Travel budget in Scotland

Scotland: calculate your travel budget

Scotland: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Scotland for 2 people.

Low budget
(backpacker)

Daily budget:

  • $ 101 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 14 per person
  • $ 14 per person
  • Free activities

Total budget:

$ 2181* (1596 £)

Average budget
(traveller)

Daily budget:

  • $ 133 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 44 per person
  • $ 21 per person
  • $ 14 per person

Total budget:

$ 4049* (2954 £)

High budget
(tourist)

Daily budget:

  • $ 165 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 80 per person
  • $ 35 per person
  • $ 28 per person

Total budget:

$ 6254* (4550 £)

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).



Cost of living in Scotland in 2023

Cost of living: Scotland VS United States

Compare with the average cost of living in:

On average, the cost of living in Scotland in 2023 is 4% less than in the United States (USA).

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:

Cost of living in Scotland by city

See the table below for the variation in the cost of living in different cities in Scotland compared to the national average.

Cities /Scotland View Details
Edinburgh 9% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Edinburgh
Glasgow 3% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Glasgow
Dundee 5% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Dundee
Dunfermline 5% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Dunfermline
Inverness 14% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Inverness
Aberdeen 15% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Aberdeen



Local prices in Scotland by expense type

Scotland: Restaurant budget

On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in Scotland costs 16% less than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
Lunch
$ 22/person
($ 11 to $ 35)

6% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23
3 course dinner
3 course dinner
$ 42/person
($ 29 to $ 70)

1% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 42
McDonald's meal
McDonald's meal
$ 8.2/person
($ 7.2 to $ 11)

25% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12
Local beer
Local beer
$ 5.9 for 500ml
($ 4.2 to $ 8.2)

11% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.6
Imported beer
Imported beer
$ 2.9 for 330ml
($ 1.4 to $ 4.9)

22% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7
Cappuccino
Cappuccino
$ 4.1/cup
($ 2.7 to $ 5.5)

21% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2
Fizzy drink
Fizzy drink
$ 2/can
($ 1.4 to $ 3.5)

20% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 1.6/bottle
($ 1.1 to $ 2.7)

25% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

Scotland: Hotel and accommodation budget

On average, hotel and accommodation budget in Scotland costs 9% less than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
1-star hotel
$ 139/night
($ 138 to $ 138)

11% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 126
2-star hotel
2-star hotel
$ 125/night
($ 91 to $ 186)

14% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 146
3-star hotel
3-star hotel
$ 141/night
($ 103 to $ 208)

32% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 208
4-star hotel
4-star hotel
$ 188/night
($ 137 to $ 278)

38% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 305
5-star hotel
5-star hotel
$ 351/night
($ 253 to $ 468)

46% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 653
Hostel/Youth Hostel
Hostel/Youth Hostel
$ 116/month
($ 87 to $ 161)

11% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 131
Room with kitchen
Room with kitchen
$ 260/month
($ 176 to $ 413)

32% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 198
Hotel with swimming pool
Hotel with swimming pool
$ 205/month
($ 138 to $ 353)

10% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 187
Cottage or guest house
Cottage or guest house
$ 146/month
($ 104 to $ 224)

41% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 251
Family room
Family room
$ 257/month
($ 176 to $ 441)

35% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 192

Scotland: Supermarket food budget

On average, the price of supermarket food in Scotland costs 40% less than in the United States (USA).
Milk
Milk
$ 1.4/litre
($ 0.8 to $ 2)

25% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1
Bread
Bread
$ 1.4/500g
($ 0.8 to $ 2.7)

62% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9
Rice
Rice
$ 1.9/kg
($ 1 to $ 3.5)

58% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6
Eggs
Eggs
$ 3/12 eggs
($ 1.7 to $ 4.9)

40% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1
Chicken
Chicken
$ 8/kg
($ 4.2 to $ 13)

39% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14
Apples
Apples
$ 2.6/kg
($ 1.4 to $ 4.2)

50% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.4
Tomatoes
Tomatoes
$ 2.9/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 5.5)

43% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1
Potatoes
Potatoes
$ 1.4/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 2.7)

51% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 1.4
($ 0.7 to $ 2.4)

40% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3

Scotland: Public and private transport budget

On average, the price of transport in Scotland is 19% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
Bus ticket
$ 3.5/ticket
($ 2.5 to $ 6.2)

25% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.8
Taxi (per km)
Taxi (per km)
$ 1.7/km
($ 1.1 to $ 3.7)

7% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9
Petrol
Petrol
$ 2.2/litre
($ 2 to $ 2.5)

93% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 4.2
($ 2.5 to $ 6.2)

7% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9
Car hire
Car hire
$ 28/24hrs
($ 8.4 to $ 206)

25% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38

Scotland: Leisure activity budget

On average, budget for leisure activities in Scotland costs 12% less than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
Cinema
$ 14/ticket
($ 9.7 to $ 22)

4% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14
Tennis
Tennis
$ 15/hr
($ 6.9 to $ 22)

29% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

Scotland: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

On average, shopping budget in Scotland is 35% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
Cigarettes
$ 17/pack
($ 15 to $ 22)

66% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 9.9
Levi's jeans
Levi's jeans
$ 85
($ 42 to $ 125)

46% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 58
Summer dress
Summer dress
$ 42
($ 22 to $ 70)

9% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 46

Plane ticket budget

Dublin → Edinburgh
Dublin → Edinburgh
Dublin → Edinburgh
$ 58
(fair price: $ 49)
Dublin → Glasgow
Dublin → Glasgow
Dublin → Glasgow
$ 53
(fair price: $ 49)
London → Edinburgh
London → Edinburgh
London → Edinburgh
$ 84
(fair price: $ 73)
New York City → Edinburgh
New York City → Edinburgh
New York City → Edinburgh
$ 944
(fair price: $ 671)
Manchester → Aberdeen
Manchester → Aberdeen
Manchester → Aberdeen
$ 177
(fair price: $ 159)
London → Glasgow
London → Glasgow
London → Glasgow
$ 88
(fair price: $ 78)


About the information on the cost of living in Scotland

The information about the cost of living in Scotland shown on this page comes from multiple sources, including : Numbeo, Easyvoyage and Hotels.com.

Information about cost of living in Scotland updated on 20-05-2023.

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