Retirement in Edinburgh
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Edinburgh offers a 4% below average cost of living compared to the UK average. With average house prices at £289,857 and annual living costs of £36,480, here's what you need to know about retiring comfortably in Edinburgh.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need to retire in Edinburgh?
It depends on your annual living costs. The standard method: take what you'll spend each year in retirement, subtract your State Pension, and multiply the gap by 25. The calculator on this page does this using Edinburgh's average living costs, and you can adjust the figures to match your own lifestyle.
What is the 4% rule?
The 4% rule says you can withdraw 4% of your retirement pot in your first year of retirement, adjusting for inflation each year after, with a low historical risk of running out over 30 years. It's the basis of the 25× multiplier: a pot of 25 times your annual spending gap supports a 4% withdrawal rate.
Does the State Pension count towards my retirement number?
Yes, and it makes a big difference. The full new State Pension is £12,548 per year (2026/27), paid from age 67. You only need your savings and pensions to cover the gap between your annual living costs and that amount, which is why the calculation subtracts it before applying the 25× multiplier.
How much do I need to retire early, before the State Pension starts?
Retiring before 67 means your pot has to cover your full living costs for the bridge years until the State Pension begins, with nothing subtracted. Each bridge year adds roughly one year of full living costs to your target, so retiring at 60 in Edinburgh needs a meaningfully bigger pot than retiring at 67.
About Retirement Planning in Edinburgh
Edinburgh has an average house price of £289,857, which is 2% lower than the UK average of £295,000 (ONS UK House Price Index, March 2026).
Annual living costs in Edinburgh are estimated at £36,480, below the UK average of £38,000, reflecting the more affordable cost of living in Scotland.
Scotland has its own land and buildings transaction tax (LBTT) system, which affects property purchase costs for retirees in Edinburgh.
Data sources: ONS UK House Price Index, ONS Family Spending Survey, Land Registry.
Your Edinburgh Retirement Number
per year
£12,548
£12,548/yr at age 67
£23,932
Annual costs − State Pension
£598,300
25× gap (4% rule)
This does not include your primary residence
Based on 4% withdrawal rate · Assuming retirement at state pension age · Edinburgh cost of living data · UK State Pension 2026/27
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