Aberdeen vs Edinburgh
Aberdeen wins on purchasing power. Aberdeen accountant (qualified)s have £50/month more disposable income after rent than their Edinburgh counterparts.
After paying rent, a accountant (qualified) in Aberdeen retains £50/month more than in Edinburgh — that's £600/year extra in purchasing power.
Aberdeen vs Edinburgh: what the £50/month gap means for a accountant (qualified)
On paper, Aberdeen accountant (qualified) roles pay £0/year more than Edinburgh. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Aberdeen workers keep £2,802/month versus £2,802/month in Edinburgh.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Aberdeen rent runs £1,050/month versus £1,100/month in Edinburgh. Once housing costs are factored in, Aberdeen workers have £1,752/month disposable income versus £1,702/month in Edinburgh — that is £600/year in real spending power.
Aberdeen's rent-to-income ratio of 37% compares favourably to Edinburgh's 39%.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 73 for Aberdeen and 72 for Edinburgh, a salary of £42,000 in Aberdeen delivers equivalent purchasing power to £41,400 in Edinburgh.
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
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