A new study has revealed the most affordable UK city for pensioners to retire in, taking into account factors such as living costs, property prices, healthcare access and crime rates
A fresh study has declared a Scottish city as Britain’s most budget-friendly city for pensioners, owing to a variety of factors including cost of living and house prices.
The research by Kaybridge Residential, an award-winning independent estate agency, examined 30 major UK cities to determine where retired folk can settle most comfortably.
It analysed data from 2022-2025, assessing pension affordability against living expenses, property values, healthcare provision, crime statistics, life expectancy, green space access, and retirement accommodation options.
Each city was given a weighted Comfortable Retirement Affordability Score out of 100, with Edinburgh claiming the crown.
With typical house prices at £288,000 and healthcare provision scoring 7.65 out of 10, the Surrey-based estate agency declared the Scottish capital provides retirees the “perfect mix of urban sophistication and financial sense”, reports the Scottish Daily Express.
Kevin Barzegar, Property Expert at Kaybridge Residential, said: “Edinburgh’s success comes down to its strong public transport links – 92 percent of households are within 500 metres of a stop – and fantastic green spaces. Plus, with a life expectancy of nearly 80 years, it’s clearly doing something right for its residents.”
The study also revealed that Edinburgh features nearly 50 retirement facilities per 100,000 residents, demonstrating it’s well-prepared to cater for its elderly population.
Leeds and Newcastle upon Tyne came second and third in the rankings, with Glasgow placed fourth.
At £187,000, Glasgow boasts the most affordable average house prices in the top five, making property ownership extremely attainable. The city performs strongly for access to green spaces.
Barzegar observed: “Both Scottish cities in our top rankings benefit from lower housing costs compared to England, which really helps pension affordability.”
He continued: “What’s striking about these results is how northern cities consistently outperform their southern counterparts when it comes to retirement value.
“Places like Edinburgh, Leeds, and Newcastle offer everything retirees want: good healthcare, safe neighbourhoods, and vibrant communities, but without the eye-watering costs you’d face in London or the Home Counties.”
Rank
City/Local Authority
Comfortable Retirement Affordability Score (0–100)
1
Edinburgh
63.26
2
Leeds
59.83
3
Newcastle upon Tyne
59.49
4
Glasgow
59.08
5
Sheffield
58.89
6
Derby
56.73
7
Kingston upon Hull
55.66
8
Bradford
54.30
9
Plymouth
53.81
10
Dudley
53.75
Meanwhile, separate research has highlighted Glasgow as one of the best places in the UK for older adults more generally.
A study by Confused.com life insurance assessed how well towns and cities are preparing for an ageing population, measuring 17 factors such as healthcare, housing affordability, community facilities, transport, and overall life satisfaction.
Glasgow ranked fifth across the UK, the only Scottish city in the top 10, scoring highly for happiness and life satisfaction, alongside its wide range of shops, cafés and strong transport links.
However, slightly lower healthcare service availability and age-friendly infrastructure prevented it from ranking even higher.