Is day to day items in northern Scotland more expensive?

Bigbobby

In the next 5 years I am planning to move to northern Scotland from Preston. Currently work in Pharmacy sector and plan to have a career change into finance and will WFH. I have been doing my research over recent years and am narrowing down where I was to live the Cairngorm/Morayshire/Inverness area.

I have been taking into account various issues such as dark winters, access to local services, shops, deliveries, socialising, volunteering etc. I am 40 and single and live a fairly modest lifestyle. I did all my partying when young so I am not into late night entertainment. I enjoy fishing, hiking, reading and camping.

One issue that is not a major one but one that I have noticed when visiting is that compared to Preston things seem generally more expensive? Not hugely different and it is something I could manage but even general things like food, petrol, deliveries etc seems to cost more.

A mentioned not that this is an issue but just out of interest is there anyone who lives in northern Scotland who feels costs are generally higher? Perhaps costs are higher due to logistics of the long drive to get up the A9 whereas Preston is much easier to get to being connected to the M6 and more centrally based?

oldernonethewiser

Logistics mean that some things are indeed more expensive.

Petrol in one Tesco Inverness today is 151.7p compared to one in Glasgow Tesco 148.7p

Some companies charge a lot more for delivery when ordering stuff online.

Inverness is the main centre in the area and will have most things you need but you will generally speaking pay a premium.

flaneurs_lobster

The petrol price differential - Costco Haydock (Preston-ish) 137.9p Aberdeen (farthest North)146.9p.

beanielou

My DS lives in Moray. He has not mentioned things being more expensive than the central belt other than petrol.

Vitor

Things are more expensive, some thanks to SNP taxes, e.g. alcohol much more expensive. However, the big hits to your wealth are potentially higher income tax plus property purchase tax is much higher than in England.

Petrol is about 5p/litre more expensive in rural areas but that adds up as you're typically having to drive considerably farther for work, shopping, healthcare and social activity.

NB I'm sure you've done your research, but Finance work is typically clustered around Edinburgh and some parts of the Central Belt. Finance and WFH in Moray will be a challenge.

molerat

Cost of living is not that much different to anywhere else in the country, supermarket prices are pretty much the same all over. The bigger problem is travel. The A96 Aberdeen to Inverness is pretty much all single carriageway running through towns with 20mph limits, the rail line is mostly single track running ancient unreliable rolling stock - the "new" trains are second hand HSTs from other regions that were promised to be refurbed but that hasn't happened for the majority. As mentioned above higher tax if earning above £30K and higher council tax multipliers band E and above. IMO the major reasons for the inability to fill posts in the NHS.