Cost of Living Comparison Between Manchester and Gloucester Cost of Living Comparison Between Manchester and Gloucester

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,637 in Manchester versus $2,457 in Gloucester.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,830 in Manchester versus $3,846 in Gloucester.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,024 in Manchester versus $5,234 in Gloucester.

Living in Manchester is roughly 7% more expensive than in Gloucester, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Manchester 91% above, Gloucester 78% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manchester
Gloucester
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.56 £15.22
$21.08 £15.60
-2.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.0 £69.6
$81.1 £60.1
15.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.03 £8.17
$9.64 £7.14
14.42%
Cappuccino
$4.82 £3.57
$4.93 £3.65
-2.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 £1.87
$2.58 £1.91
-1.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 £1.28
$1.86 £1.38
-6.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.18 £6.06
$6.45 £4.78
26.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.84 £5.06
$6.20 £4.59
10.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manchester
Gloucester
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 £1.08
$1.76 £1.30
-17.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 £1.36
$1.89 £1.40
-2.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.93 £1.43
$2.18 £1.61
-11.47%
Eggs
$3.99 £2.96
$4.01 £2.97
-0.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.53 £7.05
$9.26 £6.86
2.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.96 £6.63
$9.24 £6.84
-3.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.76 £11.67
$15.51 £11.48
1.61%
Apples (1kg)
$3.21 £2.38
$2.53 £1.87
26.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 £1.20
$1.52 £1.13
5.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.01 £2.23
$1.99 £1.48
51.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.42 £2.53
$3.40 £2.52
0.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.50 £1.11
$1.58 £1.17
-5.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 £0.99
$1.85 £1.37
-28.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.29 £0.95
$1.42 £1.05
-9.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 £0.96
$1.45 £1.08
-10.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$24.36 £18.03
$22.58 £16.72
7.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.88 £8.05
$11.40 £8.44
-4.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.46 £1.82
$3.29 £2.44
-25.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 £2.28
$2.96 £2.19
4.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Manchester
Gloucester
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.68 £1.99
$4.10 £3.03
-34.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$109 £80.5
$114 £84.4
-4.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.64 £3.43
$5.13 £3.79
-9.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.16 £1.60
$2.42 £1.79
-10.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.39 £22.49
$24.12 £17.85
26.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 £1.55
$1.98 £1.46
5.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.5K £29.2K
$39.7K £29.4K
-0.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K £30.8K
$41.5K £30.7K
0.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manchester
Gloucester
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$292 £216
$327 £242
-10.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.65 £12.32
$22.23 £16.46
-25.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.66 £29.36
$48.94 £36.22
-18.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manchester
Gloucester
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 £40.21
$53.9 £39.90
0.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.86 £13.96
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.54 £10.02
$16.40 £12.14
-17.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manchester
Gloucester
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,309 £969
$1,380 £1,021
-5.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.0K £14.8K
$25.0K £18.5K
-20.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manchester
Gloucester
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.1 £65.2
$69.0 £51.0
27.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.59 £30.79
$46.44 £34.38
-10.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.3 £70.6
$74.5 £55.1
27.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 £78.9
$82.3 £60.9
29.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manchester
Gloucester
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,816 £1,344
$1,114 £825
62.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,295 £958
$1,029 £761
25.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,067 £2,270
$3,125 £2,313
-1.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 £1,495
$2,266 £1,677
-10.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,729 £3,500
$4,396 £3,254
7.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,465 £3,305
$3,969 £2,938
12.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manchester
Gloucester
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,446 £2,551
$2,675 £1,980
28.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.87
5.09
-4.32%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Manchester: September 6, 2026

Last update for Gloucester: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,816 in Manchester and $1,114 in Gloucester. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manchester pays 29% 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: $94.0 in Manchester vs $81.0 in Gloucester. Groceries flip the comparison at $300 vs $305, with Manchester cheaper for home cooking.

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 Gloucester: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Manchester or Gloucester?
Gloucester wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Manchester. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gloucester the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Manchester or in Gloucester?
Average pay runs 29% higher in Manchester, 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 compared to Gloucester?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,816 in Manchester versus $1,114 in Gloucester. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Manchester or in Gloucester?
Shoppers in Manchester pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Manchester and in Gloucester?
Dining out is cheaper in Gloucester – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $94.0 in Manchester. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Manchester or in Gloucester?
At $2,457 in Gloucester versus $2,637 in Manchester, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Gloucester but tight or insufficient in Manchester. The gap between the two cities makes Gloucester the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Manchester or Gloucester?
Both work as nomad bases, but Gloucester delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,457 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Gloucester hard to pass up.
How safe is Manchester compared to Gloucester?
Safety-wise, Manchester and Gloucester 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 Gloucester gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Manchester. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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