Cost of Living in Glasgow 2026: What a Single Person Pays

Is Glasgow expensive? Not next to Edinburgh or London, but it isn’t cheap either. The cost of living in Glasgow for a single person is about £1,240 a month for a one-bed flat, council tax, water, energy, broadband, a phone and a Subway ticket, or about £1,740 with food, a few nights out and the extras. Electricity on its own is about £53 a month at low use on the current price cap, standing charge included.

Last checked: 23 October 2026.

A month for one person in Glasgow

This is one adult living alone in a one-bed flat, with no car. Every figure comes from a published source, and the last column says which one.

Not in that total: food, going out, the gym, clothes, haircuts, contents insurance, the TV licence, subscriptions and anything you put away for savings. There’s a fuller month near the bottom of the page.

A few of those lines are typical figures rather than your own bill.

• Energy: we’ve used the regulator’s low-use figures, which is our best guess for one person in a flat. An old draughty tenement or electric heating can cost more. A new cap starts on 1 January.
• Broadband and mobile: these are UK averages from Ofcom, not Glasgow prices. Ofcom says the rises announced for 2026 run from £2 to £4 a month on broadband and from £1.80 to £2.50 on mobile, so your own bill might be a bit higher.
• Travel: we’ve used the Subway. If you’d rather take the bus, First Bus’s 4-week ticket for the City and Local zones is £88, about £95 a month, and that takes the total to about £1,270.

Is Glasgow expensive?

Glasgow is cheaper than Edinburgh and a lot cheaper than London, and that’s the good news. The less good news is that cheaper doesn’t mean cheap. Council tax went up 5.9% in April and water and sewerage went up 8.67%. The energy price cap rose 4% on 1 October, and petrol is about 30% dearer than it was a year ago.

Rents have slowed down, which helps. A one-bed is up 3.6% on a year ago, and rents across all home sizes are up just 1.0% (Citylets). So it’s not a bargain basement, but you can still live well here without earning a fortune.

Rent

Rent is your biggest bill by a distance. Citylets had the average one-bed in Glasgow at £912 a month in the second quarter of 2026. That’s up 3.6% on a year earlier and about 36% on five years ago. A two-bed averaged £1,211 and a three-bed £1,840.

Where you live changes the number. This is the average one-bed rent for some of the postcodes in Citylets’ April to June 2026 report. We’ve named the best-known area in each postcode, but most of them cover more than that:

Averages hide a lot. You’ll find cheaper flats in every one of these areas, and dearer ones too. Citylets doesn’t show a one-bed figure for every postcode, so some areas aren’t listed.

A room in a flatshare costs less. SpareRoom had the average room in Glasgow at £692 a month, bills included, in the third quarter of 2026. That’s based on asking prices, and it’s level with a year ago. The Office for National Statistics has private rents across Scotland up just 0.7% in the year to September 2026, the smallest rise since its yearly figures began in 2016.

If you’re flat hunting, set your budget before you start looking and stick to it. The West End is lovely but it’s not worth being skint every month. Our best areas to live in Glasgow guide goes through the areas one by one, and our renting in Glasgow guide covers deposits and your rights as a tenant.

Council tax and water

Council tax in Glasgow for 2026/27 depends on your property band. Glasgow City Council put it up 5.9% in April. These are the yearly amounts for the main bands:

• Band A: £1,137.33
• Band B: £1,326.89
• Band C: £1,516.44
• Band D: £1,706.00
• Band E: £2,241.49

Plenty of one-bed flats in Glasgow are in Band A or B, and a two-bed tenement is often Band B or C, so ask the landlord or agent which band a flat is in before you sign. Spread over 12 months, Bands A to C come to about £95 to £126 a month before any discount.

Water and sewerage come on the same bill, but they’re a separate charge, so they’re not in those figures. Scottish Water charges £434.88 a year for Band A, £507.36 for Band B and £579.84 for Band C, which is up 8.67% on last year. That’s about £36 to £48 a month on top.

If you live alone, you get 25% off both. Take Band B: £1,326.89 plus £507.36 is £1,834.25 a year, and with the discount it’s about £1,376, or £115 a month. You have to ask for it, so apply through Glasgow City Council. Our council tax guide has every band from A to H.

Students don’t pay council tax if everyone in the home is a full-time student, or if you live in halls. Tell the council about your studies when you register. The rules are on mygov.scot.

Gas and electricity

Energy is the bill that moves most, because the regulator, Ofgem, resets the energy price cap every three months. From 1 October to 31 December 2026 it works out at 26.11p per kWh for electricity and 7.87p for gas. That’s the Southern Scotland rate, which covers Glasgow, for a default tariff paid by direct debit.

On top of that there’s a daily standing charge of 61.41p for electricity and 29.89p for gas. The gas figures include 5% VAT, and there’s no VAT on electricity until 31 March 2027.

What you pay depends on how much you use. The regulator publishes low, medium and high figures for a typical home. This is what each one comes to a month on today’s rates, averaged over the year:

The figures include the standing charges and are rounded, so they might not add up exactly. We worked them out from the cap rates above. They assume gas heating, so an all-electric flat will look different.

Which row suits you depends on the flat and how you live. We’d expect one person in a flat to be nearer the low row, and two of you, or a big flat, nearer the medium one.

Average electric bill in Glasgow

On the October to December cap, electricity alone comes to about £53 a month for low use and £73 for medium use, standing charge included. Prices change every three months, and the next cap starts on 1 January.

Glasgow’s tenement flats can be draughty, especially the unrenovated ones, so heating costs vary a lot from flat to flat. A modern flat with decent insulation can come in at or under the low row. An old tenement with single glazing can cost a good bit more in winter. Ask about the EPC rating before you sign a lease.

Broadband and mobile

• Broadband: about £31 a month on average (Ofcom’s figure for standalone broadband, April to June 2025)
• Mobile phone: about £15 a month on average for a SIM-only deal (£14.59 in Ofcom’s figures, same period)

Both are UK averages. Ofcom says people out of contract pay about £7 to £9 a month more on broadband and bundles than people still in contract, so don’t sit on a default package after your deal ends.

Most of Glasgow has fibre broadband available now. Sky, Virgin Media and BT all sell it in the city. Shop around, because the new customer deals are usually better.

Transport

Glasgow’s public transport is decent enough, and most folk can get by without a car. If you live in Scotland and you’re under 22, or 60 or over, you can travel free on most buses across the country with a National Entitlement Card.

Subway

• Single (smartcard or contactless): £1.80
• Day ticket (smartcard or contactless): £3.40
• 7-day ticket: £15.50
• 28-day ticket: £60

These are SPT’s prices, and a smartcard costs £5. Tap in and out with the same contactless card each time and you’ll never pay more than £3.40 a day or £15.50 in a Monday to Sunday week. The 28-day ticket isn’t quite a month, so over a year it works out at about £65 a month. For maps and times, see our Glasgow Subway guide.

Bus

• Single: £2 on First Bus, wherever you’re going in Glasgow and the surrounding areas
• Day ticket: £6.60 (First Bus City and Local)
• Week ticket: £28 (First Bus City and Local)
• 4-week ticket: £88 (First Bus City and Local) or £114 (Network)
• 4-week multi-operator ticket: £95 (Glasgow Tripper, shown on its website as the price at 22 February 2026)

These are First Bus’s prices from 7 September 2026, when it capped single fares at £2, paid for by Transport Scotland. First Bus’s notice is marked 7 September to 30 November 2026 and the cap page doesn’t say how long it lasts, so check before you build a budget around it.

Train

• ZoneCard, Zone 1: £112 for 4 weeks
• ZoneCard, Zone 2 (includes Zone 1): £148 for 4 weeks

A ZoneCard from SPT covers ScotRail trains, the Subway and most buses in the zones you pick.

Driving

• Petrol: around £1.75 a litre (UK average for the week of 19 October 2026, up from about £1.35 a year ago, government figures)
• Parking (city centre): dear, so check the price before you drive in
• Residents’ parking permit: check the council’s current fees before you buy a car (our parking permits guide has the bands)

If you live and work in the city, you probably don’t need a car. The Subway, buses and trains cover most of the central areas. A car is handy for day trips and weekend escapes, but as a daily commuter tool in Glasgow it’s an expensive luxury.

If you do drive, read our driving in Glasgow guide on parking, the Low Emission Zone and the Clyde Tunnel before heading into the centre. There’s also a list of free parking in Glasgow if you’d rather not pay.

Groceries

What you spend on food depends on where you shop and how you eat. These are our own rough monthly figures for one person, not official ones.

• Budget (Aldi, Lidl, batch cooking): £150 to £200
• Average (Tesco, Sainsbury’s, mix of cooking and convenience): £200 to £280
• Premium (Waitrose, M&S, eating well): £280 to £350

Glasgow has plenty of options. Aldi and Lidl have good coverage across the city. There’s a Morrisons in Partick that half the West End uses. The independent delis and butchers in Partick, Shawlands and the West End are pricier but the quality is better.

If you’re near a market, use it. The Barras has fresh produce among its stalls, and it’s open every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

Eating out and drinking

Glasgow has a great food and drink scene, and the prices are fair. These are our own rough guides, not official prices, and they vary a lot from place to place.

• Average pint of lager: £5 to £6
• Craft beer: £6 to £7
• Pint in a Wetherspoons: £3 to £4
• West End/Finnieston bar pint: £6 to £8
• Coffee: £3 to £4
• Lunch (cafe/takeaway): £7 to £12
• Dinner (mid-range restaurant, per person): £20 to £35
• Dinner (budget, Wetherspoons or similar): £8 to £12
• Pre-theatre deal (2 courses): £15 to £20

Eating out twice a week will add £200 to £300 a month to your costs. That’s where a lot of folk’s budgets go off the rails. Cooking at home and keeping the eating out to weekends is the most realistic approach if you’re watching your spending.

Gym and fitness

• PureGym: Bath Street is from £16.99 a month for off-peak hours or £22.99 for any time, and Giffnock is from £26.99, plus a joining fee of £10 to £15
• The Gym Group: from £15.99 a month, plus a £10 joining fee
• Glasgow Club (Glasgow Life gyms): £21 a month for ActivClub (gym sessions you book ahead, at quieter times) or £32 for FitClub (any time), for adults 22 and over, with no joining fee

Budget gyms are all over Glasgow. If you just want weights and cardio machines, you can get in from about £16 a month. Premium gyms with pools and classes cost more. Glasgow Club, run by the charity Glasgow Life, has 12 swimming pools as well as 15 gyms, which the budget chains don’t, so check which membership includes the pool before you sign up.

How Glasgow compares

Glasgow vs Edinburgh

Edinburgh costs more, and rent is most of the gap. Citylets had the average one-bed in Edinburgh at £1,095 in the second quarter of 2026, against £912 in Glasgow. That’s £183 a month more, about a fifth. Council tax is a bit lower in Edinburgh (Band B is £1,264.71 against £1,326.89 in Glasgow), but the rent difference swamps it.

If you work in Edinburgh but want cheaper living costs, some folk live in Glasgow and commute. The train takes around an hour each way. Do the sums on the season ticket before you commit, because it can eat a good chunk of what you save on rent.

Glasgow vs London

It’s not even close. The Office for National Statistics put the average private rent in London at £2,338 a month in September 2026, and Citylets has the average across all home sizes in Glasgow at £1,211, so London is nearly double. They’re different sources, so take the gap as a rough guide, but it’s a big one. Glasgow wins this one easily.

What a month costs in total

Single person (comfortable but not lavish)

• Rent (one-bed, city average): £912
• Council tax (Band B, single person discount): £83
• Water and sewerage (Band B, single person discount): £32
• Gas and electricity (low use): £102
• Broadband: £31
• Mobile phone: £15
• Transport (Subway 28-day ticket): £65
• Groceries: £230
• Eating out/drinks (moderate): £150
• Gym: £20
• Miscellaneous (haircuts, clothes, subscriptions): £100

Total: roughly £1,740 per month

The first seven lines are the sourced ones from the table at the top, and they come to about £1,240. Groceries, eating out, the gym and the miscellaneous line are our own estimates for a moderate month, not official figures.

Couple (sharing a two-bed flat)

• Rent (two-bed, city average): £1,211
• Council tax (Band C, no discount): £126
• Water and sewerage (Band C): £48
• Gas and electricity (medium use): £144
• Broadband: £31
• Mobile phones (x2): £29
• Transport (2x Subway 28-day tickets): £130
• Groceries: £400
• Eating out/drinks (moderate): £250
• Gym (x2): £40
• Miscellaneous: £180

Total: roughly £2,590 per month (about £1,295 each)

These figures assume a mid-range area, a moderate lifestyle and no car. A car adds a few hundred pounds a month for insurance, fuel, tax and parking, and petrol is a lot dearer than it was. Add kids and everything changes again.

Tips for keeping costs down

Ask for the single person discount. If you live alone, you get 25% off council tax and water and sewerage. It won’t be added by itself, so you have to apply.

Shop at Aldi or Lidl. The quality is good and the savings are real. A weekly shop there usually comes in well under Tesco or Sainsbury’s.

Tap in with contactless on the Subway. A day ticket is £3.40 against £4.45 for a paper one, and you’ll never pay more than £15.50 a week. The 28-day ticket at £60 only saves you a couple of quid on that, so it’s more about not having to think.

Use the bus cap. First Bus singles are capped at £2 for now, so a bus there and back five days a week comes to about £87 a month, with no pass to buy.

Switch energy supplier. Don’t sit on the default tariff. Use a comparison site at least once a year, because a fixed deal can come in cheaper or dearer than the cap.

Pre-theatre deals. Glasgow’s restaurants do excellent pre-theatre menus at lunchtime and early evening. You get a proper meal for £15 to £20. Same kitchen, smaller bill.

Use the free stuff. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the Riverside Museum, the Botanic Gardens and the Gallery of Modern Art are all free to get into. Glasgow has plenty more free attractions.

Glasgow’s still a city where you can live well without earning a fortune.

Cost of living in Glasgow: quick answers

Is Glasgow expensive to live in?

It depends who you compare it with. Glasgow is cheaper than Edinburgh and a lot cheaper than London, but it isn’t cheap. A one-bed averages £912 a month, and council tax, water, energy and fuel have all gone up this year.

How much does a single person need to live in Glasgow?

About £1,240 a month covers a one-bed flat, council tax, water, gas and electricity, broadband, a phone and a Subway ticket. With food, going out and the extras, about £1,740 is a comfortable month.

What’s the average electric bill in Glasgow?

On the energy price cap for October to December 2026, electricity comes to about £53 a month for low use (1,600 kWh a year) and £73 a month for medium use (2,500 kWh), standing charge included. That’s for Southern Scotland, which covers Glasgow, on a default tariff paid by direct debit.

Is Glasgow cheaper than Edinburgh?

Yes. Citylets has the average one-bed at £912 in Glasgow and £1,095 in Edinburgh, so about £183 a month less in Glasgow. Council tax is a bit lower in Edinburgh, but the rent difference is far bigger.

Is Glasgow cheap for students?

Cheaper than Edinburgh, and a few things help. Students don’t pay council tax if everyone in the flat is a full-time student, and anyone under 22 who lives in Scotland travels free on most buses with a National Entitlement Card. Rent is still the big cost, with a room in a flatshare averaging £692 a month in Glasgow against £894 in Edinburgh, bills included (SpareRoom, third quarter of 2026).