Edinburgh travel budget

Edinburgh: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Edinburgh

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

Low budget
(backpacker)

Daily budget:

  • $ 108 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 16 per person
  • $ 10 per person
  • Free activities

Total budget:

$ 2221* (1764 £)

Average budget
(traveller)

Daily budget:

  • $ 170 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 46 per person
  • $ 19 per person
  • $ 13 per person

Total budget:

$ 4540* (3598 £)

High budget
(tourist)

Daily budget:

  • $ 205 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 85 per person
  • $ 34 per person
  • $ 26 per person

Total budget:

$ 6877* (5446 £)

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).



Cost of living in Edinburgh compared to United States in 2024

Compare with the average cost of living in:

On average, the cost of living in Edinburgh in 2024 is 12% higher than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Edinburgh in 2024 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):




Local prices in Edinburgh by expense type

Restaurant budget in Edinburgh

On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in Edinburgh is 5% cheaper than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
Lunch
$ 20/person
($ 16 to $ 33)

5% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21
3 course dinner
3 course dinner
$ 48/person
($ 35 to $ 61)

24% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38
McDonald's meal
McDonald's meal
$ 10/person
($ 8.4 to $ 12)

6% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11
Local beer
Local beer
$ 6.4 for 500ml
($ 5.1 to $ 7.6)

6% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6
Imported beer
Imported beer
$ 2.9 for 330ml
($ 1.3 to $ 5.7)

18% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5
Cappuccino
Cappuccino
$ 4.3/cup
($ 3.5 to $ 5.1)

15% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1
Fizzy drink
Fizzy drink
$ 2.4/can
($ 1.3 to $ 3.6)

6% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 1.5/bottle
($ 1.3 to $ 2.5)

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

Hotel and accommodation budget in Edinburgh

On average, hotel and accommodation budget in Edinburgh is 16% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
1-star hotel
$ 224/night
($ 20 to $ 1057)

55% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 144
2-star hotel
2-star hotel
$ 157/night
($ 59 to $ 368)

10% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 144
3-star hotel
3-star hotel
$ 183/night
($ 77 to $ 527)

11% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 207
4-star hotel
4-star hotel
$ 227/night
($ 100 to $ 639)

23% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 295
5-star hotel
5-star hotel
$ 379/night
($ 128 to $ 686)

25% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 508
Hostel/Youth Hostel
Hostel/Youth Hostel
$ 143/month
($ 80 to $ 304)

0% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 143
Room with kitchen
Room with kitchen
$ 304/month
($ 130 to $ 633)

47% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 207
Hotel with swimming pool
Hotel with swimming pool
$ 258/month
($ 110 to $ 645)

36% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 190
Cottage or guest house
Cottage or guest house
$ 180/month
($ 86 to $ 410)

20% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 226
Family room
Family room
$ 343/month
($ 127 to $ 1121)

77% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 194

Supermarket food budget in Edinburgh

On average, the price of supermarket food in Edinburgh is 23% cheaper than in the United States (USA).
Milk
Milk
$ 1.5/litre
($ 0.9 to $ 2.3)

41% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1
Bread
Bread
$ 1.7/500g
($ 1.2 to $ 3.1)

50% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6
Rice
Rice
$ 1.7/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 2.5)

62% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6
Eggs
Eggs
$ 3.8/12 eggs
($ 2.3 to $ 6.1)

3% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7
Chicken
Chicken
$ 9.4/kg
($ 4.1 to $ 15)

23% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13
Apples
Apples
$ 2.6/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 4.4)

51% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3
Tomatoes
Tomatoes
$ 5.3/kg
($ 2.2 to $ 11)

9% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9
Potatoes
Potatoes
$ 1.5/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 2.5)

49% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 1.5
($ 0.8 to $ 2.5)

29% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Public and private transport budget in Edinburgh

On average, the price of transport in Edinburgh is 34% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
Bus ticket
$ 2.5/ticket
($ 2.5 to $ 2.5)

2% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5
Taxi (per km)
Taxi (per km)
$ 1.7/km
($ 1.4 to $ 5.1)

2% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7
Petrol
Petrol
$ 1.9/litre
($ 1.8 to $ 2.2)

98% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 5.1
($ 3.8 to $ 6.4)

35% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Leisure activity budget in Edinburgh

On average, budget for leisure activities in Edinburgh is 17% cheaper than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
Cinema
$ 13/ticket
($ 8.9 to $ 16)

9% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15
Tennis
Tennis
$ 18/hr
($ 6.4 to $ 21)

25% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Edinburgh

On average, shopping budget in Edinburgh is 65% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
Cigarettes
$ 19/pack
($ 14 to $ 21)

78% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11
Levi's jeans
Levi's jeans
$ 109
($ 71 to $ 153)

103% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 54
Summer dress
Summer dress
$ 52
($ 45 to $ 64)

15% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 45

Plane ticket budget

New York City → Edinburgh
New York City → Edinburgh
New York City → Edinburgh
$ 1006
(fair price: $ 701)
Dublin → Edinburgh
Dublin → Edinburgh
Dublin → Edinburgh
$ 56
(fair price: $ 50)
London → Edinburgh
London → Edinburgh
London → Edinburgh
$ 73
(fair price: $ 62)
Sydney → Edinburgh
Sydney → Edinburgh
Sydney → Edinburgh
$ 1650
(fair price: $ 1353)
Toronto → Edinburgh
Toronto → Edinburgh
Toronto → Edinburgh
$ 769
(fair price: $ 654)
Los Angeles → Edinburgh
Los Angeles  → Edinburgh
Los Angeles  → Edinburgh
$ 845
(fair price: $ 677)

Book a flight Flight prices to Edinburgh




About this information on the cost of living in Edinburgh

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

The information about the cost of living in Edinburgh was updated on 25-03-2024.

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