Should you visit Edinburgh or Barcelona?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Edinburgh and Barcelona can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the moderately sized capital of Scotland. It is a medieval city that has managed to perfect the combination of Georgian architecture and medieval relics with a cosmopolitan population and avant-garde atmosphere. The city's population is quite young, in large part because of the University of Edinburgh. This youthful vibe gives this city a lot of vitality. There's a thriving nightlife, many restaurants, theatres, galleries and museums.
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain with a population of over 1.5 million people. It's also the capital of Catalonia and is located on the northeastern part of the Mediterranean coast. Barcelona is one of the country's most popular travel destinations because of its rich history, interesting architecture, and vibrant culture. Barcelona hosted the 1992 Summer Olympic games and that had a strong influence over tourism in the area. Many different neighborhoods were renovated and rebuilt. Modern design became the norm in many parts of the city, although there is still an old city feel and many efforts at preservation.
Which city is cheaper, Barcelona or Edinburgh?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Edinburgh is £115, while the average daily cost in Barcelona is £104. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Edinburgh and Barcelona in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around £120 for a double occupancy room in Edinburgh If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Barcelona is £126. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
Food in Edinburgh costs travelers about £31 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
The price of a meal in Barcelona can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is £23 per person, and a typical meal will cost around £9.20 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Edinburgh £31
Barcelona £23
Typical Food prices in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Scottish Classic Desserts private cooking class with professional chef:
$66
-
Discover Royal Mile-Old Town & ENJOY Indian Dinner ~ Walking Tour!:
$79
-
3-Hour Guided Secret Food Tour:
$82
-
Vegetarian/Vegan Curry Cooking Class – pure comfort food for the soul!:
$97
-
Curry Around The World Cooking Class:
$97
-
Scottish Storytelling 3 Course Dinner and Whisky:
$104
-
Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Edinburgh:
$106
-
Relaxing Handmade Pasta with meal and wine - Safe Cooking Class:
$110
-
Vegetarian/Vegan Curry Private Cooking Class with professional chef:
$116
-
"Curry Around The World" Private Cooking Class with professional chef:
$116
-
Private Food Tour with a Local Expert including 10 Tastings in Edinburgh:
$136
-
Handmade Pasta Cooking Class & Dinner with professional chef for private groups:
$137
Typical Food prices in Barcelona
Some typical examples of dining costs in Barcelona are as follows:
-
Hot Cocoa & Churro
£3.54
-
Sandwich
£1.45
-
Baguette & Horchata
£3.24
-
Tapas on the beach
£7.07
-
Gelatto
£2.13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Barcelona
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Barcelona.
-
Live from Potato Gnocchi Online Cooking Class:
$23
-
Live from Barcelona to China: Potato Gnocchi Online Cooking Class:
$23
-
Barcelona organic dinner in a beautiful rooftop garden:
$35
-
Interactive Spanish Cooking Experience in Barcelona:
$49
-
Hands-on Brunch Cooking Class with Bottomless Mimosas!:
$50
-
Born district food tour and tasting in Barcelona:
$51
-
Barcelona Street Food Tour: Local Market & Gothic Quarter with Expert Guide:
$52
-
Street Food Tour & Gothic Quater Sightseeing with Local Expert:
$52
-
Flamenco Show and Optional Dinner at a Tablao:
$52
-
Bus and Walking Tour with Dinner:
$58
-
Tasty Barcelona Street Food Tour With Local Market Visit:
$59
-
Skip the Line: Flamenco Show and Dinner Ticket:
$62
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Edinburgh than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend £13 on transportation in Edinburgh on average per day.
The cost of a taxi ride in Barcelona is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent £13 per person, per day, on local transportation in Barcelona.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Edinburgh:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Edinburgh
Also for Edinburgh, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Edinburgh Airport City Airlink Bus Transfer:
$6.22
-
Edinburgh Airport: Private Arrival or Departure Transfers:
$13
-
Private luxury transfer from Edinburgh to Edinburgh Airport:
$28
-
Private luxury transfer from Edinburgh Airport to Edinburgh:
$28
-
Private Edinburgh Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to Airport:
$29
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Edinburgh to Edinburgh Airport (EDI):
$32
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Edinburgh:
$32
-
Private Edinburgh city to Edinburgh Airport transfer - Or airport to city:
$45
-
Private Edinburgh Arrival Transfer - Airport to Hotel / Accommodation:
$47
-
Royal Highland Braemar Gathering, transfer from Edinburgh:
$50
-
Private Arrival Transfer: Edinburgh Airport to City Hotel:
$52
-
Departure Transfer - Edinburgh City to Edinburgh Airport:
$52
Typical Local Transportation prices in Barcelona
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Barcelona are as follows:
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10 Trip Metro Ticket
£6.66
-
Airport Bus
£4.27
-
Metro
£1.79
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Barcelona
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Barcelona:
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Ultra - Barcelona Private Transfer from City Centre to Barcelona Cruise Port:
$9.41
-
Ultra - Barcelona Private Transfer from Barcelona Cruise Port to City Centre:
$9.41
-
Ultra - Barcelona Private Airport Transfer city centre to El Prat Airport BCN:
$9.41
-
Transfers From Cruise Port to Barcelona Main Train Station( Sants Train Station):
$30
-
Transfer to Montserrat Monastery from Barcelona:
$33
-
Transfer in private vehicle from Barcelona El Prat Airport to Barcelona City:
$39
-
Transfer in private vehicle from Barcelona City to Barcelona El Prat Airport:
$39
-
Transfer in private minivan from Barcelona City to Barcelona el Prat Airport:
$55
-
Transfer from Barcelona to Valencia or viceversa:
$498
-
Transfer from Barcelona to Port Aventura Park:
$435
-
Transfer from Barcelona Airport to Barcelona CITY - ROUND TRIP:
$124
-
Transfer from Barcelona (any hotel or address) to Barcelona Airport (BCN):
$61
Is it cheaper to fly into Edinburgh or Barcelona?
Prices for flights to both Barcelona and Edinburgh change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Edinburgh, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of £16 per day, per person.
Entertainment and activities in Barcelona typically cost an average of £23 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Typical Entertainment prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Edinburgh's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Harry Potter’s Explore the magic of the city on an audio walking tour:
$5.99
-
John Knox House Museum Ticket:
$6.91
-
Edinburgh Audio Tour: Discover its History and Secrets:
$8.26
-
Edinburgh Royal Mile (New Self Guided Tour):
$8.26
-
Edinburgh Queen's Gallery Holyroodhouse Entrance Ticket:
$9.95
-
Gilmerton Cove Guided Tour:
$10
-
Early Evening Underground Ghost Tour:
$12
-
Afternoon Underground Ghost Tour:
$12
-
Self-Guided City Experience:
$12
-
Edinburgh Secrets of the Royal Mile Walking Tour:
$13
-
Murder and Mystery Walking Tour of Edinburgh:
$14
-
Ghost and Gore Walking Tour of Edinburgh:
$14
Typical Entertainment prices in Barcelona
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Barcelona are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Barcelona
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Barcelona are as follows:
-
#1dayBarcelona. 6-Hour Action Packed Private City Discovery Tour:
$549
-
"Gaudi’s Pedrera: The Origins" Night Show and Ticket:
$41
-
'Game Of Thrones' Small Group Tour in Girona from Barcelona:
$125
-
1 hour private sailing tour:
$158
-
1,5 hour Vermut & Sailing Experience Barcelona with drinks and snacks!:
$41
-
1-hour Private Speedboat Cruise from Barcelona:
$372
-
1.5-Hour Sights of Barcelona E-Bike Tour Led by a Local Guide:
$34
-
2 Hours Private Sailing Tour for Family and Friends:
$316
-
2 Hours Running Tour in Barcelona with Local Guide:
$35
-
2 hour Private Sunset Sailing Cruise Barcelona:
$372
-
2 hour Sailing Cruise Barcelona:
$47
-
2 hour Sunset Sailing Cruise Barcelona:
$47
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Edinburgh spend on average £12 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about £12 on alcoholic beverages in Barcelona per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typical Alcohol prices in Edinburgh
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Edinburgh from other travelers:
Sample the Local Flavors in Edinburgh
Also in Edinburgh, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
4-Hour Pub Crawl with Free Shots & Discounts:
$9.68
-
3-Hour Alternative Pub Crawl:
$11
-
4-Hour Pub Crawl with Free Drinks & Specials:
$17
-
The Orange Pub Crawl - Edinburgh:
$18
-
Edinburgh Brewery Tour:
$22
-
Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour:
$24
-
Rosslyn Chapel, Scottish Borders & Glenkinchie Distillery:
$51
-
Loch Lomond, Stirling, and Glengoyne Distillery Tour from Edinburgh:
$52
-
Rosslyn Chapel, Scottish Borders & Glenkinchie Distillery from Edinburgh:
$54
-
Stirling, Distillery, St.Andrews & Italian Tour Guide:
$62
-
Loch Ness, Highlands & Whisky Distillery Tour from Edinburgh:
$63
-
Loch Ness, Highlands and Whisky Distillery Day Tour from Edinburgh:
$66
Sample the Local Flavors in Barcelona
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Barcelona:
-
Columbus Monument with Optional Wine Tasting:
$7.16
-
Estrella Damm Brewery Guided Tour with Tasting:
$9.54
-
Backpacker Pub Crawl:
$18
-
The Original Barcelona Pub Crawl:
$18
-
Barcelona Halloween Pub Crawl:
$18
-
Generation Pub Crawl in Barcelona:
$19
-
Barcelona Pub Crawl:
$20
-
Barcelona Wine Tasting: Catalan and Spanish Wines:
$21
-
Wine Tasting Experience in Barcelona:
$22
-
Opera Samfaina: Food and Wine Tasting Interactive Experience in Barcelona:
$26
-
Wine tasting & tapas:
$39
-
Barcelona Guided Local Wine Tasting Tour:
$44
When comparing the travel costs between Edinburgh and Barcelona, we can see that Edinburgh is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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