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Edinburgh vs Oxford cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ฌ๐ง Edinburgh
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford
At a glance
- Where Oxford is clearly cheaper: Scooter rental (25%โ), Half-day tour (25%โ), Haircut (17%โ)
- Where Edinburgh is clearly cheaper: Street food (39%โ), Transit (20%โ), Taxi (15%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Oxford is easier to travel (1.2 vs 1.6). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Edinburgh 2 vs Oxford 1. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Edinburgh | Oxford | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ยฃ 14$18.9 | ยฃ 16$21.6 | Edinburgh โ12% |
| Street food1 item | ยฃ 5.5$7.43 | ยฃ 9$12.2 | Edinburgh โ39% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ยฃ 30$40.5 | ยฃ 30$40.5 | similar |
| Coffeeone cup | ยฃ 3.8$5.14 | ยฃ 3.7$5 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | ยฃ 5.5$7.43 | ยฃ 6$8.11 | Edinburgh โ8% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ยฃ 9$12.2 | ยฃ 10$13.5 | Edinburgh โ10% |
| Bottled water | ยฃ 1.2$1.62 | ยฃ 1.1$1.49 | Oxford โ8% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ยฃ 1.8$2.43 | ยฃ 1.8$2.43 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | ยฃ 11$14.9 | ยฃ 13$17.6 | Edinburgh โ15% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ยฃ 7$9.46 | ยฃ 7$9.46 | similar |
| Transitone ride | ยฃ 2.4$3.24 | ยฃ 3$4.05 | Edinburgh โ20% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ยฃ 20$27 | ยฃ 15$20.3 | Oxford โ25% |
| Hotel night3-star | ยฃ 120$162 | ยฃ 130$176 | Edinburgh โ8% |
| Studio rent (month) | ยฃ 1,050$1,419 | ยฃ 1,200$1,622 | Edinburgh โ12% |
| Laundry | ยฃ 9$12.2 | ยฃ 9$12.2 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | ยฃ 10$13.5 | ยฃ 10$13.5 | similar |
| Haircutcut | ยฃ 18$24.3 | ยฃ 15$20.3 | Oxford โ17% |
| Massage1 hour | ยฃ 60$81.1 | ยฃ 55$74.3 | Oxford โ8% |
| Half-day tourper person | ยฃ 40$54.1 | ยฃ 30$40.5 | Oxford โ25% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ยฃ 21.5$29.1 | ยฃ 24$32.4 | Edinburgh โ10% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Edinburgh or Oxford?
Edinburgh is 14% cheaper than Oxford. Daily budget $313 vs $340; a month $5,475 vs $6,832.
Which is easier to travel, Edinburgh or Oxford?
Oxford is easier: Oxford 1.2/5 vs Edinburgh 1.6/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Edinburgh and Oxford?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Edinburgh is about $5,475 and Oxford about $6,832 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.