Edinburgh () and Glasgow () are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Edinburgh rates 72/100 (grade B) and Glasgow rates 72/100 (grade B). Edinburgh works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£367 versus ~£371). 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.
Edinburgh vs Glasgow: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Edinburgh and Glasgow are closely matched overall. Edinburgh performs better in , while Glasgow has the advantage in . Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Edinburgh or Glasgow better to live in?
Edinburgh and Glasgow are closely matched overall. Edinburgh performs better in , while Glasgow has the advantage in . Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Is Edinburgh safer than Glasgow?
Edinburgh and Glasgow have similar crime safety scores (72/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Edinburgh or Glasgow?
Edinburgh has 0 schools within 3km, with 0% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Glasgow has 0 schools nearby, with 0% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Edinburgh or Glasgow?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Edinburgh (~£367/month) compared to Glasgow (~£371/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.