😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,614 in Manchester versus $2,290 in Antrim.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,917 in Manchester versus $3,201 in Antrim.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,220 in Manchester versus $4,112 in Antrim.
😐Living in Manchester is roughly 14% more expensive than Antrim, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Manchester95% above, Antrim70% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manchester
Antrim
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.40£15.26
$23.29£17.42
-12.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$96.5£72.2
$103£76.7
-5.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.72£8.02
$10.27£7.68
4.38%
Cappuccino
$5.01£3.75
$4.72£3.54
6.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61£1.95
$2.63£1.97
-0.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70£1.27
$2.04£1.53
-16.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.53£5.64
$7.53£5.63
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.44£5.57
$6.83£5.11
8.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manchester
Antrim
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68£1.26
$1.72£1.29
-2.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.70£1.28
$1.92£1.44
-11.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.13£1.60
$2.28£1.71
-6.58%
Eggs
$3.94£2.95
$4.39£3.29
-10.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.33£9.23
$12.20£9.13
1.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.73£7.28
$10.24£7.67
-4.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.04£12.75
$18.46£13.82
-7.69%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33£2.49
$3.43£2.56
-2.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77£1.32
$1.87£1.40
-5.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.86£2.89
$3.42£2.56
12.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.36£3.26
$4.80£3.59
-9.17%
Potato(1kg)
$2.03£1.52
$1.75£1.31
16.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.83£1.37
$1.46£1.10
25.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26£0.94
$1.16£0.87
8.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.42£1.06
$1.51£1.13
-5.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.75£14.03
$20.50£15.34
-8.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.59£7.92
$11.23£8.40
-5.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49£1.87
$2.81£2.11
-11.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43£2.57
$3.63£2.72
-5.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Manchester
Antrim
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.68£2.00
$7.53£5.63
-64.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$124£93.0
$75.4£56.4
64.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.51£4.12
$5.38£4.02
2.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.92£2.19
$1.87£1.40
56.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.55£25.86
$33.32£24.93
3.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96£1.47
$1.89£1.41
3.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.3K£28.6K
$38.7K£29.0K
-1.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K£31.2K
$42.7K£31.9K
-2.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manchester
Antrim
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$299£224
$259£194
15.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.46£16.81
$17.11£12.80
31.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.39£31.72
$44.73£33.47
-5.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manchester
Antrim
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.08£31.49
$31.42£23.51
33.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.04£12.00
$9.45£7.07
69.74%
Cinema Ticket
$13.61£10.18
$13.36£10.00
1.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manchester
Antrim
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,940£1,452
$1,461£1,094
32.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.9K£15.7K
$8,793£6,580
138.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manchester
Antrim
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.5£66.2
$85.9£64.3
3.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.66£31.17
$50.9£38.07
-18.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.5£67.7
$107£80.0
-15.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107£80.2
$85.8£64.2
24.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manchester
Antrim
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,599£1,196
$1,101£824
45.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,261£943
$954£714
32.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,704£2,024
$1,335£999
102.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,038£1,525
$1,024£766
99.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,929£3,689
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,694£3,512
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manchester
Antrim
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,254£2,435
$3,063£2,292
6.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.92
5.63
5.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Manchester: June 7, 2026
Last update for Antrim: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,599 in Manchester and $1,101 in Antrim. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Manchester pays 6% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $96.0 in Manchester vs $103 in Antrim for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $347 per month, with Manchester 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
Manchester vs Antrim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Antrim cheaper than Manchester?
Antrim is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Manchester or Antrim?
Manchester pays 6% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Manchester and Antrim?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,599 in Manchester versus $1,101 in Antrim. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Manchester vs Antrim?
All in, you'll spend $2,614 per month in Manchester versus $2,290 in Antrim – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Antrim runs roughly 65% less than in Manchester. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Manchester or Antrim?
At $2,290 in Antrim versus $2,614 in Manchester, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Antrim but tight or insufficient in Manchester. The gap between the two cities makes Antrim the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Manchester or Antrim more family-friendly?
For families, Antrim is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Manchester, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Manchester or Antrim?
Safety-wise, Manchester and Antrim are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Antrim gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Manchester. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Manchester vs other spots: cost of living compared