Cost of Living in Elgin - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $962 (excluding rent), and $1,793 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,124 (excluding rent), and $3,790 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.06 £13.67

$9.36 £7.09

$53.5 £40.5

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.5 £61.7

$74.7 £56.5

$136 £103

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.66 £5.05

$10.67 £8.08

Cappuccino

$4.05 £3.06

$5.39 £4.08

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

$1.39 £1.05

$3.47 £2.63

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 £1.05

$1.25 £0.94

$2.78 £2.1

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.87 £3.68

$8.33 £6.31

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.29 £4.01

$7.95 £6.02

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 £1.3

$0.96 £0.73

$2.13 £1.61

White Bread (500g)

$1.64 £1.25

$0.66 £0.5

$2.65 £2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.72 £2.06

$0.71 £0.54

$4.52 £3.42

Eggs

$3.84 £2.9

$2.42 £1.83

$5.35 £4.05

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.65 £7.3

$4.26 £3.23

$16.24 £12.3

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.43 £7.14

$6.91 £5.23

$12.2 £9.24

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.67 £10.35

$8.2 £6.21

$21.87 £16.55

Apples (1kg)

$3.3 £2.5

$1.34 £1.01

$4.72 £3.57

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 £0.81

$1.02 £0.77

$3.04 £2.3

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 £1.52

$1.74 £1.32

$6.68 £5.06

Tomato (1kg)

$3.56 £2.69

$1.99 £1.51

$5.31 £4.02

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 £0.51

$2.68 £2.03

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 £0.89

$3.33 £2.52

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 £0.46

$0.56 £0.43

$1.44 £1.09

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 £0.79

$0.49 £0.37

$2.77 £2.1

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$20.93 £15.85

$19.69 £14.91

$28.32 £21.44

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 £7.9

$7.83 £5.93

$13.04 £9.87

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 £2.22

$2.28 £1.73

$4.05 £3.07

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 £2.61

$2.52 £1.91

$4.19 £3.17

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.44 £3.36

$3.98 £3.01

$4.91 £3.71

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$123 £93.5

$107 £80.8

$140 £106

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.52 £4.18

$3.04 £2.3

$6.21 £4.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.34 £1.77

$0.96 £0.72

$3.85 £2.91

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.99 £20.43

$20.24 £15.32

$33.73 £25.53

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.02 £1.53

$1.9 £1.44

$2.16 £1.64

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

$37.9K £28.7K

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

$38.3K £29K

$34.9K £26.4K

$41K £31K

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

$208 £157

$659 £499

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

$17.38 £13.16

$13.34 £10.1

$46.69 £35.35

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.51 £30.67

$31.16 £23.59

$61 £46.15

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.98 £23.45

$27.34 £20.7

$34.17 £25.87

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.37 £9.37

Cinema Ticket

$10.79 £8.17

$6.74 £5.1

$21.58 £16.33

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

$1,142 £864

$669 £506

$1,338 £1,013

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.1K £13.7K

$16.1K £12.2K

$20.1K £15.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 £27.95

$150 £114

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.27 £20.64

$81.8 £61.9

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.4 £71.5

$67.5 £51.1

$162 £123

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 £81.4

$74.8 £56.6

$136 £103

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$936 £708

$820 £621

$1,093 £828

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$618 £468

$549 £416

$687 £520

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,850 £1,400

$1,781 £1,349

$1,918 £1,452

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,241 £939

$694 £525

$1,514 £1,146

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,614 £1,979

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,216 £1,677

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,970 £1,491

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.32

5.9

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

Last update: December 1, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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Cost of Living in Elgin - Frequently Asked Questions

Elgin offers a friendly balance between small-town charm and practical amenities. The Cost of Living in Elgin, United Kingdom sits at a comfortable level for those who want solid housing, grocery options, and reliable services without paying city premiums. You’ll likely find dining and entertainment more approachable than in Scotland's bigger hubs, while still benefiting from good connectivity to Inverness and the wider Highlands. A practical approach is to start in Bishopmill or Old Elgin for quiet streets and easy shops, then explore nearby countryside on weekends. Tip: Focus on long-term housing rather than short stays to stabilize costs and routines.

In daily life, housing search tends to favor long-term rentals in areas like Old Elgin, Bishopmill, or New Elgin, with a mix of traditional cottages and modern flats. Grocery options range from major supermarkets to local markets, helping you keep meals flexible and affordable. Transport relies on reliable local buses, a compact town center, and convenient rail links for longer trips to Inverness or Aberdeen. Co-working or cafe-style workspaces are practical for digital nomads, offering steady Wi-Fi and quiet corners. Elgin living cost is shaped by neighborhood choice and weekly planning. Tip: Map weekly errands to minimize backtracking and save time.

Think about daily routines, seasonality, and access to outdoors when weighing options. Old Elgin offers historic charm and walkability, while New Elgin and Bishopmill balance amenities with family-friendly streets. A practical budgeting framework is to bundle housing, groceries, and transport into a simple monthly plan, then build in flexible days for outdoor recreation or day trips. Seasonal shifts influence heating and outdoor activity choices, so think through a mix of indoor workspaces and sunny days near the river or coastline. Tip: test a few neighborhoods with short stays before committing to a longer lease.