Travel budget and cost of living in Scotland how much does a trip cost?

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.

* 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

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.

Local prices in Scotland by expense type

Scotland: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 22/person
($ 11 to $ 35)

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6% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

3 course dinner

$ 42/person
($ 29 to $ 70)

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1% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 42

McDonald's meal

$ 8.2/person
($ 7.2 to $ 11)

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25% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 5.9 for 500ml
($ 4.2 to $ 8.2)

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11% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.6

Imported beer

$ 2.9 for 330ml
($ 1.4 to $ 4.9)

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22% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Cappuccino

$ 4.1/cup
($ 2.7 to $ 5.5)

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21% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2

Fizzy drink

$ 2/can
($ 1.4 to $ 3.5)

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20% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Water bottle

$ 1.6/bottle
($ 1.1 to $ 2.7)

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

Scotland: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 139/night
($ 138 to $ 138)

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11% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 126

2-star hotel

$ 125/night
($ 91 to $ 186)

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14% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 146

3-star hotel

$ 141/night
($ 103 to $ 208)

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32% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 208

4-star hotel

$ 188/night
($ 137 to $ 278)

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38% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 305

5-star hotel

$ 351/night
($ 253 to $ 468)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 653

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 116/month
($ 87 to $ 161)

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11% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 131

Room with kitchen

$ 260/month
($ 176 to $ 413)

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32% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 198

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 205/month
($ 138 to $ 353)

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10% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 187

Cottage or guest house

$ 146/month
($ 104 to $ 224)

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41% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 251

Family room

$ 257/month
($ 176 to $ 441)

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

Scotland: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 1.4/litre
($ 0.8 to $ 2)

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25% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 1.4/500g
($ 0.8 to $ 2.7)

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62% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Rice

$ 1.9/kg
($ 1 to $ 3.5)

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58% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 3/12 eggs
($ 1.7 to $ 4.9)

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40% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Chicken

$ 8/kg
($ 4.2 to $ 13)

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39% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Apples

$ 2.6/kg
($ 1.4 to $ 4.2)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.4

Tomatoes

$ 2.9/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 5.5)

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43% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Potatoes

$ 1.4/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 2.7)

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51% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3

Water bottle

$ 1.4
($ 0.7 to $ 2.4)

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

Scotland: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 3.5/ticket
($ 2.5 to $ 6.2)

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25% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.8

Taxi (per km)

$ 1.7/km
($ 1.1 to $ 3.7)

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7% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9

Petrol

$ 2.2/litre
($ 2 to $ 2.5)

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93% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 4.2
($ 2.5 to $ 6.2)

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7% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Car hire

$ 28/24hrs
($ 8.4 to $ 206)

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

Scotland: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 14/ticket
($ 9.7 to $ 22)

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4% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Tennis

$ 15/hr
($ 6.9 to $ 22)

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

Scotland: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 17/pack
($ 15 to $ 22)

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66% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 9.9

Levi's jeans

$ 85
($ 42 to $ 125)

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46% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 58

Summer dress

$ 42
($ 22 to $ 70)

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

Plane ticket budget

Dublin → Edinburgh

$ 58
(fair price: $ 49)

Dublin → Glasgow

$ 53
(fair price: $ 49)

London → Edinburgh

$ 84
(fair price: $ 73)

New York City → Edinburgh

$ 944
(fair price: $ 671)

Manchester → Aberdeen

$ 177
(fair price: $ 159)

London → Glasgow

$ 88
(fair price: $ 78)