Cost of living in Edinburgh guide, Scottish student accommodation, Scotland capital city property
Cost of Living in Edinburgh: What You Should Know
5 July 2024
Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland in the north of the UK, is renowned for its low crime rate and abundant educational opportunities, making it one of the best cities in the UK for students studying abroad. With its magnificent historic buildings, rich cultural and artistic resources, and a student population of over 55,000 at the University of Edinburgh, this city offers an enriching cultural experience.
This guide explores the cost of living in Edinburgh, providing insights into student accommodation Edinburgh, tuition fees, food, entertainment, transport, and other essential expenses. It aims to help you make informed choices about your future in this vibrant city.
Student Accommodation Edinburgh
Edinburgh’s student growth rate has been consistently higher than the UK average at over 3 percent per annum for the last five years. With Edinburgh’s status as a tourist and cultural center, making it firmly established as one of the best places for young people worldwide to live and study, demand for Edinburgh student accommodation has remained high.
Finding suitable student accommodation in Edinburgh is the first step to getting the ideal university experience, but high demand keeps Edinburgh student accommodation prices high. According to uhomes.com, student accommodation in Edinburgh costs £200-400 per week. Our student accommodation in Edinburgh are spread around the university and city center, catering to different preferences and budgets. Each flat rent includes utility bills, saving students the hassle of dealing with unnecessary hassles!
Tuition Cost
Tuition fees represent one of the most significant costs for students studying abroad, often being higher for international students than for local ones. In Edinburgh, tuition fees vary depending on the university and the specific course of study. Below are the tuition fee ranges for three prominent universities in Edinburgh:
- University of Edinburgh: Tuition fees for international students range from £14,950 to £37,500 per year.
- Edinburgh Heriot-Watt University: The average tuition fee for international students is approximately £17,000 per year.
- Edinburgh Napier University: Tuition fees for international students range from £16,680 to £21,805 per year.
Understanding tuition fee costs can help you plan and make informed decisions about your educational journey in Edinburgh.
Food
Meals are also a big part of living expenses and vary from person to person. If you cook for yourself, it will be much cheaper, and eating out a lot of food expenditure costs can be high. Many supermarkets near Edinburgh University, such as Tesco Express and Aldi, allow students to buy fresh ingredients easily. Cooking for yourself will significantly reduce your food bill and living costs in Edinburgh.
On top of this, you can plan your meals, make a shopping list, buy in bulk when it’s cheaper, use vouchers, take advantage of shop sales, buy in-season produce, and limit how often you go out to eat or order takeaways. Generally, you’ll spend around £400 a month on food in Edinburgh if you buy and cook your food daily.
If you’re a foodie and think your cost of living is enough to get you down in Edinburgh, you’ll want to use a lot of Edinburgh food. Here, you can savor authentic Scottish cuisines such as haggis, mince pies, scotch whisky, and more. Edinburgh has a wide range of restaurants, from £10-£15 per meal in a regular restaurant to £70-£120 per meal in a fine dining restaurant, depending on your choice!
Entertainment
In addition to academics, leisure, and recreational activities play a vital role in daily life. Edinburgh boasts numerous museums, galleries, and parks that students can enjoy for free. The city is also home to two renowned annual events: the Edinburgh International Festival and the Hogmanay Street Party. Students can have fun in these activities.
For those seeking entertainment, students can attend captivating theatre performances at the Playhouse or Traverse Theatre, enjoy comedy shows at The Stand, or catch a movie at the Cameo Picturehouse. On average, students in Edinburgh can expect to spend between £80 and £150 per month on entertainment, ensuring a balanced and enriching lifestyle.
Transportation
Getting around Edinburgh and its environs is easy with the simplest of navigation. The city’s road plan needs to be simplified, and the public transport system is easy to understand. Many student discounts and walking and cycling options make everyday travel easy and affordable. Edinburgh also boasts an airport, which can be reached by tram or bus, and the city’s two main railway stations are reasonably well connected.
Buses and trains are the most popular means of transport for students. Students who have yet to reach 22 can apply for a Young Scot card and get free travel within Scotland. Students who have reached the age of 22 and often need to travel by public transport can choose to buy an annual Edinburgh Ridacard with unlimited traveling expenses of 500 pounds between September and October or buy a monthly card of 62 pounds per month. Edinburgh has two main railway stations: Waverley and Haymarket. It is easy to travel around the UK by train from Edinburgh. Buy a 16-25 Railcard and get a student discount.
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