🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,631 in Manchester versus $3,389 in Farnham.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,842 in Manchester versus $4,528 in Farnham.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,053 in Manchester versus $5,667 in Farnham.
🙂Living in Manchester costs roughly 22% less than in Farnham, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Manchester97% above, Farnham153% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manchester
Farnham
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.34£15.07
$27.01£20.02
-24.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.0£70.4
$88.2£65.3
7.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.92£8.09
$13.84£10.25
-21.10%
Cappuccino
$4.98£3.69
$7.26£5.38
-31.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62£1.94
$2.90£2.15
-9.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75£1.30
$1.91£1.42
-8.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.38£5.47
$6.55£4.85
12.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.40£5.49
$6.00£4.45
23.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manchester
Farnham
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64£1.21
$1.99£1.47
-17.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.70£1.26
$2.52£1.87
-32.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18£1.61
$2.02£1.49
7.92%
Eggs
$3.94£2.92
$4.02£2.98
-1.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.35£9.15
$9.69£7.18
27.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.85£7.30
$8.96£6.64
9.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.45£12.93
$14.07£10.43
24.02%
Apples(1kg)
$3.20£2.37
$3.15£2.33
1.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79£1.32
$1.59£1.18
12.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.95£2.93
$3.09£2.29
27.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.28£3.17
$3.15£2.34
35.87%
Potato(1kg)
$2.03£1.50
$1.67£1.24
21.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87£1.39
$2.12£1.57
-11.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26£0.93
$1.52£1.12
-17.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49£1.10
$1.53£1.13
-2.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.70£13.86
$19.30£14.30
-3.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.54£7.81
$10.70£7.93
-1.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.44£1.81
$2.80£2.08
-12.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46£2.56
$3.23£2.39
7.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Manchester
Farnham
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.70£2.00
$4.06£3.00
-33.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$121£89.3
$87.9£65.1
37.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.40£4.00
$5.39£3.99
0.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.97£2.20
$1.61£1.19
84.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.45£24.79
$22.79£16.89
46.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90£1.40
$1.88£1.39
1.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K£28.3K
$39.0K£28.9K
-2.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.5K£30.0K
$40.4K£29.9K
0.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manchester
Farnham
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$296£219
$295£219
0.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.50£16.68
$17.24£12.77
30.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.57£32.28
$44.27£32.81
-1.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manchester
Farnham
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.22£30.54
$60.1£44.53
-31.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.49£11.48
$17.01£12.60
-8.94%
Cinema Ticket
$13.83£10.25
$13.08£9.69
5.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manchester
Farnham
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,971£1,461
$1,575£1,167
25.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$21.4K£15.9K
$18.3K£13.5K
17.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manchester
Farnham
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.1£66.7
$83.6£62.0
7.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.94£31.08
$43.63£32.33
-3.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.7£65.7
$92.0£68.2
-3.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107£79.6
$97.8£72.4
9.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manchester
Farnham
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,625£1,204
$1,645£1,219
-1.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255£930
$1,946£1,442
-35.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,665£1,975
$2,420£1,793
10.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,052£1,520
$2,629£1,948
-21.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,750£3,520
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,542£3,366
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manchester
Farnham
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,392£2,513
$1,867£1,384
81.65%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Farnham: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,625 in Manchester and $1,645 in Farnham. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Manchester pays 82% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $95.0 in Manchester vs $88.0 in Farnham for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $314 per month, with Farnham 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 Farnham: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Manchester or Farnham?
Manchester wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Farnham. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Manchester the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Manchester or Farnham?
Manchester pays 82% 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 Farnham?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,625 in Manchester versus $1,645 in Farnham. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Manchester and Farnham?
Childcare runs $1,971 in Manchester versus $1,575 in Farnham. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Manchester or Farnham?
Shoppers in Farnham pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Manchester or Farnham?
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.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Manchester or Farnham?
Both work as nomad bases, but Manchester delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,631 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Manchester hard to pass up.
How safe is Manchester compared to Farnham?
Safety-wise, Manchester and Farnham 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 Manchester gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Farnham. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Manchester vs other spots: cost of living compared