Cost of living
Manchester is one of the best student cities in the UK*. With a total student population of more than 90,000, there are plenty of local businesses, services and nightlife venues that cater to a student budget.
You may choose to work part time while studying to increase your cash flow. In the video below, Manchester students Tom, Alisha, Aimee, Betsy, Iqra and Sanjana discuss their experiences of working part-time jobs while studying at The University of Manchester, and share their advice for students coming to university who are thinking of finding a job themselves.
While accommodation is likely to be your main expense, opting for a room in a University hall of residence will simplify your costs, as our hall fees include contents insurance, all utility bills (usually gas and electricity) and most have a free internet connection.
Below are breakdowns of spending for the average Manchester undergraduate and postgraduate student for one academic year.
Estimated living costs 2023/24 for first year undergraduate students for the 41-week academic year
| Cost | Undergraduate year (41 weeks) | Monthly cost (based on 41 weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (self-catered)* | £6,570 (£7,360 catered)** | £657 (£736 catered**) |
| Groceries*** | £1,500 | £150 |
| Takeaways | £530 | £53 |
| Transport (including local transport and travelling elsewhere) | £480 | £48 |
| Going out and socialising | £770 |
£77 |
| Mobile phone contract/payments | £210 | £21 |
| Clothes | £415 | £41.50 |
| Health and wellbeing | £260 | £26 |
| Course materials | £260 | £26 |
| Holidays and events | £295 | £29.50 |
| Gifts and charity | £150 | £15 |
| Relatives or friends who you support financially | £43.50 | £4.35 |
| Total | £11,483.50 | £1,148.35 |
Sources:
- Accommodation figures taken from our accommodation website.
- Grocery figures based on a weekly budget supermarket shop in July 2023 containing the items on this list.
- Transport costs calculated using Stagecoach student bus pass prices and an approximate allowance for other travel, assuming a student will travel home/visit friends.
- All other costs obtained from savethestudent.org and their National Student Money Survey, with costs increased in line with inflation as of April 2023.
Additional information:
*The University of Manchester self-catered accommodation can range in price from £4,618 to £8,190 a year. Find further information on accommodation provision and the annual cost of accommodation at The University of Manchester.
**Catered accommodation calculated by adding £790 of meal costs to the annual total (breakfast and an evening meal on weekdays).
***The ‘groceries’ total will be less if the student chooses catered accommodation.
Estimated living costs 2023/24 for second-year onwards undergraduate students for the 41-week academic year
| Cost | Undergraduate year (41 weeks) | Monthly cost (based on 41 weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation* | £7,435 | £619.58 |
| Groceries** | £1,500 | £150 |
| Takeaways | £530 | £53 |
| Transport (including local transport and travelling elsewhere) | £480 | £48 |
| Going out and socialising | £770 |
£77 |
| Mobile phone contract/payments | £210 | £21 |
| Clothes | £415 | £41.50 |
| Health and wellbeing | £260 | £26 |
| Course materials | £260 | £26 |
| Holidays and events | £295 | £29.50 |
| Gifts and charity | £150 | £15 |
| Relatives or friends who you support financially | £43.50 | £4.35 |
| Total | £12,349.50 | £1,110.93 |
Sources:
- Grocery figures based on a weekly budget supermarket shop in July 2023 containing the items on this list.
- Transport costs calculated using Stagecoach student bus pass prices and an approximate allowance for other travel, assuming a student will travel home/visit friends.
- All other costs obtained from savethestudent.org and their National Student Money Survey, with costs increased in line with inflation as of April 2023.
Additional information:
*Accommodation based on the estimated rent and household utility bills detailed on the Save the Student webpage. This annual figure is based on a full 52-week year, as private accommodation contracts are typically renewed yearly.
**The ‘groceries’ total will be less if the student chooses catered accommodation.
Estimated living costs 2023/24 for postgraduate students
| Cost | Postgraduate year (52 weeks) | Monthly cost (based on 52 weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (self-catered) | £8,580 | £715 |
| Groceries | £1,800 | £150 |
| Takeaways | £636 | £53 |
|
Transport (including local transport and travelling elsewhere) |
£576 | £48 |
| Going out and socialising | £924 | £77 |
| Mobile phone contract/payments | £252 | £21 |
| Clothes | £498 | £41.50 |
| Health and wellbeing | £312 | £26 |
| Course materials | £312 | £26 |
| Holidays and events | £354 | £29.50 |
| Gifts and charity | £180 | £15 |
|
Relatives or friends who you support financially |
£52.20 | £4.35 |
| Total | £14,476.20 | £1,206.35 |
Sources:
- Accommodation figures taken from our accommodation website. This annual figure is based on our self-catered accommodation.
- Grocery figures based on a weekly budget supermarket shop in July 2023 containing the items on this list.
- Transport costs calculated using Stagecoach student bus pass prices and an approximate allowance for other travel, assuming a student will travel home/visit friends.
- All other costs obtained from savethestudent.org and their National Student Money Survey with costs increased in line with inflation as of April 2023.
These costs are intended as a guide only.
It’s important to bear in mind that all estimates made by the University are for single students. If you intend to bring your family, you should also account for family living expenses as well.
Some courses will require you to pay for specific items, materials or activities not covered in the tuition fees, such as field courses. In these cases the University endeavours to keep these additional costs as low as possible.
International students
If you require a visa to come to the UK, you're granted it on condition that you can pay your tuition fees and living expenses (for you and your family, if they are accompanying you) without having to depend on finding work in the UK.
Find out more about the cost of: