Overview
Manchester is the UK's second city for business with a thriving digital economy and significantly lower costs than London.
The median salary in Manchester is £36,500 per year. With a cost of living index of 72/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £900/month, residents typically retain £26,200 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Manchester vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Manchester is highlighted.
London
100
Edinburgh
79
Bristol
78
Manchester
72
Leeds
70
Birmingham
68
Cardiff
66
Liverpool
65
Sheffield
63
Newcastle
61
Best Paying Jobs in Manchester
| Job Title | Avg in Manchester | UK Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive Officer | £180,000 | £180,000 | |
| Chief Technology Officer | £170,000 | £170,000 | |
| Chief Financial Officer | £160,000 | £160,000 | |
| Chief Operating Officer | £155,000 | £155,000 | |
| Chief Financial Officer | £145,000 | £145,000 | |
| Chief Marketing Officer | £145,000 | £145,000 | |
| Managing Director | £125,000 | £125,000 | |
| Consultant Doctor | £122,000 | £120,000 |
Manchester Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £36,500 |
| Cost of Living Index | 72/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £900/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £26,200/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 5.8% |
| Population | 2.8 million |
Top Industries in Manchester
Digital
Finance
Manufacturing
Education
Healthcare
Major Employers in Manchester
Co-op
Amazon
NHS
PwC
KPMG
MediaCityUK
Compare Manchester with Other Cities
Manchester vs London
£36,500 vs £52,800
Compare →
Manchester vs Birmingham
£36,500 vs £33,200
Compare →
Manchester vs Edinburgh
£36,500 vs £38,900
Compare →
Manchester vs Bristol
£36,500 vs £38,200
Compare →
Manchester vs Leeds
£36,500 vs £34,800
Compare →
Manchester vs Glasgow
£36,500 vs £35,200
Compare →
Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk