Edinburgh vs Liverpool
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Edinburgh leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Liverpool where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Liverpool's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Edinburgh | Liverpool |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 66 | 69 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 38 | 46 |
| Climate | 93 | 96 |
| Safety | 70 | 68 |
| Summer °C | 14.6 | 16.1 |
| Winter °C | 3.3 | 4.2 |
| Top disaster risk | flooding | flooding |
Edinburgh vs Liverpool: the short answer
Liverpool comes out ahead on overall livability (69/100), modestly above Edinburgh (66/100). The two cities diverge most on cost of living. On affordability Liverpool is the cheaper base — a moderate gap on our cost index (Edinburgh 38 vs Liverpool 46, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Liverpool runs warmer in summer (about 16.1°C peak vs 14.6°C in Edinburgh), while winter lows sit near 3.3°C in Edinburgh and 4.2°C in Liverpool. On natural-disaster exposure Edinburgh is the safer choice (safety 70/100); the dominant modelled hazard is flooding for Edinburgh and flooding for Liverpool.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Liverpool — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Liverpool — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Edinburgh — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Liverpool — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is Edinburgh or Liverpool better to live in?
Liverpool scores higher overall — 69 vs 66 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Edinburgh or Liverpool?
Liverpool has the lower cost of living (cost index 46 vs 38; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Edinburgh or Liverpool?
Liverpool — summer highs reach about 16.1°C versus 14.6°C in Edinburgh.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Edinburgh or Liverpool?
Edinburgh (disaster-safety 70/100). Main hazard: flooding in Edinburgh, flooding in Liverpool.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Edinburgh?
flooding is the dominant modelled hazard for Edinburgh on our risk index.
How is the Edinburgh vs Liverpool comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.