Edinburgh Trip Cost Calculator

Your Edinburgh Budget at a Glance

Edinburgh punches above its weight for budget travelers. While accommodation can be pricey, the city compensates with outstanding free attractions—world-class museums, stunning architecture, and dramatic landscapes you can explore on foot. Budget travelers can manage on $90-160 per day, mid-range travelers should expect $160-300 per day, and luxury seekers will spend $400+ per day.

Where Your Money Goes

Accommodation is typically the biggest expense, especially during the August festivals when prices can triple. Attractions are surprisingly affordable thanks to free national museums. Food and drink can range from cheap pub grub to Michelin-starred splurges—and you’ll want to budget for at least one proper whisky tasting.

Budget Traveler Tips

Stretch your pounds by:

• Staying in hostels in the Old Town or Leith (from £12-25/night)
• Eating pub lunches and bakery breakfasts instead of restaurant dinners
• Using Lothian Buses with contactless TapTapCap (capped at £5/day)
• Filling your days with free museums—the National Museum alone deserves half a day

Worth the Splurge

Even budget travelers should consider:

• Edinburgh Castle (£21.50, but iconic and unmissable)
• One whisky tasting experience to learn about Scotland’s national drink
• A traditional Scottish dinner with haggis and a dram

Best Time to Visit for Value

January and February offer the best deals—hotel prices can be 50% cheaper than summer, and the city is atmospheric in winter. May, June, and September offer the sweet spot of good weather and reasonable prices.

Avoid these expensive periods:

• The entire month of August (Fringe Festival)
• Hogmanay / New Year (late December - January 1)
• Any time Oasis, Taylor Swift, or similar mega-acts play Murrayfield