Cost of Living

The cost of living in Edinburgh is reasonably low when compared to university cities in England, but remains fairly high in comparison to other Scottish university cities. This table reflects the findings of a study of living costs carried out by the London Development Agency*:

This table shows that Edinburgh is a cheaper place to live than London, with a cost of living more comparable to that of northern English cities such as Manchester. Nevertheless, the cost of household goods is much higher in Edinburgh than in Manchester, and so Edinburgh is not a cheap place to live.

The best way to survive university without getting into a lot of debt is to carefully budget your available funds. Whilst planning your outgoings might not seem like a priority when you arrive at university, finding that your account is running low before the end of your first study term can be a dismal reality check. Consider how much you will need to set aside for fixed costs such as rent and utilities, then factor in essentials such as food, clothing, books and transport. Any money left over is available to spend on entertainment, such as nights out, new CDs and DVDs. If you plan to attend the often pricey festivals, include this expense in your monthly budget and reduce other outgoings accordingly to compensate. Once you have been budgeting your money for a few months it should become automatic, and your account balance will stay healthy for longer, ensuring you can afford to have more fun in the long term.


* Figures obtained from the London Development Agency website: www.lda.gov.uk