City comparison
Chicago vs Edinburgh
Chicago scores higher on salary; Chicago has a lower cost of living. Compare Chicago and Edinburgh on earnings, rent pressure, career opportunity, and 3-year financial impact.
Overall verdict
Chicago scores higher overall
Edinburgh is a step down on both savings and career opportunity
How they compare
If you want to save more
ChicagoOverall fitEdinburgh
62 / 45+17 Chicago
ChicagoSavingsEdinburgh
58 / 39+19 Chicago
ChicagoCareerEdinburgh
73 / 58+15 Chicago
ChicagoLow pressureEdinburgh
63 / 49+14 Chicago
If you want career growth
ChicagoOverall fitEdinburgh
68 / 52+16 Chicago
ChicagoSavingsEdinburgh
58 / 39+19 Chicago
ChicagoCareerEdinburgh
73 / 58+15 Chicago
ChicagoLow pressureEdinburgh
63 / 49+14 Chicago
If you want better balance
ChicagoOverall fitEdinburgh
66 / 58+8 Chicago
ChicagoSavingsEdinburgh
58 / 39+19 Chicago
ChicagoCareerEdinburgh
73 / 58+15 Chicago
ChicagoLow pressureEdinburgh
63 / 49+14 Chicago
Financial impact: moving from Chicago to Edinburgh
Based on a representative $80,000 USD salary. Not tax-adjusted.
-$2,194
Monthly
-$26,328
1 year
-$78,984
3 years
Moving from Chicago to Edinburgh: trade-offs
You lose
−Weaker savings potential — Edinburgh is 19 points lower on savings capacity
−-$2,194/mo estimated net reduction — $26,328 over the first year
−Smaller career market — fewer top-tier roles and lower salary ceiling than your current city
−Higher cost pressure — rent will consume a larger share of your income
Edinburgh
GBSalary index
50
Cost index
64
Rent pressure
51
Opportunity
62
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Also see: Edinburgh vs Chicago →