Aberdeen () and Edinburgh () are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Aberdeen rates 72/100 (grade B) and Edinburgh rates 72/100 (grade B). Aberdeen works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£361 versus ~£367). The full side-by-side breakdown of crime, schools, transport, affordability, broadband, environment and healthcare is below, followed by our verdict on which area fits which kind of buyer.
Aberdeen vs Edinburgh: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Aberdeen and Edinburgh are closely matched overall. Aberdeen performs better in , while Edinburgh has the advantage in . Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aberdeen or Edinburgh better to live in?
Aberdeen and Edinburgh are closely matched overall. Aberdeen performs better in , while Edinburgh has the advantage in . Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Is Aberdeen safer than Edinburgh?
Aberdeen and Edinburgh have similar crime safety scores (72/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Aberdeen or Edinburgh?
Aberdeen has 0 schools within 3km, with 0% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Edinburgh has 0 schools nearby, with 0% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Edinburgh?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Aberdeen (~£361/month) compared to Edinburgh (~£367/month). Bills include council tax, energy, water, broadband, and insurance estimates.
Data sources: Scores are estimated using pre-loaded data from MHCLG Indices of Deprivation, Ofsted/GIAS school ratings, DfT Transport Connectivity 2025, MHCLG council tax data, Ofgem energy price cap, and regional averages. For full live data from 20+ government sources, view the individual town reports. Data provided under the Open Government Licence v3.0.