Check upcoming open days and book your place arrow
Research and Prep

Cost of living in Manchester

There’s a lot to love about Manchester, from its legendary music and art scene to visible post-industrial heritage and more. If you’re thinking about studying in the city, this guide will help you discover how much it could cost to live in Manchester. 

Sam Smith
by Sam Smith
Last Updated:
10 Jan 2024

Manchester is a thriving city of around 550,000 people located in the North West region of England. A major player in the industrial revolution and the world’s first industrialised city, nowadays Manchester continues to be at the forefront of business, and has become highly influential in popular music and culture.  

With a range of top universities to choose from, it’s no wonder the city has become such a popular place for students, who enjoy the Mancunian lifestyle without needing to pay those big-city prices. This guide will break down how much it could cost to live and study in the city, as well as some of the best money-saving tips and tricks. 

Fees and funding in Manchester 


There are two major universities in Manchester, offering a wide range of degree courses and modes of study. At undergraduate level you’ll probably be paying £9,250 for tuition fees, following government guidelines. This can be daunting, but fortunately most students can get a loan from Student Finance to cover this cost. 

Student Finance pays your tuition fees directly to the uni, so you don’t even have to worry about sorting out payments. They offer a maintenance loan to support your accommodation and living costs too, which can be worth up to around £10,000 per year. You’ll only start to repay these loans when you’re employed and earning above the yearly threshold for your plan. 

There are also many scholarship and bursary schemes designed to help with study costs, and these are awarded for both merit-based and means-tested reasons. Manchester Met has a selection of subject-specific scholarships to support talented students through their course, and the University of Manchester has a range of bursary options for low-income households. For example, if your family income is less than £25,000 per year, the uni will supply you with a grant worth £2,000 for every year of study which doesn’t need to be repaid. 

Student accommodation in Manchester 


Manchester has a student population of more than 100,000, which is more than many other cities. There is a huge demand for student housing, which creates a range of accommodation options to suit all budgets and preferences. Many unis have their own halls of residences, which are a fun and affordable way to live in Manchester, surrounded by your classmates and uni peers. 

Prices for halls accommodation can start at around £110 per week for a single room with shared facilities, and most halls of residences include utility bills, WiFi, on-site laundry facilities and sometimes a common room or social space. The University of Manchester provides single, en-suite bedrooms for undergraduate students starting at £115 per week, in one of its five housing locations in the city centre. 

If you end up looking to rent privately, you can expect to pay around £1,180 per month for a studio apartment in the city centre, or £1,900 for a three-bedroom apartment, which is less than Edinburgh and approximately half the cost of what you would expect to pay in London. Prices drop further when you look outside of the city centre. Utility bills are approximately £80-90 per person per month in a shared apartment.  

Cost of groceries in Manchester 


Manchester is a large city with plenty of places to pick up food in the city centre, and you’ll also be able to find some multi-buy bargains in shops around the industrial areas on its outskirts. 

Some average prices for common food and drinks items: 

  • Milk (1L): £1.20 
  • Bread Loaf: £1.12 
  • Rice (1kg): £1.78 
  • Eggs (12): £3.16 
  • Cheese (1kg): £6.35 
  • Chicken fillets (1kg): £6.13 
  • Apples (1kg): £2.19 
  • Potatoes (1kg): £1.43 

In general, these prices are lower than in London, and you can even improve on these rates by looking for low-cost outlets such as Lidl and Aldi, or purchasing from wholesalers. 

Going out in Manchester 


Manchester is a hub of culture and entertainment, and with so many students in the area, there are plenty of budget-friendly restaurants, parties and student bars to explore. An inexpensive meal out will cost you around £15, and a meal for two at a mid-range restaurant will run to around £60, which is around £10 less expensive than in London. A pint will cost you on average about £5, and there are many student bars and nightclubs which offer drinks deals and discounted entry.  

Music is part of the city’s lifeblood, and Manchester has been instrumental in the birth of many musical genres such as northern soul, post-punk, Britpop and underground electronic dance music. Manchester is extremely well set up to host events, from club nights to stadium tour extravaganzas, so plan ahead of time to find the cheapest tickets. Most dance music nights have early bird tickets which can be bought for as little as half the price of one purchased on the day. 

Transport in Manchester 


Manchester city centre has a range of public transport options to get around on, including buses, trams, and rail. A one-way ticket averages around £2 which is an easily affordable trip, even on a tight budget. If you’re travelling every day, then it’s worth looking into getting a monthly travel pass, which costs around £80 per month. Bear in mind that as a student, you might be eligible to apply for a student transport pass which could save you extra money. 

Manchester isn’t far from several other major English cities such as Liverpool, Leeds and Sheffield. Each city is well worth the effort for a day trip or weekend excursion and is readily accessible from Manchester. Tickets can cost less than £10 each way if you’re able to book a week or two in advance, and even less with a 16-25 Rail Card. 

Other student expenses in Manchester 


Manchester is filled with exciting opportunities and extra-curricular activities which, with a bit of planning and foresight, can easily be factored into your student budget.  

Your uni will organise a large range of free clubs and societies, and there are plenty of parks, public art galleries and museums which are free to visit. Manchester has some of the best and biggest sports teams in the world, and if you enjoy watching on TV then you’ll be amazed by the atmosphere of a live game. Tickets can be expensive, but keep your ear to the ground and you’ll be able to pick them up for an affordable price. 

Cinema tickets average around £9, which ensures that whatever the weather you can organise an evening’s entertainment.

Overall, a budget of around £900 a month will be needed to study in Manchester (not including tuition fees). This will vary from person to person depending on your accommodation and lifestyle, so do factor these in when you're planning your budget.

Similar articles