Manchester is one of the 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.
The figures below are estimates that depend on several factors such as room size, location, en-suite or shared facilities to name a few. Accommodation is likely to be your main expense, so do consider your options.
A room in University halls of residences include contents insurance, utility bills (usually gas and electricity) and free internet access. Private halls will generally include electric, gas (if applicable), water, broadband and on most occasions content insurance. A room in a shared house may or may not include bills - this depends on what the landlord is offering.
Full-time students are exempt from paying council tax, but this exemption is based on your academic year, not your tenancy dates. For example, if you sign a tenancy agreement in July but do not enrol on your course until late September, you will be charged council tax from the start of your contract until your student status officially begins.
University halls of residence contracts run for the duration of your year of study (e.g. 41/42 weeks for undergraduate and 50/51 for postgraduate taught). Private halls can vary from 44-51 weeks and privately rented houses are generally 52 weeks, irrespective of level of study.
|
Cost |
Monthly cost |
|---|---|
|
»¨½·Ö±²¥ halls of residence (catered) |
£555-£982 (includes cost of catering) |
|
»¨½·Ö±²¥ halls of residence (self-catered) |
£487-1,060 (with some studio flats available for master's students up to £1,255) |
|
Room in private halls (with average bills cost included) |
 £860-1,010 |
|
Privately rented house shares (with average bills cost included) |
£645-710 |
- Accommodation figures taken from our accommodation website.
- »¨½·Ö±²¥ self-catered accommodation can range in price from £4,853 to £12,096 a year. Read more information on accommodation costs at »¨½·Ö±²¥.
| Cost | Undergraduate year (41 weeks) | Monthly cost (based on 41 weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries** | £2,500 | £250 |
| Takeaways | £510 | £51 |
| Transport (including local transport and travelling elsewhere) | £700 | £70 |
| Going out and socialising | £1,100 |
£110 |
| Mobile phone contract/payments | £350 | £35 |
| Clothes | £420 | £42 |
| Health and wellbeing | £250 | £25 |
| Course materials | £160 | £16 |
| Holidays and events | £140 | £14 |
| Gifts and charity | £180 | £18 |
| Relatives or friends who you support financially | £180 | £18 |
| Total* | £6,490 |
£649 |
- Grocery figures based on a weekly budget supermarket shop in April 2026.
- All other costs obtained from and their , with costs increased in-line with inflation as of February 2026.
- This list doesn't include the cost of accommodation, which is detailed above.
- ** The ‘groceries’ total will be less if the student chooses catered accommodation.
| Cost | Postgraduate year (52 weeks) | Monthly cost (based on 52 weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (self-catered) | £9,880 | £823 (approx.) |
| Groceries | £2,040 | £170 |
| Takeaways | £696 | £58 |
|
Transport (including local transport and travelling elsewhere) |
£840 | £70 |
| Going out and socialising | £1,320 | £110 |
| Mobile phone contract/payments | £420 | £35 |
| Clothes | £552 | £46 |
| Health and wellbeing | £156 | £13 |
| Course materials | £192 | £16 |
| Holidays and events | £168 | £14 |
| Gifts and charity | £252 | £21 |
|
Relatives or friends who you support financially |
£336 | £28 |
| Total | £16,852 | £1,404 |
Sources:
- Accommodation figures taken from the . This annual figure is the average for self-catered accommodation available after May 2025.
- Grocery figures based on a weekly budget supermarket shop in April 2025.
- All other costs obtained from and their with costs increased in-line with inflation as of February 2025.
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.