Cost of Living Comparison Between Shrewsbury, Shropshire and Manchester Cost of Living Comparison Between Shrewsbury, Shropshire and Manchester

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,081 per month in Shrewsbury, Shropshire vs $2,651 in Manchester, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,994 per month in Shrewsbury, Shropshire vs $3,871 in Manchester, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,906 per month in Shrewsbury, Shropshire vs $5,091 in Manchester, rent included.

Shrewsbury, Shropshire is about 21% cheaper than Manchester, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shrewsbury, Shropshire and Manchester sit above the global median – Shrewsbury, Shropshire by 55%, Manchester by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.40 £12.22

$20.74 £15.45

-20.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.7 £48.97

$94.5 £70.4

-30.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.60 £6.41

$10.75 £8.01

-20.00%

Cappuccino

$4.25 £3.16

$4.94 £3.68

-13.97%

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

$2.63 £1.96

$2.59 £1.93

1.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 £1.25

$1.70 £1.26

-1.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.51 £4.11

$7.41 £5.52

-25.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.51 £4.11

$7.52 £5.60

-26.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 £1.26

$1.62 £1.21

4.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.80 £1.34

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 £1.66

$2.16 £1.61

2.78%

Eggs

$3.89 £2.90

$4.08 £3.04

-4.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.10 £6.04

$12.05 £8.97

-32.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.36 £6.98

$9.75 £7.26

-4.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.47 £7.05

$17.39 £12.96

-45.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 £1.73

$3.30 £2.46

-29.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 £0.90

$1.84 £1.37

-34.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.48 £1.85

$3.82 £2.84

-35.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 £0.89

$4.35 £3.24

-72.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 £1.04

$2.10 £1.56

-33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 £1.03

$1.80 £1.34

-22.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 £0.75

$1.31 £0.97

-23.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 £0.96

$1.47 £1.10

-12.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.77 £12.49

$18.73 £13.95

-10.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.27 £6.90

$10.64 £7.93

-12.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 £1.82

$2.57 £1.91

-4.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 £2.60

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.58 £1.92

$2.75 £2.05

-6.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.2 £64.9

$121 £90.3

-28.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.49 £4.09

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 £0.90

$2.85 £2.12

-57.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.77 £18.46

$34.28 £25.54

-27.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.89 £1.41

$1.96 £1.46

-3.57%

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

$33.1K £24.7K

$37.8K £28.1K

-12.35%

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

$32.1K £23.9K

$41.8K £31.1K

-23.22%

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

$296 £221

$295 £220

0.46%

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

$22.88 £17.05

$22.44 £16.72

1.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.14 £29.90

$42.92 £31.97

-6.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.6 £65.3

$42.39 £31.58

106.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.19 £8.34

$16.07 £11.97

-30.37%

Cinema Ticket

$13.66 £10.18

$13.72 £10.22

-0.44%

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

$1,274 £949

$1,944 £1,448

-34.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K £12.0K

$20.8K £15.5K

-22.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.2 £45.56

$90.6 £67.5

-32.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.58 £30.97

$41.85 £31.18

-0.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 £63.5

$89.5 £66.6

-4.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.3 £73.3

$106 £79.1

-7.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,080 £805

$1,637 £1,220

-34.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$872 £650

$1,256 £936

-30.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,610 £1,199

$2,702 £2,013

-40.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,255 £935

$2,077 £1,547

-39.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,978 £2,964

$5,107 £3,805

-22.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,028 £2,256

$4,671 £3,480

-35.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,539 £1,891

$3,247 £2,419

-21.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.9

5.92

-0.34%

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

Last update for Shrewsbury, Shropshire: June 1, 2026

Last update for Manchester: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,080 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire versus $1,637 in Manchester. 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 28% 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 $66.0 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire versus $94.0 in Manchester. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $335 – making Shrewsbury, Shropshire the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Shrewsbury, Shropshire vs Manchester: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Manchester is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,122 per month in Shrewsbury, Shropshire and $3,977 in Manchester. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $1,274 per month in Shrewsbury, Shropshire and $1,944 in Manchester. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% more in Manchester, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, where all-in costs run around $2,081, than in Manchester at $2,651. In Shrewsbury, Shropshire it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manchester it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Shrewsbury, Shropshire – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Shrewsbury, Shropshire. 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.