Cost of Living in Manchester: Updated Prices, Other Cities Comparison

If you have chosen Manchester as your study destination in the UK, you need to comprehensively create a budget plan for the cost of living in Manchester. This will keep you informed about your finances and help you manage them effectively.

The budget for the cost of living in Manchester will include accommodations, food, travel, utility bills, and personal expenses. In this blog, we will discuss comprehensively a guide to the cost of living in Manchester which will help you navigate your expenses.

Particulars	Approx Expense
Off-Campus Accommodation	EUR 408
On-Campus Accommodation	EUR 596
Transportation	EUR 80
Food	EUR 780
Utilities	EUR 252
Entertainment	EUR 28

Cost of Living in Manchester Overview

The cost of living in Manchester is around GBP 851 including rent according to the livingcost. The living expenses in Manchester can differ according to a person’s preferences, budget, and lifestyle.

The cost of living in Manchester relies on some essential factors, such as accommodation costs, food & grocery prices, utility costs, public transportation costs, and a few others. Here are some essential expense categories you need to know about how much they contribute to the cost of living in Manchester:

 Also Read: Cost of Living in Cuba: A Comprehensive Guide on Cuba’s Expense

Cost of Accommodation in Manchester

The cost of student accommodation depends upon various factors such as off-campus residence, private rental, shared apartments etc. Students can opt for off-campus residence to lower their costs as rental and shared apartments will cost more and cost utilities bills will also be added. Students can choose accommodation according to their convenience.

• Hall of Residence – Many universities offer on-campus accommodation and the cost incurred is included in the total fees. The cost may vary depending on the room type and may cost between  GBP 90 to GBP 170 per week. These accommodations include utilities such as wifi and maintenance.
  
• Private Rental – If you prefer living alone, private rentals are the best option for you available in Manchester. The cost of private rentals depends upon the location, size of the room and condition of the property. The cost of a one-bedroom apartment may cost you around GBP 888 – GBP 1,300 per month.
  
• Shared Apartments – If you are looking forward to living with other students in an apartment, which is a common choice in Manchester then the cost of renting a room in a shared property can range from GBP 70 to GBP 130 per week depending upon the location and type of property. 

Cost of Transportation in Manchester

There are several modes of transportation available in Manchester. To cut down the cost, students can opt for public transport over private modes of transportation. The cost of buses every month will cost you around GBP 80.

Typically, a local transit ticket in Manchester costs around GBP 2. Besides buses, you can also opt for cycling or walking as these will cost you nothing and will allow you to freely move around Manchester and explore the city.

Cost of Food in Manchester

Manchester being one of the biggest cities in the UK offers various affordable restaurants for students. Whether you want to dine at a restaurant or enjoy its street food, Manchester has something for every food lover.

The average cost of a food menu at an affordable restaurant in Manchester is around GBP 15 and the average cost of a meal at a restaurant for 2 people is around GBP 60. For a cup of Cappuccino coffee, you will have to pay around GBP 3.56 which is affordable for anyone.

Also Read: Cost of Living in Auckland: A Guide on 2024 Expense

Cost of Grocery in Manchester

If you are a student then cooking food at home is a good thought because it will save you a lot of money and if you go out to eat or order food online it can be costly for you and the cost of living in Manchester Can affect the budget. For your convenience, the average cost of groceries in Manchester is shown in the table below:

Grocery Item	Approx Cost
Milk (regular), (1 litre)	GBP 1.20
Oranges (1kg)	GBP 2.90
Apples (1kg)	GBP 2.68
Banana (1kg)	GBP 1.30
Potato (1kg)	GBP 1.76
Tomato (1kg)	GBP 3.36
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	GBP 1.00
Onion (1kg)	GBP 1.37
Cheese (1kg)	GBP 6.35
Rice (white), (1kg)	GBP 1.74
Eggs (regular) (12)	GBP 3.08
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)	GBP 1.15

Entertainment and Miscellaneous Cost in Manchester

Every city has its entertainment spot as an attraction for students and Manchester is no different. There are various places to explore and relax your mind and body. We’ve provided a variety of data covering entertainment and miscellaneous costs in Entertainment, such as the cost of sports, entertainment, and apparel. Please take a look at the table below and you can also add them to your living expenses budget.

Miscellaneous Catagory	Average Costs
Fitness Club, for a month	GBP 32.7
Doctor’s visit	GBP 86
Cinema 1 person	GBP 11.4
Branded Jeans	GBP 82.2
Brand Sneakers	GBP 87.2

Also Read: Cost of Living in Durham: A Comprehensive Guide

Best colleges in Manchester with Fees

There are several top universities in Manchester and students across the globe come to study to get a quality education. Some of the best universities in Manchester are given below with other average tuition fees:

Name of University in Missouri	Approx Tuition Fees per year
The University of Manchester	GBP 4,780 to GBP 54,500
Manchester Metropolitan University	GBP 6,000 to GBP 34,470
The University of Salford	GBP 11,500 to GBP 20,340
The University of Bolton	GBP 8,000 to GBP 20,000
Alliance Manchester Business School	GBP 20,000 to GBP 48,000

Cost of Living in Manchester Compared to Other Cities

In general, if we compare Manchester to many other cities around it, it also offers a fairly reasonable cost of living with plenty of opportunities for higher education, work, and amusement. For your reference, we have given a comparison between the monthly total cost of living in Manchester and other cities like London, Leeds, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Dublin, Liverpool, Glasgow, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sydney so that you can understand how affordable Manchester is. Please have a look and understand the expenses accordingly:

Cost of living city-wise	Approx Costs	Comparison Cost of Living in Manchester
Cost of Living in London	GBP 1102	Higher than Manchester
Cost of Living in Leeds	GBP 777	Lower than Manchester
Cost of Living in Birmingham	GBP 761	Lower than in Manchester
Cost of Living in Edinburgh	GBP 896	Higher than Manchester
Cost of Living in Dublin	GBP 924	Higher than Manchester
Cost of Living in Liverpool	GBP 852	Approximatly equal to Manchester
Cost of Living in Glasgow	GBP 836	Lower than Manchester
Cost of Living in Newcastle	GBP 806	Lower than Manchester
Cost of Living in Nottingham	GBP 820	Lower than Manchester
Cost of Living in Sydney	GBP 890	Higher than Manchester

Manchester, one of the largest cities in the United Kingdom, offers a relatively affordable cost of living compared to London and other major UK cities. Overall, Manchester provides a balanced cost of living with a variety of amenities and opportunities, making it an attractive place to live.

Relevant Reads:

Cost of Living in Cuba: A Comprehensive Guide on Cuba’s Expense	Cost of Living in Brussels: A Guide on Expected Expenses
Cost of Living in Cardiff: House Rent, Food, Expenses [2024]	Cost of Living in Wales: A Comprehensive Guide on Wales’s
Cost of Living in Durham: A Comprehensive Guide	Cost of Living in Rotterdam: A Guide on Expected Expenses

FAQs on Cost of Living in Manchester

This was all about the cost of living in Manchester. Hope this blog helps you by giving ideas about the cost of living in Manchester. For more information, keep following Leverage Edu.