20 best places to live in Manchester according to residents

Where are the best places to live in Manchester? Ask the residents! Our reviews come from tenants and owners living in Greater Manchester. They’ve rated their developments on factors like location and facilities to reveal Manchester’s 20 best places to live in 2021. Whether you’re interested in stylish flats in the city centre or luxury apartments in Manchester’s suburbs, this list of the best new developments is essential reading.

The city’s property market has been booming in recent years, prompting billions of pounds to pour into property developments across Manchester. Even so, housebuilders and developers are still struggling to keep up with demand and average prices rose by more than 11% during 2020. This brings the average price of a property in Manchester up to £230,715 for the past year, while the average monthly rent for a three-bedroom property in the city stands at £1,470 in September 2021.

Manchester is the UK’s third most-visited city after London and Edinburgh. It also has the busiest airport outside London. It’s celebrated for its architecture, sports clubs and venues, cultural heritage and scientific achievements. As a result, the city is often described as the UK’s second city, despite its status as the fifth largest.

Manchester has even acquired the status of UNESCO City of Literature. This is thanks to its connections with authors such as Elizabeth Gaskell, Friedrich Engels and, more recently, Carol Ann Duffy.

Living in Manchester

The three universities in Manchester attract thousands of students every year. This is a significant source of demand for student flats in Manchester. A large number of new developments offer affordable studio flats to rent and buy, to cater for the constant flow of student tenants.

Manchester nightlife is also a major factor in making it a great place to live for students and long-term residents alike. The city’s ‘Madchester’ clubbing scene spawned a number of influential bands and artists throughout the 1980s. Oasis and BritPop then kept the city in the headlines during the 90s.

Manchester City or United?

Sports fans living in Manchester are genuinely spoilt for choice. Premier League giants and fierce rivals Manchester United and Manchester City both boast world-class players and stadiums. The city’s National Cycling Centre is the home of British Cycling, as well as Team Sky, while Old Trafford Cricket Ground hosted The Ashes back in 2013.

So you’re wondering where to live in Manchester? Then let’s get on and explore the 20 best places to live in Manchester. Remember that these rankings are purely based on what our verified HomeViews reviewers think of the developments they themselves live in.

Is Manchester expensive to live in?

Despite being a major city, Manchester is still a highly affordable place to live. Even though house prices and rental rates are seeing strong growth in 2021, they remain very competitive compared to the UK national average.

As for regular costs of living, Manchester is blessed with the generally lower costs that the north of England enjoys compared to the south.

Is Manchester cheaper than London?

Happily (if you’re planning to move here) Manchester is a significantly cheaper place to live than London. While the costs for eating out in both cities are roughly similar (Manchester is about 2% cheaper), there are a few categories where the northern city really shines.

For example, buying groceries in Manchester is about 8.44% lower than London, while local purchasing power is around 5.84% higher.

The really big saver is rent. Average rental costs in Manchester are a whopping 53.64% lower than in London. As a major monthly cost for students, young professionals and families, this is a huge savings factor to consider.

What are the main pros of living in Manchester?

It’s the safest city to live in the UK
Manchester is a students’ paradise.
It has culture, history and big venue entertainment opportunities galore
The property market is buoyant but competitive. Whatever kind of home you’re looking for, you’ll find it here.