Edinburgh accommodation ranked most expensive in the world over Fringe period

A recent report form the US Department of State has ranked Edinburgh, during the fringe months, as the most expensive city to stay in the world.

From the start of July to the end of August, US officials can reimburse up to $607 (£481) per day. This is compared to other highdemand locations such as the Cayman Islands $588 (£466) and London $350 (£277).

These prices drop significantly when comparing their reimbursements of $250 (£198) from September to June, adding to a growing concern about the impact of the festival to the rest of the year round population.

The impact of rising costs is no secret, with Glaswegian comedian Larry Dean telling The Independent: “Every single year since I’ve started, every comedian has said, ‘I wonder if the Fringe is not going to happen this year’ because no comedian wants to go because of the accommodation, because it just keeps going up and up and up”.

The US State Department says that its maximum reimbursement rate is intended to “substantially cover the cost of lodging at adequate, suitable and moderately-priced facilities”.

Edinburgh’s rate tops the UK chart, with London and Crawley following with a lodging rate of $350 (£277).

Countries like Vanuatu or the Tokelau Islands (a dependent territory of New Zealand and Vanuatu) are home to the lowest accommodation rates of just $20 (£15) per day.

Locals in Edinburgh have been struggling with increasing rent in the city leading to the council declaring a housing emergency in November 2023. Student accommodation has also shot up in price with a small single room in Mylnes Court, a centrally located student accommodation listed as a “value” price rising from £3,671 in 2022 to £5,008 in 2024.

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The Fringe period has long been criticised for driving the price of city rents up and pricing local renters out of the city.

Visit Scotland’s website advertises “700,000 attendees” flock to Edinburgh for the festival each year, boosting the economy and making the festival period one of the city’s “economic powerhouses”.

Visit Scotland told The Independent it is “committed to the  the responsible growth of our tourism and events industry.

“We work with businesses and stakeholders to help deliver the best possible experience for every visitor, encouraging them to consider the importance of providing great quality services and hospitality that offer value for money.

“However, ultimately we have no input or control over the pricing strategy of tourism or events businesses.”