Cost of Living Comparison Between Derry and Manchester Cost of Living Comparison Between Derry and Manchester

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,747 per month in Derry vs $2,631 in Manchester, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,642 per month in Derry vs $3,842 in Manchester, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,537 per month in Derry vs $5,053 in Manchester, rent included.

Derry is about 34% cheaper than Manchester, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Derry and Manchester sit above the global median – Derry by 30%, Manchester by 97%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.96 £13.29

$20.34 £15.05

-11.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.7 £61.2

$95.0 £70.3

-12.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.76 £7.22

$10.92 £8.08

-10.62%

Cappuccino

$4.64 £3.43

$4.98 £3.68

-6.83%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 £1.64

$2.62 £1.94

-15.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 £1.11

$1.75 £1.30

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 £4.40

$7.38 £5.46

-19.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.96 £4.41

$7.40 £5.48

-19.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 £1.27

$1.64 £1.21

4.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 £1.00

$1.70 £1.26

-20.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 £1.52

$2.18 £1.61

-5.96%

Eggs

$3.27 £2.42

$3.94 £2.92

-17.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.90 £7.33

$12.35 £9.14

-19.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.08 £6.72

$9.85 £7.29

-7.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 £10.45

$17.45 £12.91

-19.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 £2.04

$3.20 £2.37

-13.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 £0.97

$1.79 £1.32

-27.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 £2.09

$3.95 £2.93

-28.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.71 £2.75

$4.28 £3.17

-13.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 £0.99

$2.03 £1.50

-34.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 £0.98

$1.87 £1.38

-28.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 £0.69

$1.26 £0.93

-26.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 £1.20

$1.49 £1.10

8.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$21.00 £15.54

$18.70 £13.84

12.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 £7.88

$10.54 £7.80

0.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.59 £1.92

$2.44 £1.81

6.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 £2.49

$3.46 £2.56

-2.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.70 £2.74

$2.70 £2.00

37.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.0 £40.72

$121 £89.2

-54.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.41 £4.00

$5.40 £4.00

0.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 £1.68

$2.97 £2.20

-23.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.63 £19.70

$33.45 £24.75

-20.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.95 £1.44

$1.90 £1.40

2.63%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$38.7K £28.6K

$38.2K £28.3K

1.31%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.3K £29.1K

$40.5K £29.9K

-2.95%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$138 £102

$296 £219

-53.36%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.23 £12.01

$22.50 £16.65

-27.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.23 £30.51

$43.57 £32.24

-5.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.59 £26.34

$41.22 £30.50

-13.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.53 £10.01

$15.49 £11.46

-12.65%

Cinema Ticket

$10.77 £7.97

$13.83 £10.23

-22.13%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,137 £841

$1,971 £1,459

-42.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.3K £13.5K

$21.4K £15.9K

-14.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$96.9 £71.7

$90.1 £66.7

7.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.32 £29.84

$41.94 £31.04

-3.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 £78.8

$88.7 £65.6

20.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.9 £48.01

$107 £79.5

-39.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$855 £632

$1,625 £1,203

-47.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$669 £495

$1,255 £929

-46.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,339 £991

$2,665 £1,972

-49.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$983 £728

$2,052 £1,518

-52.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,750 £3,515

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,542 £3,361

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,729 £2,019

$3,392 £2,510

-19.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.32

5.92

-10.14%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Derry: April 26, 2026

Last update for Manchester: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $855 in Derry versus $1,625 in Manchester. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 24% higher in Manchester, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $83.0 in Derry versus $95.0 in Manchester. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $333 – making Derry the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Derry vs Manchester: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,747 in Derry, $2,631 in Manchester – roughly 51% apart. Manchester costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,620 per month in Derry and $3,947 in Manchester. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Derry, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,137 per month in Derry and $1,971 in Manchester. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% more in Manchester, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Derry, where all-in costs run around $1,747, than in Manchester at $2,631. In Derry it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manchester it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Manchester has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,747 in Derry to $2,631 in Manchester. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Derry. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manchester makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.