Is it cheaper to stay in Edinburgh or Glasgow?

Which is cheaper Glasgow or Edinburgh? Edinburgh is an expensive city, that's for sure! While Glasgow isn't cheap, it's certainly more affordable than Edinburgh, in pretty much every category. From restaurants and bars to hotels and attractions, Glasgow is a more budget-friendly destination.



Generally, Glasgow is significantly cheaper than Edinburgh for travelers. As Scotland’s capital and a major global tourism hub, Edinburgh has some of the highest hotel and short-term rental prices in the UK, especially during the "Fringe Festival" in August or the "Hogmanay" New Year celebrations. Average hotel rates in Edinburgh are often 30% to 50% higher than in Glasgow. Glasgow, being a more industrial and "local" city, offers a wider range of budget-friendly accommodations and a lower cost of living, which translates to cheaper dining and nightlife. Because the two cities are only 50 minutes apart by train, many budget-conscious travelers choose to use Glasgow as their "home base" and take day trips into Edinburgh. This strategy allows you to enjoy the world-class museums and nightlife of Glasgow while saving a substantial amount on the "capital city premium" charged for lodging in Edinburgh's historic Old Town.

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Edinburgh seems more traditional and historic and has a great Pub Crawl; while Glasgow is more Arty and probably more trendy Music scene. You can get tours from both places. Look at Visit Scotland web site for some great visuals. Lots to do in Glasgow but Edinburgh offers more for first time visitors.

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Scotland has done extremely well in the Index overall this year, with Edinburgh coming in first place and Glasgow in fourth. Seems like it's the place to be right now – so if you live there currently, congratulations! And if you don't, it may well be time to plan a visit.

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How long should you spend in Edinburgh? Two days in Edinburgh is the ideal amount of time to see the main city highlights. If you want a more relaxed visit, that includes a few museums or specialty tours, then I would recommend at least three days or more.

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The city is home to some of Scotland's best cultural attractions and most of them are completely free! Explore Glasgow's music scene on a city walking tour, or uncover countless treasures inside its fantastic museums and art galleries.

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Edinburgh has been named among the '25 Most Beautiful Cities in the World' by a renowned US travel magazine. New York-based Travel + Leisure, which has nearly five million monthly readers, included Scotland's capital in its 'by-no-means exhaustive list' of the world's most beautiful cities.

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West End: the best area to stay in Edinburgh for the main attractions. The West End is a very popular and affluent area of the capital, located to the west of the city centre. It is home to many of the main tourist attractions from Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street Gardens to the Scottish National Gallery.

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Edinburgh Airport is Scotland's busiest, serving over 12 million passengers every year.

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Edinburgh is one of the more expensive cities in the UK, although you will be pleased to hear it is certainly cheaper than London. If you are looking for accommodation expect to pay somewhere between £120 – £150 per night for something mid range.

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The majority of Edinburgh is a UNESCO Heritage site, and 4 days in this historical city is an adequate amount of time to get to know Scotland's capital very well.

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