Cost of Living Comparison Between Surrey and Manchester Cost of Living Comparison Between Surrey and Manchester

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,294 per month in Surrey vs $2,651 in Manchester, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,965 per month in Surrey vs $3,871 in Manchester, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,637 per month in Surrey vs $5,091 in Manchester, rent included.

Surrey costs about 24% more than Manchester, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Surrey and Manchester sit above the global median – Surrey by 146%, Manchester by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.68 £15.37

$20.74 £15.42

-0.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.4 £62.7

$94.5 £70.2

-10.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.85 £6.58

$10.75 £7.99

-17.67%

Cappuccino

$4.53 £3.37

$4.94 £3.67

-8.30%

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

$2.30 £1.71

$2.59 £1.92

-11.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 £1.24

$1.70 £1.26

-1.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.15 £4.57

$7.41 £5.51

-17.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.54 £4.12

$7.52 £5.59

-26.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 £1.12

$1.62 £1.21

-6.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 £1.12

$1.80 £1.34

-16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.87 £2.13

$2.16 £1.60

32.87%

Eggs

$3.34 £2.49

$4.08 £3.03

-18.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.88 £6.60

$12.05 £8.95

-26.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.22 £5.37

$9.75 £7.25

-25.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.66 £11.64

$17.39 £12.93

-9.95%

Apples (1kg)

$4.27 £3.17

$3.30 £2.46

29.39%

Banana (1kg)

$2.32 £1.72

$1.84 £1.37

26.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.97 £2.21

$3.82 £2.84

-22.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.72 £3.51

$4.35 £3.23

8.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 £0.92

$2.10 £1.56

-40.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.64 £1.22

$1.80 £1.34

-8.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 £0.78

$1.31 £0.97

-19.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 £1.43

$1.47 £1.10

31.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.58 £10.09

$18.73 £13.92

-27.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.34 £8.43

$10.64 £7.91

6.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 £2.19

$2.57 £1.91

14.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 £1.36

$3.49 £2.60

-47.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.16 £3.09

$2.75 £2.04

51.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 £103

$121 £90.1

14.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.60 £3.42

$5.49 £4.08

-16.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 £1.32

$2.85 £2.12

-37.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.27 £29.93

$34.28 £25.48

17.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 £1.39

$1.96 £1.46

-4.59%

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

$38.5K £28.6K

$37.8K £28.1K

2.04%

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

$39.7K £29.5K

$41.8K £31.1K

-5.10%

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

$275 £204

$295 £219

-6.92%

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

$15.69 £11.66

$22.44 £16.68

-30.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.88 £30.39

$42.92 £31.90

-4.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 £40.75

$42.39 £31.51

29.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.07 £11.94

Cinema Ticket

$10.80 £8.03

$13.72 £10.19

-21.28%

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

$1,319 £981

$1,944 £1,445

-32.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.0K £13.3K

$20.8K £15.5K

-13.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.5 £64.3

$90.6 £67.4

-4.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.13 £31.32

$41.85 £31.11

0.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 £67.0

$89.5 £66.5

0.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 £104

$106 £78.9

31.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,341 £1,740

$1,637 £1,217

42.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,963 £1,459

$1,256 £934

56.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,419 £2,541

$2,702 £2,009

26.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 £1,285

$2,077 £1,544

-16.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,107 £3,796

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,376 £5,483

$4,671 £3,472

57.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,470 £2,579

$3,247 £2,414

6.85%

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 Surrey: May 31, 2026

Last update for Manchester: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,341 in Surrey 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 7% higher in Surrey, 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 $84.0 in Surrey versus $94.0 in Manchester. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $311 vs $335 – making Surrey 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

Surrey vs Manchester: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Surrey is pricier by about 24%, 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 $4,941 per month in Surrey 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 Manchester, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,319 per month in Surrey and $1,944 in Manchester. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Surrey – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,294 in Surrey and $2,651 in Manchester. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Manchester – 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 Manchester. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Surrey makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.