Edinburgh is without a doubt a beautiful city, with that stunning castle as the centerpiece of the city, but what is it like to live in Edinburgh rather than visit as a tourist?
In this ultimate guide to going to live in Edinburgh we will give you lots of local inside knowledge, look at the cost of moving to Edinburgh, living costs and much more. Here is a full list of what you can expect to find in this guide:
Why you Should Live in Edinburgh
Is Edinburgh a Safe Place to Live?
How much does it cost to rent a home in Edinburgh?
How much do homes cost in Edinburgh?
What is the Cost of Living in Edinburgh?
How Much Does it Cost to Move to Edinburgh?
Where is the Best Place to Live in Edinburgh?
Which is the Cheapest Area to Live in Edinburgh
Moving to Edinburgh Alone
Living in Edinburgh as a Student
Moving to Edinburgh with Family
Which are the Best Schools in Edinburgh?
Is There Employment in Edinburgh?
What are the Best Ways of Getting Around Edinburgh?
What is there to do in Edinburgh?
The Best of Edinburgh
Not many places can boast such a splendid centerpiece for their city.
Should I Move to Edinburgh?
Well, there are certainly plenty of good reasons why you should move to Edinburgh, and despite a couple of drawbacks, most residents believe it is a fantastic place to live.
So what are the pros and cons of moving to Edinburgh?
What are the pros of moving to Edinburgh?
It is a beautiful city. Visually, Edinburgh is a gem, with a castle perched on top of a hill at its epicenter. There is a beautiful mix of architecture from Gothic to Georgian and everything in between. The Meadows is a stunning park where you can take while away many hours walking or at the children’s play areas.
Top centres of education: There are two great universities and a number of very well regarded schools in Edinburgh, including some excellent private schools.
Friendly people: Edinburgh is full of very friendly people and the majority will take the time to help you if you need it. It makes getting used to a new city so much easier.
A city of culture: The National Museum of Scotland, theatres, art galleries, and plenty of bookshops ensure your cultural needs are well met.
Stunning countryside: There is some stunning Scottish countryside and coast right on your doorstep.
Great social scene: There is a huge choice of bars, restaurants, live music venues, art exhibitions and things to do in Edinburgh, so it is easy to make friends in your new home city.
The city is walkable: Edinburgh is an easy city to get about and walking is a great way to see and experience Edinburgh, although it is a bit hilly in places. But there is also a great bus network too if walking is not your thing.
There are lots of golf courses: If you like golf then you will be spoilt for choice as there about 7 golf courses in Edinburgh.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe & International Festival: The highlight of the year in Edinburgh is the International Arts Festival and the Fringe when the city attracts hoards of people to the innumerable events that the city holds every August.
Edinburgh Castle is built on a volcano: What else needs to be said? That is so cool.
What are the cons of moving to Edinburgh?
The high cost of living: Although cheaper than London, Edinburgh is generally more expensive than most places in the UK to live.
Limited housing: Finding a home in the centre of Edinburgh will come with a big price tag, although as you move away from the centre there is more choice and prices decreases.
The weather: Edinburgh is not as sunny or dry as most residents would like.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the International Festival: With the pros, there are also cons. Prices skyrocket and the city becomes jammed with people. But that does not detract from what fantastic events these are, they just make Edinburgh slightly crowded.
82% of people living in Edinburgh would recommend the city as a safe place to live as reported by the Edinburgh News in August 2019 following a study for a new TV series called Murdertown on Crime + Investigation.
Of course like any town or city, there are places where you should exercise caution but generally, Edinburgh is a safe city in which to live.
For local Policing advice and information in Edinburgh visit scotland.police.uk
To view the crime statistics for Edinburgh 2018-2019 visit www.gov.scot
What is the Average Property Rental Cost in Edinburgh?
When moving to an area you are unfamiliar with it usually makes sense to rent first so that you get to know an area before committing to buying a home there. Here are the average costs of renting a home in Edinburgh.
The average rental cost of a I bedroom home in Edinburgh is £1,082 pcm
The average rental cost of a 2 bedroom home in Edinburgh is £1,326 pcm
The average rental cost of a 3 bedroom home in Edinburgh is £2,069 pcm
The average rental cost of a 4 bedroom home in Edinburgh is £2,788 pcm
Average property rental costs are taken from www.home.co.uk
A report on www.edinburghnews.com from January 2019 by consultancy firm JLL shows that house prices in Edinburgh are expected to rise over the next few years by 16.5%.
These are the average prices you can expect to pay for a home in Edinburgh as of November 2019.
The average price of a detached home in Edinburgh is £511,612
The average price of a semi-detached home in Edinburgh is £313,253
The average price of a terraced home in Edinburgh is £437,411
The average price of a flat in Edinburgh is £299,910
But to give you a rough idea, excluding packing costs, you can expect to pay on average the following home moving costs when hiring a professional removal firm to move you to Edinburgh.
Moving a 1-2 bedroom home from London to Edinburgh costs on average £1,005
Moving a 1-2 bedroom home from Birmingham to Edinburgh costs on average £810
Moving a 1-2 bedroom home from Leeds to Edinburgh on average costs £690
Moving a 1-2 bedroom home from Liverpool to Edinburgh costs about £615
Moving a 1-2 bedroom home from York to Edinburgh costs about £670
Moving a 1-2 bedroom home from Leicester Edinburgh to costs about £835
Moving a 1-2 bedroom home from Glasgow to Edinburgh costs about £410
Moving a 1-2 bedroom home from Cardiff to Edinburgh costs about £990
Moving a 1-2 bedroom home from Bristol to Edinburgh costs about £945
Moving a 1-2 bedroom home from Plymouth to Edinburgh on average costs £1,135
On average expect to pay about £150-£200 for a professional packing service for a 1-2 bedroom home.
You will never be short of things to do when you move to Edinburgh.
Where are the Best Areas to Live in Edinburgh?
Thinking of moving to Edinburgh? Here is an Edinburgh neighbourhood guide with the 6 best places to rent or buy a home in the Edinburgh area.
The 6 best areas to live in Edinburgh are:
Stockbridge: The Edinburgh Reporter quotes the Sunday Times, that in 2019, Stockbridge is the best place to live in Edinburgh. Just a 10 to 15-minute walk to the city centre, Stockbridge feels more like a village than a part of a city. The Botanic Gardens are adjacent to Inverleith Park and there is a wonderful walk along The Water of Leith which runs alongside Stockbridge, which adds to the village feel of this neighbourhood. Circus Lane is considered one of the most beautiful mews in the whole of Edinburgh, and house prices here reflect that. The average house prices in Stockbridge are £373,992.
Leith: Leith too was listed by the Sunday Times as one of the best places to live in Scotland this year. Leith is Edinburgh’s historic port and now hosts some wonderful eateries and bars. Being on the northern edge of the city, there is a great range of local amenities and the city centre itself is easily accessible. The average house prices in Leith are about £238,622.
Bruntsfield: Just a mile from the city centre, Bruntsville has some great places to eat and many independent shops. There is a primary and a secondary school in Bruntsfield and because of the village feel of this suburb, right by The Meadows Parkland and Bruntsfield Links golf course, it is an area sought after by families. The average home costs about £364,302.
Marchmont: The affluent area of Marchmont is located about a mile south of the Old Town. There are great transport links to the city centre which is just 10-15 minutes away. Marchmont consists of mainly 4 storey Edwardian and Victorian homes which are very popular with both students and families. Marchmont has many chic and independent shops, as well as some fabulous cafes and restaurants. The area is home to James Gillespies High School and a campus of Napier University. Brunswick Links and the Meadows are right in your doorstep offering plenty of recreational opportunities. The average home in Marchmont costs about £409,294.
Morningside:The Sunday Times in 2018 rated Morningside in the top 10 places to live in Scotland. Despite being just 20 minutes from the city centre Morningside has a distinct feeling of being a beautiful countryside village. The houses are a mix of Georgian and Victorian, offering spacious accommodation. There is a wonderful mix of local and independent stores and cafes in Morningside. Families are particularly drawn to move to Morningside because of the schools, South Morningside Primary and Boroughmuir High Scholl as two of the most highly regarded schools in Edinburgh. The average home in Morningside costs £455,772
Corstorphine: From 1930’s bungalows to 1 bedroom flats, to large detached homes, this is a popular area to live in with a good range of various homes. Corstorphine has many open green spaces and easy access to some beautiful countryside. There is the Gyle shopping centre just a mile outside town as well as numerous small cafes and shops in Corstorphine. Within the area, you will find some fine schools as well as some of Edinburgh’s highly regarded private schools. Corstorphine is just 15 minutes from both the airport and the city centre and is an area popular with both couples and families. The average home in Corstorphine will cost you £369,464
Are you thinking of moving to Edinburgh alone, perhaps as a student or for work? Is Edinburgh a good place to live for single people? Here are some essential things to know when moving to Edinburgh as a single person.
Consider renting a room in a shared house, or flat sharing, if you want to save some money, get to know the area, and make instant friends in. Useful websites for finding rooms to rent in Edinburgh include: gumtree.co.uk , www.spareroom.co.uk , or www.nestpick.com
Join local social media groups to find out all the best places to go and get the low down on Edinburgh city life.
meetup.com has plenty of local groups to join so that you quickly find new friends and get to learn all about living in Edinburgh.
To find out all about local events in Edinburgh, activities, groups, and societies by visiting interests.me
Consider volunteering in your spare time, it is a great way to meet new people and help the local community at the same time. Check out projectscotland.co.uk for some ideas about volunteering opportunities in Edinburgh.
If you have been accepted as a student in Edinburgh or are considering becoming one, then this section is for you.
There are 6 Universities in Edinburgh. Click on the university name below to go to their websites where you will find a wealth of information about going to university in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh is safe: Edinburgh is regarded as a very safe city for students.
World-Class Education: The universities offer world-class education, with the University of Edinburgh often ranked amongst the best in the world, as reported on www.timeshighereducation.com
It is a beautiful city to live in: Edinburgh is a stunning city to live and study in. And you have easy access to some stunning countryside for recreation and relaxation.
Culture and heritage: Edinburgh is steeped in history and culture and there will be countless things to stimulate your interests here.
Social Life: As you would expect there is a great nightlife in Edinburgh to cater to every taste in food, music, and style of bar. There is also a huge range of clubs and societies that you can join, no matter what your personal interests are.
Great support network: Being a city with so many students Edinburgh is well prepared to support and help you if you need it.
Is Edinburgh expensive for students? It is well documented that Edinburgh is expensive, if not THE most expensive university city in the UK. Check out this useful guide on student living costs from the University of Edinburgh
On average students will pay £112.05 per week on rent compared to Glasgow at £96.16 and Dundee at £94.49 according to a survey for the RBS Student Living Index.
Despite the costs of studying in Edinburgh, it is considered one of the best cities in the world for being a student as reported by www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com
There’s not many cities you can wake up in to see such a view.
Moving to Edinburgh with Family
Is Edinburgh a good place to raise a family? In the quality of life surveys, Edinburgh often ranks as one of the best places in the world to bring up a family, in fact, it was recently rated as the second-best place in the world to live.
Edinburgh has plenty of great things to do and acres of green and open spaces for you and the family to explore, with the beautiful countryside of Scotland right on your doorstep.
There are some great schools and of course universities in Edinburgh. There are a number of career possibilities in Edinburgh and the unemployment rate in Edinburgh is 10% lower than the national average.
There is a useful website dedicated to people looking to move to Edinburgh with kids. And you will find a wealth of information that you will find useful there.
Where are the best family areas in Edinburgh?
www.edinburghwithkids.com lists these as being the top 5 areas of Edinburgh to move to if you have a family, taking into consideration schools, catchment areas, nurseries, parks, and local amenities.
You may also be interested in visiting www.schoolguide.co.uk which allows you to compare all local schools in Edinburgh.
Which are the best private schools in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh is also home to many of the top private schools in Scotland. www.best-schools.co.uk lists these as the top 3 private schools in Edinburgh:
St George’s School for Girls, EH12
George Heriots School, EH3
George Watsons College, EH10
You can also find lots of useful information about schools in Edinburgh at www.education.gov.scot
Is There Much Employment in Edinburgh?
Not only is Edinburgh a great place to live, but it offers some great employment opportunities.
Edinburgh has an unemployment rate that is 10% lower than the national UK average, and over 76% of the population is in employment. The average weekly wage in Edinburgh is £616.90 compared with the UK average of £587.00.
What are the biggest employment sectors in Edinburgh?
Public administration
Health
Education
Banking and Finance
Tourism
Emerging industries include life sciences, software, creative, digital and tech industries.
You may like to look at these websites to find out what employment opportunities there are in Edinburgh.
What are the Best Ways of Getting around Edinburgh?
Walk: It is easy to walk just about anywhere in Edinburgh and you can walk from the centre to the outskirts in about 45 minutes. www.edinburgh.gov.uk has some useful walking maps and advice.
By Bike: Edinburgh is very cyclist friendly with most of the main routes having cycling lanes. There is a really useful page at edinburgh.gov.uk which shows some cycle routes, where to park your bike and even the ability to plan a cycle route of your own.
Tram: The tram runs from Edinburgh Airport to York Place with various stop offs along the way. You can find a tram map, timetable and ticket information at www.edinburghtrams.com
Bus: Edinburgh has a reliable and extensive bus network. Visit www.lothianbuses.com for timetable, route and ticket information.
Park and Ride: There are 7 park and rides in and around Edinburgh. Here is a map and more details about where the park and rides operate from.
Car: Many parking spaces in Edinburgh are resident permit only but you can find out the best places to park your car, and the cost of parking in Edinburgh, here.
Car Share: Edinburgh has its own tripshare scheme where you can find people who travel in your direction and will share their ride with you. It is a great way to save money and the planet.
Train: If you plan or travelling further afield, Edinburgh has two train stations at Haymarket and Waverley.
What is there to do in Edinburgh for Free?
There is so much to see and do in Edinburgh, and there are lots to experience in Edinburgh for free.
What can you do for free in Edinburgh? 5 Things to do for Free in Edinburgh.
Climb a volcano. Arthurs Seat is just 15 minutes from the city centre and was formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago. At 250m high it is higher than Edinburgh Castle and will give you fantastic views out over the city.
Visit a museum. There are way too many free museums and art galleries to list them all but they all have something different and unique to offer you. The National Museum of Scotland, Museum of Childhood and The Museum on the Mound (where you can see what a million pounds in cash look like) should all be on your to-do list.
Harry Potter Tour. JK Rowling wrote the Harry Potter based on many location within Edinburgh and you can take a self-guided tour around the city discovering all those wizard locations.
Royal Botanic Gardens. 72 acres of stunning scenery, just a mile from the city centre. It is open all year and hosts a full calendar of exhibitions and events.
Festival Fringe. Every August is the Festival Fringe and there are many shows that are free.
Edinburgh Tattoo, just one of the many highlights of your year when you move to Edinburgh.
The Best of Edinburgh
If you are moving to Edinburgh you will probably be overwhelmed with the number of things to do, the great restaurants, bars and clubs. So here is our top 5 of the best of Edinburgh to help you.
See the Burke and Hare Victim Effigies: Between 1827-1828 Burke and Hare murdered 17 of their lodgers to sell to the anatomy school in Edinburgh. A couple of years later two boys discovered 17 dolls buried in the city park. The dolls are alleged to be effigies of the 17 victims of Burke and Hare and can be seen at the National Museum of Scotland.
Make a cocktail: Let fate create you a unique cocktail at Hoot the Redeemer, a subterranean bar in Edinburgh. Using a coin-operated claw machine, known as the Pinch ‘n’ Sip, drinkers can create a cocktail from the balls that they catch with the claw.
Visit a floating palace: The Royal Yacht Britannia is moored in Edinburgh and you can tour the 5 decks.
Solve the mystery ofGilmerton Cove: Explore the secret chambers and passageways beneath Edinburgh’s streets. Nobody knows when or how they were created which makes them all the more fascinating.
Have coffee with cats: At Maison De Moggy you can pet one of the 12 cats there whilst you sip your cappuccino. Definitely one for the cat lovers out there.
Top Local Edinburgh Removal Firms
Luckily there are some great removal companies that can help you with your home move to Edinburgh.
Finding top-rated local removal companies to move you to Edinburgh is an important step to experiencing a stress-free home move. It is vitally important to choose your removal company wisely as all removal firms are not equal, unfortunately.
All that remains now is to get your free home moving cost estimate and to check out the reviews of removal companies who can help you move to Edinburgh.
And no doubt you will have many more questions regarding your home move, so be sure to visit our resources section where you will find a wealth of useful information to make your home move to easier, cheaper and safer.
Good luck with your home move to Edinburgh and your new life.
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