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City Cost UK

Cost of living in Aberdeen

Aberdeen is one of the more forgiving UK cities for the typical full-time earner — the median wage genuinely covers a comfortable life here. The breakdown below is anchored to £50k — the local median full-time wage — so the outcome (comfortable: £1,576 disposable per month) reflects what most people in Aberdeen actually experience.

Take-home on £50k
£3,293
per month
Essentials cost
£1,717
per month
Disposable left
£1,576
Reality Score 100/100
Reality verdictComfortable

£50k comfortably covers life in Aberdeen, with clear room left for saving and the unexpected.

Based on current UK tax rules and city cost benchmarks. Updated regularly.

What life in Aberdeen actually costs

Central zones (1–2) command the highest rents; commuting in from zones 4–6 can cut housing costs by 30–40% but adds a meaningful Tube/rail bill.

Housing is the dominant pressure point — most other categories (food, bills, transport passes) sit only 10–20% above the UK average. On a £50k salary, take-home is about £3,293 per month, with essentials of around £1,717. That leaves £1,576 for savings, debt, and discretionary spending. Want a deeper look? See Aberdeen on £50k.

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Monthly cost breakdown for Aberdeen

Based on a single renter earning £50k.

Rent / housing
£800
Bills (utilities, council tax, internet)
£367
Food & groceries
£265
Transport
£70
Lifestyle & misc
£215
Total essentials
£1,717
100/ 100
Comfortable

Reality Score weighs take-home pay against essentials and any savings commitment to gauge how sustainable the setup is.

What this means

Comfortable. You can manage your expenses and maintain moderate savings.

What this actually means

  • You could realistically save around £788/month. Over 5 years that's £47,280 before any investment growth.

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Take-home / mo
£3,293
Total costs / mo
£1,717
Disposable / mo
£1,576

Reality Score for this scenario: 100/100 — Comfortable

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Frequently asked questions

What is the average monthly cost of living in Aberdeen?

Anchored to a £50k salary, essential monthly costs in Aberdeen run about £1,717 — split across rent (£800), bills (£367), food (£265) and transport (£70).

How much rent should I budget for Aberdeen?

For a single renter in Aberdeen, expect rent of around £800 per month based on current city averages. Inner-city zones run higher; commuter areas can be 20–30% cheaper.

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Aberdeen?

On the modelled defaults, a take-home of about £3,293/month leaves £1,576 disposable in Aberdeen — a Reality Score of 100/100 (comfortable). To run your own numbers, estimate your monthly affordability for any UK city. For a deeper look, see Aberdeen on £50k.

How does Aberdeen compare to other UK cities?

Rent is the largest single variable. You can browse all UK cost-of-living guides to see where your salary stretches furthest.

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Last updated: April 2026See how we calculate this

These figures are estimates and may vary based on individual circumstances.