Cost of Living
Scotland is relatively expensive when compared to some other European countries, but is lower than many other regions in the UK. Costs are highest in Edinburgh, and in remote areas like Stornoway where supplies are difficult to access.
When travelling, expect to pay about 50 GBP per person for mid-range accommodations and meals. Backpackers using hostels and cooking their own meals can get by on as little as 25 GBP a day, not including transport.
Estimates on cost of living:
- Rent (Studio): 120 GBP/week
- Rent (Shared Flat): 90 GBP/week
- Gas/electricity: 11-15 GBP per week
- Internet: 5-8 GBP per week
- Mobile phones: 10-15 GBP per week
- Laundry/toiletries: 8 GBP per week
- Cinema ticket: 3.50-7.50 GBP per week
- Haircut: 8-30 GBP
- Monthly Bus Pass: 45 GBP
- Lunch with drink: 15 GBP
- Milk (2 L): 1.50 GBP
- Whole Chicken: 4.00 GBP
- Bacon: 2.80 GBP
Prepare for your Housing Search
Research, research, and introspection should define your pre-accommodation search. Familiarize yourself with the different areas of Edinburgh and find where you want to live. Read blogs from the area, find official resources, visit the different areas. Ask yourself questions like:
How big a place do you want? A studio? A three room flat?
Where do you want to live? Somewhere close to your work?
What's your price range? What are you comfortable paying?
With answers to these important questions you can begin to think of a specific place.
Flatsharing
A flatshare can be an excellent way to save money on your accommodations. It also offers an opportunity to get to know a new city with a local. Shared accommodation in cities ranges from around 300 GBP per month (out of the city center) to 400 GBP or more per month in the city center.
However, an important trait in any roommate situation is having boundaries and a clear understanding of what each roommate requires. To protect yourself against potential problems should the worst happen, try to arrange it so that your roommates co-sign the lease. This makes all the roommates responsible for whatever happens to the property. If the worst was to happen, such as your roommate losing their job and not being able to pay rent, they will be held financially responsible- not you.
FLATSHARING : A NEW WAY OF LIFE
Instead of living in a pokey attic room with huge rent, why not try
shared accommodation? Frequently associated with students, sharing is
spreading nowadays towards older established workers and covers people
from 18 to 49 years old. Without falling into a community style of life
such as in the 70's, you can choose to share an accommodation in Edinburgh for a
bigger space, less expense.
Flatsharing is a way to meet more and more followers who choose to
break a lonely life, save money or just find an affordable acommodation
in a difficult market. This way of life has numerous advantages in term
of money, practicality or social life. EASYEXPAT
in partnership with EASYROOMMATE
number one for flatsharing, offers this service to its users to present
all the chances to find the ideal flatmate or to join an existing household.
If you've got a room to rent in Edinburgh, you can put a free ad for house/flatsharing.
If you look for a room or a flatshare in United Kingdom, it's free to search into
the database with thousands of offers.
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Hostel
Hostels are plentiful across the UK and Scotland is no exception. Most are clustered around the cities, although a few are interspersed in the countryside. Most youth hostels only charge 10 GBP per bed, per night.
The Scottish Youth Hostel Association (SYHA) has a searchable network of Independent Hostels. The SYHA traditionally involved guests performing chores and a ban on alcohol. However, as time marches on many new hostels are abandoning these rules.
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