Cost of Living in Edinburgh
Rent, food, bills, and budget tips for life in Scotland's capital
Emergency? Call 999
Cost of Living.
Edinburgh is the most expensive city in Scotland, and one of the priciest in the UK outside London. But Scottish benefits, free prescriptions, and free bus travel for many residents significantly offset these costs.
£1,100
Avg 1-bed rent
Per month (city centre)
£1.80
Bus single
Lothian Buses
£4.50–6
Pint of beer
City centre pub
FREE
Prescriptions
All NHS prescriptions in Scotland
Monthly budget estimates (single person)
Rent (1-bed, outer Edinburgh)
£750
£950
£1,200
Food & groceries
£150
£220
£350
Electricity & gas
£80
£120
£180
Water & council tax (Band B)
£120
£120
£120
Internet (broadband)
£25
£35
£50
Transport (Lothian Buses Ridacard)
£0 (if under 22)
£75
£75
Phone
£15
£25
£45
Eating out / socialising
£50
£150
£400
Clothing, household misc
£30
£70
£150
Total estimate
~£1,220
~£1,765
~£2,570
Budget
Moderate
Comfortable
Scotland saves you money on…
- ✓ All NHS prescriptions — FREE (saves up to £120/year vs England)
- ✓ Bus travel under 22 or over 60 — FREE
- ✓ University tuition (Scottish domiciled) — FREE
- ✓ Eye tests — FREE for all
- ✓ Dental check-ups — free for under-26s and over-60s
- ✓ Free school meals P1–P5 (saves ~£500/year per child)
Edinburgh is expensive for…
- ⚠ Rent — up 14.7% in one year, one of UK's fastest-rising
- ⚠ Festival season (August) — pubs, restaurants, Airbnbs double or triple
- ⚠ Parking — city centre pay-and-display from £4/hour
- ⚠ Tourist-area restaurants — stick to side streets
- ⚠ Short-term lets — strict licensing, limited supply drives prices up
- ⚠ Energy bills — old stone tenement buildings can be draughty
Edinburgh average salaries
Software engineer
Strong tech sector — Amazon, Skyscanner, FanDuel
£45,000–£75,000
NHS Band 5 nurse
NHS Lothian — NHS pay scales
£30,229–£37,664
Teacher (probationary)
Local authority, after probation period
£32,217
Retail / hospitality
Scottish Living Wage is £12.00/hr (2024)
£22,000–£27,000
Financial services
Edinburgh is a major UK financial centre
£38,000–£65,000
University lecturer
University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt, Napier
£40,000–£60,000