- Compare agents
- Search by area
- Tools & Guides
Tools & Calculators
Online House Valuation
See how much your house is worth - get a free instant estimate of your home's value.
House Prices By Area
Check out house price trends across the UK by postcode or town.
Estate Agent Fees
Find out more about estate agents’ fees, contracts, and the service you should expect.
EPC Checker
Check whether your home already has a valid EPC - for free.
Guides & Checklists
- Blog
- Compare agents
- Search by area
- Tools & Guides
- Online House Valuation
See how much your house is worth - get a free instant estimate of your home's value.
- House Prices By Area
Check out house price trends across the UK by postcode or town.
- Estate Agent Fees
Find out more about estate agents’ fees, contracts, and the service you should expect.
- EPC Checker
Check whether your home already has a valid EPC - for free.
- Blog
Living in Manchester
Costs Summary
- Cost of living £396.68
- Housing £1,151.09
- Transportation £75.00
- Sport and leisure £48.67
A city that thinks a table is for dancing on- Mark Radcliffe
What Manchester does today, the world does tomorrow- Roy Walters
About Manchester
Vying with Birmingham for the title of the UK’s ‘second city’, the city of Manchester is the cultural and economic heart of the North West of England.
Famous for being the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, Oasis, and two world-famous football clubs, Manchester has always been a cultural giant. Today, the city is one of UNESCO’s Cities of Literature, home to the BBC, and has more theatre seats per person than anywhere else in the UK, outside of London. If you head to Spinningfields - Manchester’s business district - you’ll also find some of the biggest names in finance and professional services.
Manchester is typically seen as a very young city. There’s a large student population that attend the two world-leading universities, and many of these young people make their home in the inclusive and fast-paced centre of the city. However a little further out, suburbs like leafy Didsbury, and Stockport attract lots of professional families looking to put down roots.
Avg. monthly salary £2,394
Avg. rent £909
Pollution Low
Avg. house price £242,669
Avg. council tax £1,742
Internet speed 100 mbps
Demographics
Politics
Labour and Co-operative 70%
Conservative 15%
Liberal Democrat 7%
Brexit Party 4%
Green 4%
Crime rate in Manchester
- Crime rating Very low crime
- Crimes last 12m 54
- Crimes per thousand 12
The local area
If you’re centrally based, Manchester provides everything you need within a quick walk. The city centre is easy to navigate in just 20 minutes.
Greater Manchester is a little less compact, offering a sprawling patchwork of different neighbourhoods, from densely packed urban areas, to large areas of countryside, and quaint market towns. Luckily the extensive transport network controlled by Transport for Greater Manchester provides easy and regular connections all over the area.
Local Cafes and Restaurants
Flight Club Darts Pub/bar/nightclub
Hotel Gotham Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house
All Bar One Pub/bar/nightclub
Vesper Cocktail Bar Pub/bar/nightclub
King Street Townhouse Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house
Pizza Express Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen
Miller & Carter Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen
Starbucks Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen
Black Sheep Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen
Grand Pacific Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen
Thai Kitchen No. 6 Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen
Croma Restaurant Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen
Rosso Restaurant & Bar Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen
St James's Club Pub/bar/nightclub
Salut Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen
City Arms Pub/bar/nightclub
Stock Exchange Hotel - The Bull & Bear Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house
Costa Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen
Cost of living in Manchester
| Item name | Avg. price | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Milk | £1.04 | £0.78 - £1.35 |
| Bread | £1.15 | £0.50 - £2.00 |
| Eggs | £2.26 | £1.07 - £3.00 |
| Wine | £7.50 | £5.00 - £10.00 |
| Beer | £1.85 | £1.00 - £4.00 |
| Utilities | £181.90 | £179.19 - £513.83 |
| Preschool cost | £1,019 | £800 - £1,200 |
Housing costs
| Item name | Avg. price | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Buy: 2 Bed house | £337K | £155K - £543K |
| Rent: 2 Bed house | £824 PCM | £440 - £1476 |
| Rent HMO | £588 PCM | £352 - £1108 |
Public Transport costs
| Item name | Avg. price | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| One-way ticket | £3 | £1.50 - £4.60 |
| Monthly pass | £75 | £45.00 - £101.80 |
| Taxi starting tariff | £2 | £2.30 - £3.00 |
Leisure
When it comes to sports and leisure activities, Manchester is top of the charts. The city's musical heritage remains important to this day, and you’ll be able to catch shows from musicians of all genres at one of the many venues across the city. If you’re after dramatic orchestral concerts, head to the Bridgewater Hall, or if you prefer to dance the night away, check out the offerings at The Deaf Institute.
It’s hard not to be a sports fan in a city like Manchester. Home to two of the most famous football clubs in the UK (and the world), there are regular matches at the Old Trafford and Etihad Stadiums. If you prefer rugby, Union and League teams play in nearby Sale, Salford, Wigan, and Warrington.
| Item name | Avg. price | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Fitness Club | £26 pm | £20.00 - £48.00 |
| Cinema | £8 pp | £5.00 - £11.00 |
| Inexpensive restaurant | £15 pp | £9.00 - £24.00 |
Moving to Manchester
Given its importance as an economic and cultural hub living in central Manchester is slightly more expensive than average for the UK. However, there are more affordable options just outside the main central area, such as in Fallowfield - which is a favourite among students - or Salford - which attracts large numbers of creative professionals working at nearby MediaCity.
Figuring out how you’re going to transport your things far in advance can make moving house less stressful - and help you budget effectively. As a general rule, it can be cheaper to move on a weekday, and to do your own packing in advance.
Moving costs
The cost of moving to Manchester will vary depending on the day of the week, demand, and where you’re booking from, but on average you should expect to pay around £1 per mile on top of a loading and unloading fee of £800, and around £125 for dismantling and reassembling.
The following moving costs are based on a 3 bedroom family house and include loading and packing.
- From Manchester to Leeds - £969
- From Manchester to London - £1143
- From Manchester to Liverpool - £959
- From Manchester to Birmingham - £1019
- From Manchester to Sheffield - £963
- From Manchester to Edinburgh - £1143
- From Manchester to Glasgow - £1138
- From Manchester to Cardiff - £1120
- From Manchester to Swansea - £1156
- From Manchester to Bath - £1112
- From Manchester to Bristol - £1100
- From Manchester to Telford - £1005
More "Living in" guides
Thinking of moving somewhere else? Check out our other guides which cover everything you need to know about living costs, moving costs and living in the area:
Help and information
Resources
Get in touch
- 020 3608 6556
- Our lines are closed
Copyright © 2022 GetAgent Limited
We are a company registered in England & Wales, company number 09428979.