How Much Does It Cost to Live In Edinburgh?
There are very few people who have visited Edinburgh and did not fall in love with the city.
Being the capital of Scotland, this is a city full of history, culture, and fun, where the majority of people can imagine living permanently.
Considering the fact that there is a high employment rate and extremely high monthly salaries, people get more amazed with this city and deliberate on relocating there either alone or with their families, as this is a really family-friendly city.
United Kingdom : Cost of Living by City
- Aberdeen
- Bath
- Belfast
- Birmingham
- Brighton
- Bristol
- Cambridge
- Cardiff
- Coventry
- Derby
- Edinburgh
- Exeter
- Glasgow
- Leeds
- Leicester
- Liverpool
- London
- Manchester
- Milton Keynes
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Norwich
- Nottingham
- Oxford
- Peterborough
- Plymouth
- Portsmouth
- Reading
- Sheffield
- Southampton
- Swindon
- York
RESTAURANTS
It is also important to include the costs of your social life in your budget, especially if you like having your meetings and gatherings in a restaurant.
Edinburgh restaurant prices are quite high, and meal prices here are as expensive as in London.
MARKETS
Groceries costs will account for a significant part of your budget as they are of the utmost importance for a living.
The larger the family is, the more money you will need to provide for this expense.
Of course, other factors that determine how much you will spend on food are your taste and dietary needs.
TRANSPORTATION
Edinburgh is a city where transportation is quite reasonably priced.
Costs would obviously vary if you choose to drive rather than use public transport, but generally speaking, commuting would not cost you too much.
A monthly pass is around $72, while a one-way ticket would cost you $2.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Whether you are living in the least expensive or the most pricey city in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, you will find out that the whole country has quite high energy and utilities bills.
The average monthly payment for basic services is around $200, and it is a little bit lower in Edinburgh than in some other major cities.
SPORTS & LEISURE
Depending on your lifestyle and living arrangements, additional costs such as sports and entertainment should also be considered and you must plan for these in your budget where necessary.
Generally speaking, prices are not unaffordable but are higher than in many other cities in the country.
CLOTHING & SHOES
While walking down the amazing streets of Edinburgh, you come across fabulous clothing items in shop windows that belong to various brands.
The city is covered with designer stores, but people still do not spend much on this.
The rather high prices do not allow everyone to afford these quality pieces of clothing.
RENT PER MONTH
Even though it is not the least expensive city, Edinburgh boasts low house prices and moderate rental prices.
If you take a look at possible apartment rents, this might help you determine how much you can afford to pay, thus limiting the size and location of it.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Edinburgh
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $18.05 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $5.99 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $1.37 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.17 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.28 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.41 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $2.17 |
| Monthly Pass | $72.21 |
| Gasoline | $1.93 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $225.92 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.14 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $33.96 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $37.24 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $14.84 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $12.03 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $79.73 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $43.63 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $85.58 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $1212.41 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $908.92 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $2433.33 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Edinburgh?
People in Edinburgh like spending leisure time in restaurants and if you are one of them, choosing the least expensive one will be of great benefit to your budget.
No matter if you drive or take a bus for commuting, transportation will take you around 12% of your monthly budget.
An almost equal amount of money is spent on utilities and entertainment on a monthly basis, while clothing takes the least.
Housing prices will definitely be the greatest expense, due to the fact that you, as a newcomer, would need to rent an apartment to live there.
Average Costs Breakdown
Edinburgh: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Employment is very important when calculating the quality of life, so make sure to get a job even before coming to Edinburgh, if that is possible.
One thing that should definitely be mentioned and which is the most attractive when it comes to the data for Edinburgh is that the incomes people there are enjoying are pretty high.
The rent is not expensive and the mortgage interest rates are less than 3%, meaning that either of these two options is affordable in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Edinburgh Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: HIGH
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Cost of Living by City in Edinburgh
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 73.02 |
| Bath | 74.48 |
| Belfast | 62.42 |
| Birmingham | 64.46 |
| Brighton | 69.54 |
| Bristol | 69.58 |
| Cambridge | 72.6 |
| Cardiff | 62.12 |
| Coventry | 66.31 |
| Derby | 61.5 |
| Exeter | 66.56 |
| Glasgow | 66.5 |
| Leeds | 68.26 |
| Leicester | 65.59 |
| Liverpool | 62 |
| London | 81.31 |
| Manchester | 69.86 |
| Milton Keynes | 78.5 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 62.76 |
| Norwich | 64.95 |
| Nottingham | 67.05 |
| Oxford | 72.6 |
| Peterborough | 41.93 |
| Plymouth | 70.02 |
| Portsmouth | 71.04 |
| Reading | 76.73 |
| Sheffield | 62.64 |
| Southampton | 63.73 |
| Swindon | 69.92 |
| York | 69.33 |
