😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,696 in Manchester versus $2,355 in Bexley.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,934 in Manchester versus $3,451 in Bexley.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,171 in Manchester versus $4,547 in Bexley.
😐Living in Manchester is roughly 14% more expensive than Bexley, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Manchester100% above, Bexley75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manchester
Bexley
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.33£15.06
$20.52£15.20
-0.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$96.4£71.5
$78.5£58.2
22.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.79£8.00
$10.41£7.72
3.65%
Cappuccino
$5.04£3.74
$4.76£3.52
5.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59£1.92
$2.32£1.72
11.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69£1.25
$1.82£1.35
-7.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.41£5.49
$8.21£6.09
-9.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.52£5.57
$7.66£5.68
-1.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manchester
Bexley
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69£1.25
$1.72£1.27
-1.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74£1.29
$1.68£1.24
3.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24£1.66
$2.48£1.84
-9.68%
Eggs
$4.11£3.04
$4.93£3.66
-16.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.17£9.01
$11.31£8.38
7.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.33£6.92
$8.85£6.56
5.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.36£12.86
$14.55£10.78
19.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.22£2.39
$3.32£2.46
-3.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77£1.31
$1.61£1.19
9.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.94£2.92
$3.12£2.31
26.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.36£3.23
$3.52£2.61
23.86%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09£1.55
$1.68£1.24
24.40%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87£1.39
$1.86£1.38
0.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32£0.97
$1.05£0.78
25.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.42£1.05
$1.96£1.45
-27.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.92£14.02
$19.37£14.36
-2.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.72£7.94
$11.05£8.18
-2.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.53£1.87
$3.17£2.35
-20.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47£2.57
$4.05£3.00
-14.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Manchester
Bexley
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.76£2.05
$3.46£2.57
-20.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$122£90.1
$89.5£66.3
35.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.52£4.09
$5.37£3.98
2.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.94£2.18
$1.58£1.17
86.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.51£24.83
$33.42£24.76
0.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98£1.47
$1.93£1.43
2.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9K£28.8K
$38.3K£28.4K
1.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.2K£30.5K
$39.4K£29.2K
4.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manchester
Bexley
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$296£219
$318£236
-7.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.89£16.96
$18.34£13.59
24.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.45£32.20
$43.43£32.18
0.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manchester
Bexley
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.06£31.16
$45.10£33.42
-6.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.93£11.80
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.43£9.95
$15.24£11.29
-11.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manchester
Bexley
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,956£1,450
$1,776£1,316
10.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.9K£15.5K
$28.2K£20.9K
-25.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manchester
Bexley
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.6£67.2
$103£76.6
-12.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.37£30.66
$49.48£36.66
-16.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.2£66.1
$91.3£67.7
-2.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108£80.3
$119£88.1
-8.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manchester
Bexley
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,640£1,216
$1,211£898
35.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,256£931
$1,015£752
23.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,700£2,001
$1,999£1,482
35.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,083£1,543
$1,728£1,281
20.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,717£3,495
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,596£3,405
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manchester
Bexley
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,399£2,519
$2,462£1,824
38.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.92
5.05
17.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Manchester: April 14, 2026
Last update for Bexley: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,640 in Manchester and $1,211 in Bexley. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Manchester pays 38% 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 in Manchester vs $79 in Bexley for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $324 per month, with Bexley 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 Bexley: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Manchester or Bexley?
Bexley wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Manchester. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bexley the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Manchester or Bexley?
Manchester pays 38% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Manchester vs Bexley?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,640 in Manchester versus $1,211 in Bexley. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Manchester vs Bexley?
A monthly transit pass in Bexley runs roughly 36% less than in Manchester. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Manchester and Bexley?
Childcare runs $1,956 in Manchester versus $1,776 in Bexley. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Manchester or Bexley?
At $2,355 in Bexley versus $2,696 in Manchester, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bexley but tight or insufficient in Manchester. The gap between the two cities makes Bexley the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Manchester or Bexley?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bexley delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,355 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bexley hard to pass up.
How safe is Manchester compared to Bexley?
Safety-wise, Manchester and Bexley 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bexley 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