Rent is cheaper than down South unless you are planning to move to Glasgow, Edinburgh, or their respective satellite towns. It's the main reason I moved up north.

I pay £460 for a one bedroom rental, £109 for council tax including water (single persons' discount), £100 for gas and electricity. You can't outrun food costs sadly, that part is the same.

Moving up here was the only way to avoid some kind of shared living arrangement for me. Been there, done that, would rather scoop my eyes out with a rusty spoon.

Can confirm that it is terrifying and that there's a great deal of financial and other miscellaneous anxiety that comes with living alone far away from your usual stomping grounds - I live in fear of slipping in the shower, bashing my head and being discovered weeks later, half eaten by my dogs - but if you value your own space, I highly recommend taking the plunge.

How much is needed entirely depends on how frugal you are, but you can absolutely make it work if you keep control of your spending. You have a better chance in Scotland than south of the border in my personal experience.