Manchester is one of the best student cities in the UK and, with a total student population of more than 90,000, there are lots of local businesses, service and nightlife venues that cater to a student budget.
While accommodation is likely to be your main expense, a room in a University hall of residence will simplify your costs, as our hall fees include contents insurance, all utility bills (usually gas and electricity) and free internet access.
On this page, you’ll find breakdowns of spending for the average Manchester undergraduate (first-year and second-year onwards) and postgraduate student for one academic year.
Estimated living costs 2024/25
Cost | Undergraduate year (41 weeks) | Monthly cost (based on 41 weeks) |
---|---|---|
Accommodation (self-catered)* | £6,985 (£7,605 catered**) |
£698.50 (£760.50 catered) |
Groceries** | £1,750 | £175 |
Takeaways | £570 | £57 |
Transport (including local transport and travelling elsewhere) | £620 | £62 |
Going out and socialising | £1,100 |
£110 |
Mobile phone contract/payments | £230 | £23 |
Clothes | £380 | £38 |
Health and wellbeing | £170 | £17 |
Course materials | £110 | £11 |
Holidays and events | £230 | £23 |
Gifts and charity | £90 | £9 |
Relatives or friends who you support financially | £200 | £20 |
Total | £12,435 | £1,243.50 |
Sources:
- Accommodation figures taken from our accommodation website.
- Grocery figures based on a weekly budget supermarket shop in May 2024.
- All other costs obtained from savethestudent.org and their National Student Money Survey, with costs increased in-line with inflation as of March 2024.
Cost | Undergraduate year (41 weeks) | Monthly cost (based on 41 weeks) |
---|---|---|
Accommodation* | £6,970 | £581 |
Groceries | £1,750 | £175 |
Takeaways | £570 | £57 |
Transport (including local transport and travelling elsewhere) | £620 | £62 |
Going out and socialising | £1,100 |
£110 |
Mobile phone contract/payments | £230 | £23 |
Clothes | £380 | £38 |
Health and wellbeing | £170 | £17 |
Course materials | £110 | £11 |
Holidays and events | £230 | £23 |
Gifts and charity | £90 | £9 |
Relatives or friends who you support financially | £200 | £20 |
Total | £12,420 | £1,242 |
Sources:
- Grocery figures based on a weekly budget supermarket shop in May 2024.
- All other costs obtained from savethestudent.org and their National Student Money Survey, with costs increased in-line with inflation as of March 2024.
Additional information:
*Accommodation based on the average cost for private accommodation evidenced in a sample of students who applied to the University’s Cost of Living Support Fund. This annual figure is based on a full 52-week year, as private accommodation contracts are typically renewed yearly.
Cost | Postgraduate year (52 weeks) | Monthly cost (based on 52 weeks) |
---|---|---|
Accommodation (self-catered) | £8,965 | £747 |
Groceries | £2,100 | £175 |
Takeaways | £684 | £57 |
Transport (including local transport and travelling elsewhere) |
£744 | £62 |
Going out and socialising | £1,320 | £110 |
Mobile phone contract/payments | £276 | £23 |
Clothes | £456 | £38 |
Health and wellbeing | £204 | £17 |
Course materials | £132 | £11 |
Holidays and events | £276 | £23 |
Gifts and charity | £108 | £9 |
Relatives or friends who you support financially |
£240 | £20 |
Total | £15,505 | £1,292 |
Sources:
- Accommodation figures taken from our accommodation website. This annual figure is based on our self-catered accommodation.
- Grocery figures based on a weekly budget supermarket shop in May 2024.
- All other costs obtained from savethestudent.org and their National Student Money Survey with costs increased in-line with inflation as of March 2024.
These costs are intended as a guide only.
It’s important to bear in mind that all estimates made by the University are for single students. If you intend to bring your family, you should also account for family living expenses as well.
Some courses will require you to pay for specific items, materials or activities not covered in the tuition fees, such as field courses. In these cases the University endeavours to keep these additional costs as low as possible.
These costs are intended as a guide only.
It’s important to bear in mind that all estimates made by the University are for single students. If you intend to bring your family, you should also account for family living expenses as well.
Some courses will require you to pay for specific items, materials or activities not covered in the tuition fees, such as field courses. In these cases, the University endeavours to keep these additional costs as low as possible.
International students
If you require a visa to come to the UK, you're granted it on condition that you can pay your tuition fees and living expenses (for you and your family, if they are accompanying you) without having to depend on finding work in the UK.