Finance · 12 min read

How Much Does It Cost To Be A Student In Edinburgh

For 2026 to 2027, the estimated average cost of living in Edinburgh as a single undergraduate student is around £1,546 per month. That works out at roughly £13,914 for a 39-week academic year, or £18,552 for a full 52-week year.

That does not include tuition fees, study materials, visa costs or any one-off moving expenses, so it is worth planning properly before you arrive.

Edinburgh is an amazing place to be a student. You’ve got the old streets, the festivals, the student nights, the coffee shops, the views from Arthur’s Seat and, of course, some seriously good universities.

But let’s be honest. It is not the cheapest city in the UK.

The good news? Once you know where your money is likely to go, it becomes much easier to budget.

And if things still feel tight, there are loads of ways to make extra money as a student in Edinburgh, including online side-hustles you can do around lectures through platforms like Prograd.

If you are looking for easy ways to earn money online, why not try Prograd? Through the platform, you can view hundreds of legit ways to earn real money from wherever you are, all you need is a phone and some extra time.

So, how much does student life in Edinburgh cost?

The average student in Edinburgh should budget around £1,546 per month for living costs.

That usually includes accommodation, bills, food, phone costs, socialising and local transport.

Here's the breakdown of average costs:

Accommodation and utilities: £980 per month

Food and other shopping: £248 per month

Mobile phone contract: £12 per month

Socialising, leisure and wellbeing: £248 per month

Local bus travel if you are aged 22 or over: £58 per month

Estimated total: £1,546 per month

Over a 39-week academic year, that comes to around £13,914. Over a full year, it comes to around £18,552.

Of course, not every student spends the same. Someone living in private student accommodation near the city centre will probably spend more than someone sharing a flat further out. Someone who cooks at home most nights will spend less than someone who lives off Deliveroo and Pret.

Basically, your lifestyle matters.

Accommodation is likely to be your biggest cost

Accommodation is usually where most of your student budget disappears.

In Edinburgh, student accommodation and utilities can range from around £752 to £1,249 per month, depending on where you live and what type of housing you choose.

University catered accommodation costs around £1,182 per month.

University self-catered accommodation costs around £938 per month.

Private accommodation costs around £752 per month.

Private student accommodation costs around £1,249 per month.

A lot of first-year students choose university accommodation because it is easy, social and usually includes bills. After first year, many students move into private flats with friends, which can work out cheaper, especially if you are happy living slightly further from the centre.

Private student accommodation can be lovely, but it is often more expensive because it tends to include modern rooms, bills, WiFi, laundry facilities and shared spaces.

If you are trying to save money, sharing a private flat is usually one of the best ways to bring costs down.

Food and shopping costs in Edinburgh

The estimated cost of food and other shopping for a self-catered student in Edinburgh is around £248 per month.

That includes supermarket shopping, toiletries, cleaning products and everyday essentials.

If you are in catered halls, you may spend closer to £91 per month on extra food and shopping, because some meals are already included in your rent.

The easiest way to save money on food is to cook at home most of the time. Lidl and Aldi will usually be your best friends, and batch cooking can make a massive difference when you are tired, busy or trying not to spend £12 on a sad takeaway.

That does not mean you can never eat out. It just means keeping it as a treat rather than your entire personality.

Phone, WiFi and utilities

A basic SIM-only mobile phone contract is estimated at around £12 per month.

If your contract includes a handset, you will probably pay more.

WiFi and utilities are often included in university halls and private student accommodation, which can make budgeting easier. In private rented accommodation, you may need to pay separately for gas, electricity and internet.

For private accommodation, estimated utility costs include around £55 per month for gas and electricity, plus around £9 per month for WiFi.

This is why it is always worth checking what is included before signing anything. A room that looks cheaper at first may not be so cheap once bills are added.

Socialising, leisure and wellbeing

The estimated monthly cost for socialising, leisure and wellbeing in Edinburgh is around £248.

That could include nights out, society memberships, gym costs, eating out, subscriptions, cinema trips, coffees, hobbies and everything else that makes student life feel like student life.

Edinburgh can be expensive, especially during festival season, but there are also loads of free or cheap things to do. You can climb Arthur’s Seat, visit free museums, go to student union events, join societies or explore the city on foot.

You do not have to spend loads to enjoy Edinburgh. But it is still worth giving yourself a realistic social budget, because pretending you will never go out is usually where student budgets fall apart.

Transport costs in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a fairly walkable city, so you may not need to spend a lot on transport.

If you are under 22, you can get free bus travel in Scotland with a Young Scot National Entitlement Card.

If you are 22 or over, a student bus pass from Lothian Buses costs around £58 per month, or £570 for a 9-month advance purchase pass.

Local bus travel if you are under 22: £0 per month

Student bus pass if you are 22 or over: £58 per month

If your studies are based at King’s Buildings, the University of Edinburgh also runs a free shuttle bus between there and Central campus.

Walking and cycling can also save you money, especially if you live close to campus.

One-off costs students often forget

When you are planning your student budget, it is easy to focus on rent and food and forget the boring little costs that appear all at once.

You may need to buy bedding and towels.

You may need cooking utensils.

You may need to pay a security deposit for private accommodation.

You may want contents insurance.

You may need a TV licence if you watch live TV or BBC iPlayer.

You may have to pay an admin fee if you pay for a Lothian Buses pass by monthly direct debit.

You may also need to budget for books, equipment, printing, course materials, visa costs or the immigration health surcharge if you are an international student.

Full-time students are usually exempt from Council Tax if they live with other full-time students, but if you live with someone who is not a full-time student, the household may still receive a bill.

How can students in Edinburgh make extra money?

Even with careful budgeting, student life can get expensive. That is where earning a bit of extra money can really help.

You do not necessarily need a traditional part-time job with fixed shifts. Many students now make extra money online because it is more flexible and easier to fit around lectures, deadlines and nights out.

That is where Prograd can be useful. Prograd helps students find easy ways to make money online, including paid surveys, games that pay, online tasks and other side-hustles you can do from your phone.

So instead of scrolling for an hour between lectures, you could use that time to earn a bit of extra cash.

You can sign up to Prograd, explore loads of side-hustles in one place and find options that fit around your schedule.

Easy ways to make money as a student in Edinburgh

One of the easiest places to start is with paid surveys. You will not get rich from them, but they can be a simple way to make extra money while watching Netflix, sitting on the bus or waiting for a lecture to start.

Playing games for money is another option available through platforms like Prograd. Some offers let you earn by downloading and playing mobile games, which can be a fun way to make money online if you are already spending time on your phone.

You could also try online tutoring if you are confident in a subject. Edinburgh has a big student population, and younger pupils often need help with exams, essays and revision.

Virtual assistant work can also be a good option if you are organised. This might involve replying to emails, scheduling posts, formatting documents or helping small businesses with admin.

Babysitting, dog walking and hospitality shifts are also popular student options in Edinburgh, especially if you want to earn offline. But the downside is that they often require you to be in a certain place at a certain time.

Online side-hustles can be easier to fit around student life, which is why more students are looking at platforms like Prograd to find flexible ways to earn.

How to save money as a student in Edinburgh

The biggest thing you can do is be honest about your spending.

If you know you love nights out, budget for them. If you know you will buy coffee on campus, include it. If you pretend you are suddenly going to become someone who meal preps every single meal and never goes out, your budget probably will not last.

Cooking at home will save you a lot, especially if you shop at Lidl or Aldi.

Living in shared accommodation can bring costs down.

Using free bus travel if you are under 22 can make a big difference.

Student discounts through UNiDAYS, TOTUM and Student Beans are worth using.

Free activities like museums, walks, society events and university-run socials can help you enjoy Edinburgh without spending every weekend.

And if your budget still feels tight, using Prograd to find flexible ways to earn money online can give you a bit more breathing room.

Is Edinburgh expensive for students?

Yes, Edinburgh can be expensive for students, especially when it comes to accommodation. But it is still possible to live there on a student budget if you plan carefully, choose your housing wisely and keep an eye on everyday spending.

As a rough guide, you should budget around £1,546 per month for living costs, or around £13,914 for a 39-week academic year.

The main costs to plan for are rent, food, transport, socialising, phone bills and one-off moving expenses.

But student life in Edinburgh is also full of ways to save money, from free bus travel for under-22s to affordable supermarkets, student discounts and free things to do across the city.

And if you want to make your budget stretch further, Prograd can help you find easy ways to earn extra money online around your studies.

Because being a student in Edinburgh should be about enjoying the city, not constantly stressing about your bank balance.