πA single person spends $3,108 per month in Lewisham vs $2,696 in Manchester, rent included.
πA couple spends around $5,066 per month in Lewisham vs $3,934 in Manchester, rent included.
πA family of three spends $7,024 per month in Lewisham vs $5,171 in Manchester, rent included.
πLewisham costs about 15% more than Manchester, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth Lewisham and Manchester sit above the global median β Lewisham by 131%, Manchester by 100%.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Lewisham
Manchester
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.61Β£15.27
$20.33Β£15.06
1.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.0Β£60.8
$96.4Β£71.5
-14.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.86Β£7.31
$10.79Β£8.00
-8.62%
Cappuccino
$4.79Β£3.55
$5.04Β£3.74
-4.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09Β£1.55
$2.59Β£1.92
-19.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85Β£1.37
$1.69Β£1.25
9.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.99Β£6.66
$7.41Β£5.49
21.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.68Β£6.43
$7.52Β£5.57
15.43%
π Groceries & Markets
Lewisham
Manchester
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20Β£1.63
$1.69Β£1.25
30.18%
White Bread(500g)
$2.56Β£1.90
$1.74Β£1.29
47.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.17Β£2.35
$2.24Β£1.66
41.52%
Eggs
$5.87Β£4.35
$4.11Β£3.04
42.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.87Β£5.09
$12.17Β£9.01
-43.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.77Β£5.76
$9.33Β£6.92
-16.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.39Β£9.18
$17.36Β£12.86
-28.63%
Apples(1kg)
$4.82Β£3.57
$3.22Β£2.39
49.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64Β£1.22
$1.77Β£1.31
-7.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.90Β£2.15
$3.94Β£2.92
-26.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.20Β£3.11
$4.36Β£3.23
-3.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70Β£1.26
$2.09Β£1.55
-18.66%
Onion(1kg)
$2.67Β£1.98
$1.87Β£1.39
42.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92Β£0.68
$1.32Β£0.97
-30.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53Β£1.13
$1.42Β£1.05
7.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$26.24Β£19.45
$18.92Β£14.02
38.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.49Β£14.44
$10.72Β£7.94
81.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40Β£1.78
$2.53Β£1.87
-5.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95Β£1.44
$3.47Β£2.57
-43.80%
π Getting Around
Lewisham
Manchester
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$6.05Β£4.48
$2.76Β£2.05
119.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.8Β£65.1
$122Β£90.1
-27.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.74Β£4.26
$5.52Β£4.09
3.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13Β£1.58
$2.94Β£2.18
-27.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.28Β£17.25
$33.51Β£24.83
-30.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.17Β£1.61
$1.98Β£1.47
9.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2KΒ£28.3K
$38.9KΒ£28.8K
-1.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.4KΒ£29.9K
$41.2KΒ£30.5K
-2.12%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lewisham
Manchester
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$411Β£304
$296Β£219
38.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.26Β£12.79
$22.89Β£16.96
-24.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.24Β£29.07
$43.45Β£32.20
-9.69%
π Sport & Entertainment
Lewisham
Manchester
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.41Β£33.65
$42.06Β£31.16
7.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.93Β£11.80
-
Cinema Ticket
$20.31Β£15.05
$13.43Β£9.95
51.23%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Lewisham
Manchester
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,617Β£1,198
$1,956Β£1,450
-17.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.2KΒ£13.5K
$20.9KΒ£15.5K
-12.95%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Lewisham
Manchester
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$160Β£118
$90.6Β£67.2
76.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.5Β£45.57
$41.37Β£30.66
48.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$147Β£109
$89.2Β£66.1
64.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170Β£126
$108Β£80.3
56.59%
π Accommodation & Living
Lewisham
Manchester
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,143Β£1,588
$1,640Β£1,216
30.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,570Β£1,163
$1,256Β£931
24.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,046Β£1,516
$2,700Β£2,001
-24.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,618Β£2,681
$2,083Β£1,543
73.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,717Β£3,495
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,596Β£3,405
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Lewisham
Manchester
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,037Β£2,991
$3,399Β£2,519
18.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.93
5.92
17.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lewisham: April 14, 2026
Last update for Manchester: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $2,143 in Lewisham versus $1,640 in Manchester. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 19% higher in Lewisham, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $82 in Lewisham versus $96 in Manchester. Groceries tell a different story β $334 in Lewisham vs $333 in Manchester β so Manchester wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Lewisham vs Manchester: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lewisham or Manchester?
Lewisham costs about 15% more than Manchester, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lewisham vs Manchester?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,662 per month in Lewisham and $4,045 in Manchester. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lewisham or Manchester?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Manchester, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Lewisham or Manchester?
Groceries cost about 0% more in Lewisham, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Lewisham vs Manchester?
Can you live on $2,500/month in Lewisham or Manchester?
$2,500 is a stretch for both β monthly costs hit $3,108 in Lewisham and $2,696 in Manchester. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lewisham or Manchester?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Manchester costs $2,696 versus $3,108 in Lewisham. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Lewisham or Manchester?
If budget matters most, go with Manchester. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lewisham makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.