Manchester is the second largest city in the UK and attracts students from all over the world. However, the cost of living in Manchester also ranks high in the UK, especially the cost of housing, which averages around ￡800 per month. In addition, factors such as education, food and entertainment also cost a lot. For new students, knowing the cost of living in Manchester in advance is necessary. This blog will detail the cost of living in Manchester regarding Daily Life, Education and Living options.
Cost of Living in Manchester: Daily Life
Manchester is known as the second largest city in the UK, and for students, living expenses can come from all directions.
Food
For most students, supermarket chains in the UK are the most common food source. Typically, students who prefer to cook for themselves will spend around ￡220/month. However, eating out is also one way to relax. There are a variety of well-known restaurants in Manchester, and the price per meal can vary from ￡4 to ￡50. Also, pubs, one of the British favourites, are an excellent choice for students to unwind. A bottle of beer or cocktail can cost between £3 and £15.
Entertainment
For students, entertainment is an integral part of life apart from daily school work. Manchester is home to famous football clubs Manchester United and Manchester City and has a great football atmosphere. It is a must-see for fans with ticket prices ranging from ￡80 to ￡180 per match. Moreover, cinema is a common pastime within the student community, with prices ranging from ￡6 to ￡8 per film. Manchester Arndale Shopping Centre offers products from bargains to high street brands in the city centre area. Depending on each person’s choice, each shopping trip could cost between ￡20 and ￡300.
Mobile Network
In the age of the internet, mobile phones are a necessity for everyone. There are numerous network operators in the UK offering various network packages and products. But for most students, the most basic SIM card deals are enough. The ‘pay as you go‘ type of deals are the most popular as students can cancel it at any time. Please note that most SIM cards require a UK bank card to be provided at the time of purchase.
| The cheap deals of popular networks in UK | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Networks | Price/month | Data | Contract |
| Three | ￡10 | 15G | Pay as you go |
| O2 | ￡10 | 20G | Pay as you go |
| EE | ￡14 | 2G | 24 month plan |
| Vodafone | ￡10 | 2G | 90 days plan |
| giffgaff | ￡10 | 15G | Pay as you go |
Transport cost of living in Manchester
Manchester covers 115.6 square kilometres, and many students have to use transport to get to the campus quickly. The buses operated by Stagecoach are the most common transportation within the city area. There are various routes covering the city centre and around the University of Manchester. Tickets start at ￡2 for a single journey, but students can save money by purchasing different Tickets.
Trains are also a common way of travelling; for example, students must pay ￡30 from Manchester to London. However, they can buy a Railcard for ￡30, which gives them 30% off all train fares for one year, perfect for frequent travellers.
Cost of Living in Manchester: Education
College tuition is a big expense for all students. Depending on the university and major, tuition fees can vary greatly. International undergraduates at the University of Manchester pay around £19,000 per year, postgraduates around £23,000 and PhDs can go up to £38,000. Manchester Metropolitan University has lower tuition fees, with international students paying around £18,000 per year. University of Salford‘s tuition fees range from £13,750 to £20,340.
Cost of Living in Manchester: Accommodation
Apart from tuition fees, accommodation is the second biggest cost. The rental market in Manchester offers a range of options including university halls, student flats, and social properties. The cost of different options can vary greatly.
On campus student halls
On-campus university residences are always a popular choice, providing students with quick access to a wide range of teaching facilities, as well as increased opportunities to socialise with fellow students. With student hall available on all three of the University of Manchester‘s campuses and prices ranging from around ￡460 to ￡910/month, students have a wealth of choice. Manchester Metropolitan University halls of residence range between ￡520 and ￡850. The University of Salford, on the other hand, offers between ￡485 and ￡600 for students to stay in.
Off campus student accommodation
The best thing about off-campus student accommodation in Manchester is that there is plenty of it and students are free to choose their location. There are over 30 student accommodation options in the city, with prices ranging from ￡460 to ￡1600 per month, depending on decor and facilities.
Private rental property
Some students choose to rent a social property in order to experience local cultural life. This usually offers plenty of space and freedom of room allocation and can cost between ￡600 and ￡2000 per person per month, depending on the area and type of property.
Gas and Utility cost of living in Manchester
Apart from rent, energy cost and utility bill should not be ignored. Most halls of residence and flats have a bill included in the rent, but students living in social properties will have to pay it themselves. According to statistics, the energy and electricity bill in 2024 will cost ￡200 per month, the water bill ￡35 per month and the internet bill ￡30 per month.
Council Tax
In the UK, Council Tax is a tax determined by the property’s value. Students living in student halls of residence or flats are automatically exempt from the tax. At the same time, those living in social properties can also apply for an exemption of Council Tax on the government website. However, if a student does not apply, they must pay between ￡100 and ￡300 per month in tax.
Conclusion
In summary, university fees are the biggest expense for international students, costing around ￡20,000 per year. Accommodation is the second, which averages at ￡800 per month. Daily life and entertainment will cost between ￡1000 and ￡1,500, but students can reduce costs through various experiences.
| The Cost of Living in Manchester 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Cost | Price/annual |
| Education | ￡14000~￡38000 |
| Accommodation | ￡5760~￡19200 |
| Food | ￡2400~￡7200 |
| Entertainment | ￡1800~￡14400 |
| Transport | ￡500~￡2000 |
| Network | ￡120~￡500 |
Cost of Living in Manchester: FAQ
Manchester is one of the largest cities in the UK, and the cost of living is generally moderate compared to London. However, Manchester is not the cheapest city either. Housing tends to be the most considerable expense, with rental prices varying wildly from one area to another. Transport, groceries and leisure activities are all reasonably priced.
Manchester is one of the largest cities in the UK, and the cost of living is generally moderate compared to London. However, Manchester is not the cheapest city either. Housing tends to be the most considerable expense, with rental prices varying wildly from one area to another. Transport, groceries and leisure activities are all reasonably priced.
Manchester is a fascinating place to live. The city is renowned for its glorious architecture, diverse cultural scene, world-class universities and vibrant nightlife. In addition, Manchester’s thriving economy and promising job market further enhance its appeal.
On average, you’re likely to spend between £500 and £1,200 a month. Accommodation is usually between £480 and £800 per month. Food and incidentals can cost around £160-£400 per month, and social activities can cost up to £150 per month. Transport, books and other essentials can cost an additional £100 to £200 per month.
If you are interested in Manchester study life or other city’s accommodation. Please check following blogs!
