Cost of Living in Edinburgh - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,113 (excluding rent), and $2,667 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,920 (excluding rent), and $5,398 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.54 £15.55

$13.7 £10.37

$41.08 £31.09

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 £76.4

$67.3 £50.9

$135 £102

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.74 £7.38

$9.3 £7.04

$10.62 £8.04

Cappuccino

$5.19 £3.93

$4 £3.03

$6.89 £5.21

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.5 £1.89

$1.33 £1

$3.98 £3.01

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 £1.46

$1.32 £1

$3.96 £3

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.28 £5.51

$5.29 £4.01

$9.27 £7.02

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 £5.27

$5.57 £4.22

$9.06 £6.86

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 £1.29

$1.18 £0.89

$2.51 £1.9

White Bread (500g)

$1.65 £1.25

$0.62 £0.47

$3.03 £2.29

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 £1.62

$1.03 £0.78

$2.74 £2.08

Eggs

$4.42 £3.35

$2.09 £1.58

$6.69 £5.06

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12 £9.09

$6.8 £5.15

$20.42 £15.46

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.32 £7.81

$5.39 £4.08

$14.82 £11.22

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.65 £14.12

$12.29 £9.3

$40.96 £31.01

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 £2.48

$2.09 £1.58

$4.18 £3.16

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 £1.18

$1.24 £0.94

$4.19 £3.17

Oranges (1kg)

$4.09 £3.09

$2.03 £1.54

$10.81 £8.18

Tomato (1kg)

$4.82 £3.65

$2.44 £1.85

$9.76 £7.39

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 £1.31

$0.93 £0.7

$2.65 £2.01

Onion (1kg)

$1.49 £1.13

$1.25 £0.94

$2.08 £1.58

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 £0.91

$1.1 £0.84

$2.07 £1.56

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 £1.04

$0.84 £0.64

$2.23 £1.69

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$20.37 £15.42

$19.01 £14.39

$22.41 £16.96

Wine (Bottle)

$10.76 £8.15

$8.75 £6.62

$13.45 £10.18

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 £1.99

$1.74 £1.32

$3.49 £2.64

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 £2.6

$1.95 £1.48

$6.29 £4.76

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.65 £2.01

$3.31 £2.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88 £66.6

$80 £60.5

$107 £80.7

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.33 £4.03

$4.67 £3.54

$6.66 £5.04

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.05 £2.31

$2.26 £1.71

$5.26 £3.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.59 £32.24

$40.56 £30.7

$48.66 £36.84

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 £1.42

$1.75 £1.32

$1.99 £1.51

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$39.1K £29.6K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.7K £29.3K

$38K £28.7K

$40.8K £30.9K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$386 £292

$208 £157

$681 £515

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.21 £13.03

$10.75 £8.14

$40.31 £30.52

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.24 £33.49

$33.94 £25.69

$61.1 £46.26

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.6 £41.3

$32.72 £24.77

$102 £77.5

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.36 £18.44

$12.19 £9.22

$33.84 £25.61

Cinema Ticket

$14.9 £11.28

$10.84 £8.2

$20.32 £15.38

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,900 £1,438

$1,685 £1,275

$2,156 £1,632

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K £18K

$13.6K £10.3K

$46.3K £35.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$116 £87.8

$93.9 £71.1

$161 £122

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 £41.7

$41.03 £31.06

$68.4 £51.8

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 £88.3

$75.1 £56.9

$164 £124

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 £95.2

$69 £52.2

$178 £135

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,632 £1,235

$1,308 £990

$2,033 £1,539

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,233 £934

$1,028 £778

$1,644 £1,245

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,098 £2,345

$2,313 £1,751

$4,081 £3,090

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,221 £1,681

$1,792 £1,357

$3,033 £2,296

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,505 £4,924

$5,949 £4,504

$8,593 £6,505

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,646 £3,517

$4,238 £3,209

$5,869 £4,443

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,535 £2,676

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.63

4.5

6.89

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: November 30, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🇪🇺 Europe

Cost of Living in Edinburgh - Frequently Asked Questions

Edinburgh offers a high quality of life with a price profile that leans toward the mid-to-upper end in Europe. The Cost of Living in Edinburgh, United Kingdom is influenced by housing demand near the Old Town and New Town, as well as seasonal tourism. You’ll enjoy efficient public transit, free museums, and a lively cafe culture, but expect rental costs to be a larger share of the budget in popular neighborhoods. Short-term stays can be manageable with ready-made coworking options and flexible leases outside peak seasons. Overall value comes from compact, walkable core areas that reduce transport needs, paired with abundant cultural access. Tip: plan a core budget and reserve room for experiences.

Daily life centers on a compact city core with leafy neighborhoods and reliable transit. For housing, start with neighborhoods like Leith, Stockbridge, Bruntsfield, and the West End, noting that prices and availability shift with the university year and festivals. In terms of food, you can mix affordable markets, bakeries, and casual eateries with occasional fine-dining treats. Transport is practical: buses and trams connect most parts of the city, and many people bike or walk. Co-working spaces are plentiful in the center and business hubs. Edinburgh, United Kingdom living cost varies by area, so map a few blocks before you commit. Tip: test a few neighborhoods by weekend visits.

Quality of life in Edinburgh blends rich culture with a practical budget approach. Start with a simple budgeting framework: categorize housing, transport, food, and leisure, and assign flexible buffers for repeat trips to festivals or travel. Seasonality affects crowds, wait times, and street fairs, so shoulder seasons are often calmer and more affordable for longer stays. Neighborhood fit matters: Leith for waterfront energy, Bruntsfield for walkable cafes, or Stockbridge for calmer mornings. Make the most of free cultural offerings, library programs, and seasonal markets. Tip: build a monthly template that adjusts with the festival calendar and daylight hours.