Cost of Living Comparison Between Manchester and Launceston Cost of Living Comparison Between Manchester and Launceston

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,651 per month in Manchester vs $2,290 in Launceston, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,871 per month in Manchester vs $3,407 in Launceston, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,091 per month in Manchester vs $4,524 in Launceston, rent included.

Manchester costs about 16% more than Launceston, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manchester and Launceston sit above the global median – Manchester by 98%, Launceston by 71%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.74 £15.45

$19.77 £14.73

4.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$94.5 £70.4

$94.1 £70.1

0.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 £8.01

$9.37 £6.98

14.73%

Cappuccino

$4.94 £3.68

$4.31 £3.21

14.62%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 £1.93

$2.25 £1.68

15.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 £1.26

$1.72 £1.28

-1.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.41 £5.52

$5.52 £4.11

34.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.52 £5.60

$5.45 £4.06

37.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 £1.21

$1.64 £1.22

-1.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.80 £1.34

$1.22 £0.91

47.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 £1.61

$2.46 £1.83

-12.20%

Eggs

$4.08 £3.04

$3.47 £2.58

17.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.05 £8.97

$9.92 £7.39

21.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.75 £7.26

$7.01 £5.22

39.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.39 £12.96

$13.48 £10.04

29.01%

Apples (1kg)

$3.30 £2.46

$2.68 £2.00

23.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 £1.37

$1.44 £1.07

27.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.82 £2.84

$2.23 £1.66

71.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 £3.24

$2.25 £1.67

93.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 £1.56

$1.72 £1.28

22.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 £1.34

$1.30 £0.97

38.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 £0.97

$0.92 £0.69

42.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 £1.10

$1.43 £1.07

2.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.73 £13.95

$21.59 £16.09

-13.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 £7.93

$11.36 £8.46

-6.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 £1.91

$2.61 £1.95

-1.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 £2.60

$2.53 £1.88

37.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.75 £2.05

$3.46 £2.58

-20.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$121 £90.3

$88.6 £66.0

36.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.49 £4.09

$4.17 £3.10

31.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.85 £2.12

$2.59 £1.93

10.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.28 £25.54

$25.58 £19.05

34.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.96 £1.46

$1.90 £1.42

3.16%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.8K £28.1K

$38.3K £28.5K

-1.36%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$41.8K £31.1K

$39.6K £29.5K

5.43%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$295 £220

$335 £250

-11.96%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.44 £16.72

$13.52 £10.07

65.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.92 £31.97

$35.70 £26.60

20.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.39 £31.58

$45.65 £34.01

-7.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.07 £11.97

Cinema Ticket

$13.72 £10.22

$16.55 £12.33

-17.10%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,944 £1,448

$2,340 £1,744

-16.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K £15.5K

$35.1K £26.1K

-40.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.6 £67.5

$87.5 £65.2

3.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.85 £31.18

$47.74 £35.56

-12.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 £66.6

$101 £75.4

-11.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 £79.1

$89.8 £66.9

18.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,637 £1,220

$1,210 £902

35.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,256 £936

$992 £739

26.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,702 £2,013

$2,055 £1,531

31.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,077 £1,547

$1,666 £1,241

24.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,107 £3,805

$4,784 £3,564

6.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,671 £3,480

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,247 £2,419

$1,986 £1,480

63.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.92

5.82

1.72%

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

Last update for Manchester: May 31, 2026

Last update for Launceston: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,637 in Manchester versus $1,210 in Launceston. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 63% higher in Manchester, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Manchester versus $94.0 in Launceston. Groceries tell a different story – $335 in Manchester vs $269 in Launceston – so Launceston 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

Manchester vs Launceston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,651 in Manchester, $2,290 in Launceston – roughly 16% apart. Manchester costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,977 per month in Manchester and $3,435 in Launceston. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Launceston, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,651 in Manchester and $2,290 in Launceston. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 37% less in Launceston. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Launceston, where all-in costs run around $2,290, than in Manchester at $2,651. In Launceston it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manchester it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Manchester has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,290 in Launceston to $2,651 in Manchester. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Launceston. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manchester makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.