Edinburgh, U.K.
Living in Portobello, Edinburgh
Seaside suburb with a beach. Family-friendly, local shops, and a relaxed coastal vibe.
A one-bedroom in Portobello rents for about £1,100 - £1,300/month — a safe area (safety 4/5), roughly 25 minutes from Edinburgh center by bus.
Commute to Center
25 min
bus
Safety Rating
4/5
SafeVibe
seasidefamiliesrelaxed
Rent in Portobello
Monthly rent in GBP (£). First-hand contracts come straight from the landlord or housing company. Second-hand contracts are sublets, and they usually cost more.
| Apartment Size | First-Hand Rent | Second-Hand Rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | £1,000 - £1,100/mo | £1,100 - £1,300/mo |
| 2 Bedrooms | £1,300 - £1,500/mo | £1,500 - £1,700/mo |
| 3 Bedrooms | £1,700 - £2,000/mo | £1,900 - £2,200/mo |
How Portobello compares in Edinburgh
Within AffordWhere's Edinburgh dataset, a one-bedroom here averages about £1,200/month — close to the city median, and mid-priced of the 15 areas we track. Two-bedrooms run £1,500 - £1,700/month and three-bedrooms £1,900 - £2,200/month on second-hand contracts. At 25 minutes to the center by bus, it sits farther out than most Edinburgh areas in the set. On safety it rates 4/5, around the middle in the city. Based on its rent, commute, and the seaside, families, relaxed tags, it may suit families and longer-term renters who want space.
Weighing options? For cheaper rent, see Gorgie. For a shorter commute, see New Town.
Rent figures reflect official statistics compiled January 2026. See data sources.
Getting around & nearby amenities
OpenStreetMap maps Sir Harry Lauder Garden as nearby green space and Scotmid as the nearest supermarket around the Portobello reference point. A school and a pharmacy are also mapped within walking distance. It also shows many cafés and restaurants mapped within about 700m of that point.
Amenity data from OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). The extracted amenity dataset is published under the same license.
Questions people actually ask
- How much is rent in Portobello, Edinburgh?
- A 1-bedroom apartment in Portobello costs £1,100 - £1,300/month (second-hand contract) or £1,000 - £1,100/month (first-hand). A 2-bedroom ranges from £1,500 - £1,700/month, and a 3-bedroom from £1,900 - £2,200/month.
- Is Portobello safe for expats?
- Portobello has a safety rating of 4/5 (Safe) on our scale. That is one of the higher ratings on the 1-5 scale; as always, check specific streets and visit at different times before signing a lease.
- How long is the commute from Portobello to Edinburgh center?
- The commute from Portobello to Edinburgh city center takes approximately 25 minutes by bus.
- What is Portobello like to live in?
- Seaside suburb with a beach. Family-friendly, local shops, and a relaxed coastal vibe. In our data it is tagged as seaside, families, relaxed.
Other neighborhoods in Edinburgh
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20 min bus to center
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12 min bus to center
1BR from £1,050/mo
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8 min train to center
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10 min walk to center
1BR from £1,200/mo
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Marchmont
15 min bus to center
1BR from £1,100/mo
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Corstorphine
20 min bus to center
1BR from £1,000/mo
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Fountainbridge
10 min walk to center
1BR from £1,200/mo
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Dalry
12 min walk to center
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