Which place is cheaper, Gothenburg or Edinburgh?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Edinburgh or Gothenburg?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Edinburgh and Gothenburg can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Edinburgh or Gothenburg?
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.
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best 10-Day Tours from London, The Best 10-Day Tours in Sweden, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEdinburgh £142Gothenburg £78
The average daily cost (per person) in Edinburgh is £142, while the average daily cost in Gothenburg is £78. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Edinburgh and Gothenburg in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEdinburgh £74Gothenburg £32
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEdinburgh £148Gothenburg £64
Compare Hotels in Edinburgh and Gothenburg
Looking for a hotel in Edinburgh or Gothenburg? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Edinburgh Hotel Prices and Gothenburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Edinburgh £17Gothenburg £15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Edinburgh:
-
Local Bus£3.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Edinburgh
Also for Edinburgh, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- VIP Airport Transfer: $139
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Edinburgh HTL-APT (EDI): $150
- Transfer Private Luxury Edinburgh Airport to Glenshee Ski Resort: $207
- Royal Highland Braemar Gathering, transfer from Edinburgh: $56
- Private Transfer from South Queensferry Port to Glasgow Hotels: $50
- Private Transfer from South Queensferry Port to Edinburgh hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from South Queensferry Port to Edinburgh Airport: $28
- Private Transfer from Newhaven Port to Edinburgh Airport EDI: $28
- Private Transfer from Newhaven Cruise Port to Glasgow Airport: $36
- Private Transfer from Glasgow city or GLA Airport to Edinburgh city - Luxury Car: $214
- Private Transfer from Glasgow city or GLA Airport to Edinburgh by Luxury Van: $171
- Private Transfer from Glasgow city or GLA Airport to Edinburgh by Business Car: $157
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg
Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Umea Private Transfer from Umea city centre to Umea airport: $145
- Umea Private Transfer from Umea (UME) Airport to City centre: $145
- Transfer From Gothenburg Hotel To Gothenburg Museum of Art: $32
- Private Transfer from Gothenburg city to Goteborg Cruise Port: $64
- Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $102
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg To Stockholm: $505
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg To Alingsås: $119
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $95
- Ostersund Private Transfer from Ostersund (OSD) airport to central Ostersund: $174
- Ostersund Private Transfer from Central Ostersund to Ostersund Airport: $174
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $15
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Edinburgh or Gothenburg?
Prices for flights to both Gothenburg 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.
Food
-
Food Meals for one dayEdinburgh £39Gothenburg £31
Typical Food Prices in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Breakfast£8.50
-
Dinner at Filling Station£10
-
Lunch for Two£15
-
Sandwich£1.85
-
Cheese & bread£7.23
-
Thai Restaurant Dinner (for 2)£25
-
2 Coffees and Scones£5.80
-
Turkish Delight£1.40
-
Soup at the Pub£5.90
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $31
- Scottish Dinner and Folk Music Experience: $87
- Edinburgh Holiday Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $90
- 'Scotland meets Sardinia' - 8-course Dinner in Leith, Edinburgh: $110
- 3-Hour Guided Secret Food Tour: $116
- Edinburgh Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $120
- Edinburgh Food Tour with a Local Foodie Custom & Private: $167
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Edinburgh £20Gothenburg £12
Typical Entertainment Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Edinburgh's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Show Tickets£32
-
Movie Tickets for Two£12
-
Donation for Storytellers£6.00
Tours and Activities in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Edinburgh's Landscapes Tours with a Local Guide: Private & Personalized: $152
- Walking Tour to Edinburgh Castle and Holyood palace: $25
- 1.5 hour Firth of Forth Sightseeing cruise: $23
- 2 Hour Holyrood Palace Private Walking Tour: $76
- 2-Day Highlands and Loch Ness Tour from Edinburgh: $260
- 2-Day Inverness and the Highlands Very Small Group Tour from Edinburgh: $227
- 2-Day Loch Lomond, West Highlands, Glencoe & Oban Tour: $182
- 3-Day Isle of Skye Inverness Highlands and Glenfinnan Viaduct Tour from Edinburgh: $233
- 3-Hour Private Edinburgh Castle Tour: $274
- Alnwick Castle and Scottish Borders Tour from Edinburgh: $71
- Alnwick Castle, Northumberland & Scottish Borders 1-Day Tour: $74
- Alnwick Castle, Northumberland and Borders Tour with Admission: $103
Tours and Activities in Gothenburg
For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2-Days Private Tour in Gothenburg: $300
- 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour: $32
- After Dark in A Guided Nightlife Tour: $263
- Archipelago Tour with guide Gothenburg: $40
- Bike Tour Gothenburg, Guided Bicycle Tours: $113
- City Sightseeing Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $32
- Discover Gothenburg - Private Walking Tour: $224
- Egypt Oasis Adventure Package: $918
- Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $37
- Entry Ticket To Universeum in Gothenburg with pickup: $64
- Fatbike Experience in Sorsele: $113
- Full Day Private Shore Tour in Gothenburg from Gothenburg Port: $283
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayEdinburgh £15Gothenburg £16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Edinburgh
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Edinburgh from other travelers:
-
Beer & Wine£14
-
Half Pint at Tollbooth Tavern£1.65
Sample the Local Flavors in Edinburgh
Also in Edinburgh, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl with Free Shots & Discounts: $11
- Edinburgh Bar Crawl: 5+ Venues, Free Shots, Free Club Entry: $19
- Pub Crawl in Edinburgh: $19
- Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour with "Real-Actors": $25
- East Lothian: Glenkinchie Whisky Distillery Tour & Tasting: $26
- Guided Gin Tasting at 56 North Distillery: $28
- Pickering's Gin Jolly Distillery Tasting Tour: $31
- Lind & Lime Gin Distillery Tour & Tasting: $31
- Whisky Tasting and Tales at Summerhall Distillery: $31
- Pub Crawl 7 Bars with 6 Shots: $31
- The Original Edinburgh Pub Crawl: $32
- Visit a Working South Loch Gin Distillery: $32
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Edinburgh and Gothenburg, we can see that Edinburgh is more expensive. And not only is Gothenburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gothenburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gothenburg and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Edinburgh would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Edinburgh than you might in Gothenburg.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Edinburgh Expensive? and Is Gothenburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Edinburgh or Gothenburg?
Gothenburg has a larger population, and is about 16% larger than the population of Edinburgh. When comparing the sizes of Edinburgh and Gothenburg, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Edinburgh or Gothenburg?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Edinburgh or Gothenburg in the Summer?
Both Gothenburg and Edinburgh are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Edinburgh for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Edinburgh is around the same temperature as Gothenburg. Typically, the summer temperatures in Edinburgh in July average around 14°C (58°F), and Gothenburg averages at about 16°C (61°F).
It's quite sunny in Gothenburg. Edinburgh usually receives less sunshine than Gothenburg during summer. Edinburgh gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Gothenburg receives 243 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Edinburgh usually receives less rain than Gothenburg. Edinburgh gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyEdinburgh 14°C (58°F)Gothenburg 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Edinburgh or Gothenburg in the Autumn?
Both Gothenburg and Edinburgh during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Edinburgh in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Edinburgh is generally around the same temperature as Gothenburg. Daily temperatures in Edinburgh average around 10°C (49°F), and Gothenburg fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).
In the autumn, Edinburgh often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Gothenburg. Edinburgh gets 90 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gothenburg receives 94 hours of full sun.
Edinburgh usually gets less rain in October than Gothenburg. Edinburgh gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberEdinburgh 10°C (49°F)Gothenburg 9°C (47°F)
Should I visit Edinburgh or Gothenburg in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Edinburgh and Gothenburg. Most visitors come to Edinburgh for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Gothenburg can be very cold. Edinburgh can be very cold during winter. Edinburgh is much warmer than Gothenburg in the winter. The daily temperature in Edinburgh averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Gothenburg fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).
Edinburgh usually receives more sunshine than Gothenburg during winter. Edinburgh gets 48 hours of sunny skies, while Gothenburg receives 40 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Edinburgh usually receives around the same amount of rain as Gothenburg. Edinburgh gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryEdinburgh 3°C (38°F)Gothenburg -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Edinburgh or Gothenburg in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Edinburgh as well as Gothenburg. The spring months attract visitors to Edinburgh because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Edinburgh is a little warmer than Gothenburg. Typically, the spring temperatures in Edinburgh in April average around 7°C (45°F), and Gothenburg averages at about 5°C (41°F).
In the spring, Edinburgh often gets less sunshine than Gothenburg. Edinburgh gets 132 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gothenburg receives 182 hours of full sun.
Edinburgh usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Gothenburg. Edinburgh gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilEdinburgh 7°C (45°F)Gothenburg 5°C (41°F)
Typical Weather for Gothenburg and Edinburgh
| Edinburgh | Gothenburg | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (38°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 7°C (45°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 10°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 14°C (58°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Aug | 14°C (58°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Oct | 10°C (49°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.