Cost of Living Comparison Between Sunderland and Manchester Cost of Living Comparison Between Sunderland and Manchester

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,915 per month in Sunderland vs $2,597 in Manchester, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,836 per month in Sunderland vs $3,791 in Manchester, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,757 per month in Sunderland vs $4,985 in Manchester, rent included.

Sunderland is about 26% cheaper than Manchester, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sunderland and Manchester sit above the global median – Sunderland by 39%, Manchester by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.16 £14.18

$20.25 £14.98

-5.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.2 £53.4

$95.3 £70.5

-24.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.03 £7.42

$10.72 £7.93

-6.44%

Cappuccino

$5.04 £3.73

$4.86 £3.60

3.70%

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

$2.27 £1.68

$2.69 £1.99

-15.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 £1.54

$1.76 £1.30

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.53 £3.35

$8.08 £5.98

-43.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 £3.23

$6.97 £5.15

-37.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 £1.05

$1.50 £1.11

-4.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 £1.08

$1.93 £1.43

-24.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.35 £1.74

$2.01 £1.49

16.92%

Eggs

$3.60 £2.66

$3.84 £2.84

-6.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.15 £7.51

$9.26 £6.85

9.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.36 £6.93

$8.80 £6.51

6.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.07 £11.15

$16.51 £12.21

-8.72%

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 £2.47

$3.11 £2.30

7.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 £1.24

$1.54 £1.14

9.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.97 £2.19

$3.02 £2.23

-1.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.84 £2.84

$3.51 £2.60

9.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 £1.38

$1.50 £1.11

24.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 £1.13

$1.32 £0.98

15.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 £0.86

$1.30 £0.96

-10.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 £1.14

$1.23 £0.91

26.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$22.95 £16.98

$24.43 £18.08

-6.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.65 £7.88

$10.96 £8.11

-2.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.78 £2.79

$2.47 £1.83

53.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 £2.60

$3.26 £2.42

7.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.16 £1.59

$2.66 £1.97

-18.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$122 £90.3

$106 £78.7

14.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.50 £3.33

$4.51 £3.33

-0.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 £1.17

$2.23 £1.65

-29.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.73 £21.26

$30.69 £22.70

-6.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.99 £1.47

$2.09 £1.55

-4.78%

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

$38.6K £28.6K

$39.8K £29.4K

-2.86%

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

$41.8K £31.0K

$40.8K £30.2K

2.64%

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

$260 £192

$304 £225

-14.49%

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

$18.38 £13.60

$16.90 £12.50

8.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.62 £31.53

$40.38 £29.87

5.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.68 £30.09

$55.1 £40.76

-26.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.36 £9.15

$18.59 £13.75

-33.51%

Cinema Ticket

$10.80 £7.99

$13.65 £10.10

-20.88%

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

$822 £608

$1,287 £952

-36.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.0K £13.3K

$20.5K £15.1K

-12.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$94.2 £69.7

$93.8 £69.4

0.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.58 £35.94

$43.08 £31.87

12.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 £81.5

$98.4 £72.8

11.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.6 £72.9

$108 £80.2

-9.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$815 £603

$1,833 £1,356

-55.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$609 £450

$1,269 £939

-52.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,330 £984

$3,134 £2,319

-57.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$979 £724

$2,028 £1,501

-51.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,007 £3,704

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,739 £3,506

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,700 £2,737

$3,318 £2,455

11.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.15

5.13

0.39%

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

Last update for Sunderland: August 31, 2026

Last update for Manchester: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $815 in Sunderland versus $1,833 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 12% higher in Sunderland, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $72.0 in Sunderland versus $95.0 in Manchester. Groceries tell a different story – $312 in Sunderland vs $301 in Manchester – so Manchester 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

Sunderland vs Manchester: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Manchester is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,872 per month in Sunderland and $3,895 in Manchester. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $822 per month in Sunderland and $1,287 in Manchester. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Manchester – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Sunderland, where all-in costs run around $1,915, than in Manchester at $2,597. In Sunderland it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manchester it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Sunderland. 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.