😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,705 in Hastings versus $2,637 in Manchester.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,577 in Hastings versus $3,830 in Manchester.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,449 in Hastings versus $5,024 in Manchester.
🌍Living in Hastings is roughly 3% more expensive than in Manchester, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hastings96% above, Manchester91% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hastings
Manchester
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.87£18.41
$20.56£15.22
20.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.3£60.9
$94.0£69.6
-12.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.06£8.93
$11.03£8.17
9.34%
Cappuccino
$4.53£3.35
$4.82£3.57
-6.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26£2.41
$2.53£1.87
28.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31£0.97
$1.73£1.28
-24.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.84£5.06
$8.18£6.06
-16.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.84£5.06
$6.84£5.06
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hastings
Manchester
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.75£0.55
$1.45£1.08
-48.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77£1.31
$1.84£1.36
-3.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.68£1.98
$1.93£1.43
38.86%
Eggs
$3.32£2.46
$3.99£2.96
-16.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94£7.36
$9.53£7.05
4.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.73£7.21
$8.96£6.63
8.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.30£9.85
$15.76£11.67
-15.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.91£2.15
$3.21£2.38
-9.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74£1.28
$1.61£1.20
8.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.88£2.13
$3.01£2.23
-4.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.61£2.67
$3.42£2.53
5.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.81£1.34
$1.50£1.11
20.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54£1.14
$1.33£0.99
15.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24£0.92
$1.29£0.95
-3.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83£1.35
$1.30£0.96
40.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.67£13.08
$24.36£18.03
-27.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.80£5.03
$10.88£8.05
-37.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.04£2.25
$2.46£1.82
23.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40£2.51
$3.08£2.28
10.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Hastings
Manchester
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.48£2.58
$2.68£1.99
29.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$90.6£67.1
$109£80.5
-16.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.32£3.20
$4.64£3.43
-6.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10£0.81
$2.16£1.60
-49.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.29£23.90
$30.39£22.49
6.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08£1.54
$2.09£1.55
-0.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.2K£29.1K
$39.5K£29.2K
-0.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.1K£31.2K
$41.6K£30.8K
1.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hastings
Manchester
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$337£250
$292£216
15.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.34£15.06
$16.65£12.32
22.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.2£40.09
$39.66£29.36
36.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hastings
Manchester
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.72£31.62
$54.3£40.21
-21.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.86£13.96
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.21£12.00
$13.54£10.02
19.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hastings
Manchester
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,634£1,210
$1,309£969
24.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.3K£13.5K
$20.0K£14.8K
-8.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hastings
Manchester
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104£77.3
$88.1£65.2
18.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.9£39.13
$41.59£30.79
27.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105£77.5
$95.3£70.6
9.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135£99.8
$107£78.9
26.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hastings
Manchester
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,474£1,091
$1,816£1,344
-18.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,267£938
$1,295£958
-2.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621£1,200
$3,067£2,270
-47.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,537£1,138
$2,020£1,495
-23.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$13.6K£10.1K
$4,729£3,500
188.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,465£3,305
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hastings
Manchester
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,429£2,538
$3,446£2,551
-0.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.96
4.87
1.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hastings: September 7, 2026
Last update for Manchester: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,474 in Hastings and $1,816 in Manchester. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Manchester pays 0% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $82.0 in Hastings vs $94.0 in Manchester for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $300 per month, with Hastings cheaper across the board.
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
Hastings vs Manchester: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hastings and in Manchester?
Hastings and Manchester differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($2,705 vs $2,637 including rent). Manchester is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 0% lower in Manchester. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Hastings and in Manchester?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,474 in Hastings versus $1,816 in Manchester. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Hastings or Manchester?
All in, you'll spend $2,705 per month in Hastings versus $2,637 in Manchester – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Hastings and in Manchester?
A monthly transit pass in Manchester runs roughly 20% less than in Hastings. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is feasible on a $2,500 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Manchester is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Hastings and Manchester?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Hastings or Manchester?
Expats usually find Manchester gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Hastings. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.