Rent vs buy calculator · Scotland
Rent vs buy in City of Edinburgh: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Renting leaves you £20,180 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £2,446 a month, against £1,444 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Rent +£20,180
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £2,446
- Mortgage £1,984, of which £599 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,444
- Rent £1,324 plus council tax
- Median price
- £384,727
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £49,695
- £38,473 deposit + £11,223 LBTT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 24.2
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in City of Edinburgh by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £246,563 | £1,035 | +£463 | Buy £15,320 |
| 2 bed | £384,727 | £1,324 | +£1,001 | Rent £20,180 |
| 3 bed | £460,502 | £1,703 | +£1,076 | Rent £17,892 |
| 4+ bed | £705,469 | £2,768 | +£1,479 | Rent £28,779 |
Average rent and house prices in City of Edinburgh
The ONS average private rent in City of Edinburgh is £1,415 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 1.6% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £303,965 (UK HPI local authority average, Jul 2026). Rents here are published for the Lothian BRMA Broad Rental Market Area.
Default scenario: 2-bed home, 7 years stay, 10% deposit, 4.80% fixed mortgage, monthly difference invested in a S&S ISA at 7.5%. Council tax is £1,445 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in City of Edinburgh: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in City of Edinburgh?
For a 2-bed home in City of Edinburgh, owning costs about £2,446 a month and renting about £1,444, both including council tax. Renting leaves you £20,180 better off after 7 years. This assumes a 2-bed home, 7 years stay, 10% deposit, 4.80% fixed mortgage, monthly difference invested in a S&S ISA at 7.5%.
What is the average rent in City of Edinburgh?
The ONS average private rent in City of Edinburgh is £1,415 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £1,035 for 1 bed, £1,324 for 2 bed, £1,703 for 3 bed, £2,768 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 1.6% over the past year.
What is the average house price in City of Edinburgh?
The median price paid in City of Edinburgh is £303,965 (UK HPI local authority average, Jul 2026). The calculator uses £384,727 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in City of Edinburgh?
A first-time buyer paying £384,727 would pay £11,223 in LBTT. With a 10% deposit of £38,473, the cash needed on day one is about £49,695.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in City of Edinburgh?
About 24.2: the 2-bed price is 24.2 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in City of Edinburgh?
On the default assumptions, a 1-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £15,320 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Compare with the Scotland average or browse every local authority.