Living on a Scottish island

It’s cold and windy.

Often not friendly to outsiders.

I think how welcome you will be depends on the island, what you will be doing work wise and how well you integrate into the community. Are you going to contribute to island life?

CoL is much higher - island shops are more expensive and there is more fuel poverty as heating will be electric, oil or solid fuel. You've also got to factor in needing to travel for shopping, medical treatment, dentists etc - depending on the island.

You need to factor in ferry crossings which won't run with bad weather (which can be for a while!), or for some islands book out in the summer making it very difficult for islanders to leave/return at short notice.

If you have children you also need to consider that not all islands have secondary schools so high school age children need to board Mon-Fri on the mainland.

Some islands in the Western Isles have Gaelic as their main language, and Lewis in particular observes Sundays.

The islands in winter are very very different to in summer. A lot of folk can have a romantic view of them - they are beautiful but life is much harder than on the mainland. If you're serious then visit at all times of year. Also be sensitive to the fact that the islands and Highlands have massive problem with affordable accommodation for younger people due to second homes and holiday let's.

I don't live on a Scottish island but have family who do.
Getting on and off the island can be problematic. There's no airport and no bridge. Everything comes by ferry and if the ferry is cancelled (Caledonian Macbrayne have all the main routes and their fleet is ancient) then you risk being caught out.
Fuel is more expensive. Its generally expensive through the Highlands anyway. Again, the tanker comes over by ferry- and has to be on the ferry on its own.
Not all online companies deliver to the island...or charge a premium.
BIL has often had 3 or more part time jobs as there's not enough full time work.
A friend of the family had to be air lifted to Glasgow when in labour because she needed an emergency c section.