Edinburgh vs Dublin for Expats
Cross-border city comparison — United Kingdom vs Ireland — across 7 dimensions using granular city-level data.
Last updated: February 2026
Quick Verdict
- •Dublin is more affordable (17 points lower cost index)
Overall, Dublin edges ahead on aggregate scoring, but the best choice depends on your personal priorities.
Score Comparison
Affordability index -- lower cost of living scores higher
Crime rates, safety perceptions, and neighborhood security
Hospital access, quality of care, and insurance options
School quality, university access, and language programs
Job market, co-working spaces, and remote work infrastructure
Temperature, sunshine hours, and air quality
Public transit, walkability, and ride-hailing availability
Key Metrics
| Metric | 🇬🇧 Edinburgh | 🇮🇪 Dublin |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Index | 42 | 25 |
| Safety Index | 78 | 75 |
| Healthcare Index | 80 | 78 |
| Education Index | 85 | 82 |
| Career Index | 62 | 82 |
| Climate Index | 38 | 42 |
| Transport Index | 75 | 72 |
| Air Quality Index | 72 | 75 |
| Family Index | 76 | 75 |
Price Comparison (USD)
| Item | 🇬🇧 Edinburgh | 🇮🇪 Dublin |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent (City Centre) | $1,150/mo | $2,000/mo |
| 1-Bed Rent (Outside Centre) | $800/mo | $1,500/mo |
| Inexpensive Meal | $13 | $15 |
| Cappuccino | $4 | $4 |
| Monthly Transport Pass | $65 | $120 |
| Coworking (Monthly) | $280 | $350 |
| Internet Speed | 105 Mbps | 110 Mbps |
The Expat Vibe
🇬🇧 Edinburgh
A stunning, gothic, walkable city with a massive festival culture, easy access to the Scottish Highlands, and a distinct identity that firmly separates itself from London.
🇮🇪 Dublin
A small, friendly, English-speaking capital that punches massively above its weight as a European tech hub — Google, Meta, and Stripe's European HQs are here, bringing a huge international workforce.
Housing & Rentals
🇬🇧 Edinburgh
Scottish tenancies are now open-ended immediately (Private Residential Tenancy), providing immense tenant security. Landlords are exiting the market due to rent freezes, restricting supply. A 1-bed in the centre runs GBP 900-1,400.
Top neighborhoods: Stockbridge, Leith, Morningside, Bruntsfield, Marchmont
🇮🇪 Dublin
Severe housing crisis — among the worst in Europe. A 1-bed in the centre runs EUR 1,800-2,400. Competition is fierce; viewings are cattle-call events with 30+ applicants. Daft.ie is the main platform. Sharing is the norm even for professionals. Rent Pressure Zones cap annual increases at 2%.
Top neighborhoods: Rathmines, Portobello, Stoneybatter, Smithfield, Drumcondra, Ranelagh
Getting Around
🇬🇧 Edinburgh
Highly walkable with excellent Lothian Bus coverage and a growing tram line (airport to Newhaven). No underground rail. Very compact — most of the centre is accessible on foot within 30 minutes.
🇮🇪 Dublin
Luas (tram, 2 lines), Dublin Bus, and DART (coastal rail) cover the city. Leap Card is essential (EUR 40/mo cap for bus). No metro (perpetually promised). Very bikeable and flat. Dublin Bikes costs EUR 35/year.
Cost of Living Details
🇬🇧 Edinburgh
Cheaper than London, slightly more than Manchester. A couple can live on GBP 2,500-3,500/mo. Festival season (August) makes everything temporarily insane — rents spike 300%+.
🇮🇪 Dublin
Expensive — comparable to or exceeding London for rent. A couple needs EUR 3,500-5,000/mo. A pint costs EUR 6-8 in the city centre. Supermarket prices are high by European standards. The 12.5% corporate tax rate doesn't help individual costs.
Climate & Weather
🇬🇧 Edinburgh
Cold and windy. Winters are 0-6°C with cutting wind off the Firth of Forth. Summers are mild and long-lit (18-22°C, sunrise at 4:30am in June). Horizontal rain and 'four seasons in a day' are standard.
🇮🇪 Dublin
Mild, wet, and grey. Winters are 3-8°C, summers 15-20°C. It rains frequently but rarely heavily. Four seasons in one day is standard. You will own more rain jackets than you thought possible.
Food & Dining
🇬🇧 Edinburgh
Leith is the food capital — The Kitchin (Michelin star) and Fishmarket are standouts. Stockbridge Market (Sunday) for artisan food. Haggis, neeps, and tatties is the traditional must-try. Mary's Milk Bar for ice cream. The Baked Potato Shop on Cockburn Street is a local institution.
🇮🇪 Dublin
The English Market in Cork gets all the press, but Moore Street market in Dublin has character. A full Irish breakfast (the fry) at Matt the Thresher or Bewley's on Grafton Street. Fish and chips at Leo Burdock. Coddle (Dublin's traditional sausage and potato stew) at Gallagher's Boxty House. Howth village for fresh seafood at Octopussy's.
Insider Tips
🇬🇧 Edinburgh
During August's Fringe Festival, free shows often outperform paid ones — check the Free Fringe programme. For the rest of the year, the National Museum of Scotland's rooftop terrace offers the best free panoramic view of the city.
🇮🇪 Dublin
The Silicon Docks area (Grand Canal Dock) is where all the tech jobs are, but living nearby is brutally expensive. Rathmines and Portobello are 20 minutes away by bike and significantly more affordable with great local character. Also, the Sunday Flea Market at the Lucky Duck on Aungier Street is worth a visit.
Explore Each City
Country Profiles
Stay Updated
Get notified when we add new countries, data sources, and features to help your relocation research.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.