Weather

    Bottom 28%

    #90

    of 124 cities

    34/100 weather score

    Current value

    SWE Affordability
    8.6 years
    3.9 years longer than San Francisco
    Muggy Days
    0/yr(same as San Francisco)
    Cloud Cover
    60%(vs 34% in San Francisco)