So, you want to come to Manchester for an internship. You may be wondering, ‘How much money should I budget for daily life in Manchester?’ Well, good news! If spent wisely, your money can get you far. Daily costs are decent and you can dine out well compared to other European destinations. Food comes at a higher price, with an average restaurant charging around £15 for a meal. Drinks can also vary with prices, but can be a little pricey with a local beer costing £4. However, if you spend your money wisely, you can enjoy everything Manchester has to offer.

What is the exchange rate?

For the current exchange rates, please see here. (https://www.xe.com/currency/eur-euro/)

1 USD = 0.73

1 EUR = 0.83

1 AUD = 0.52

1 CAD = 0.57

1 NZD = 0.49

**Exchange rates as of 18/02/2022

What kind of budget in Manchester is right for me?

Your individual lifestyle is the main factor that will determine your budget. It will vary depending on what transportation you decide to take, personal dining preferences, nightlife and more.

WEEKLY/MONTHLY EXPENSES

Below, we have put together some budget estimates of your expenses in daily life during your time on your internship. In general, you can live on a low budget and still be able to live quite well. For those looking to spend a little more, there are also medium and high budget estimates. See which budget is right for you!

For transportation, most people use the tram, train or bus system as it is the most convenient and affordable way to get around the city. For transportation in zone 1 a single ticket is £1.40, weekly pass is £10.60 and a monthly pass is £36.40.

You can take a look at ticket and passes here: https://tfgm.com/tickets-and-passes

(For food, all apartments will have kitchens, so you will have the option to cook your own meals.) Food at supermarkets are affordable, but you may find that some discount shops such as Aldi will make your money last.

Low Budget

For those looking to save money while still having fun and trying new things.

Medium Budget

For those who go to the gym, eat out more or spend more in other ways.

High Budget

For those who would like to spend more on cocktail bars, taxis or shopping. 

As you can see, you don’t need too much money to enjoy life in Manchester. Be careful when you have a craving to buy a Pret a Manger coffee or give into temptation of using cheap Ubers to get to work instead of taking the metro. Manchester is quite an expensive city, and all the little costs can quite quickly add up. So it’s important to find the right budget for you.

For international payments, we always recommend using TransferWise. They’re cheaper than the banks, because they always use the real exchange rate – which you can check out on Google – and charge a very small fee. They’re also safe and trusted by over 2 million people around the world. You can sign up here. (https://wise.com/?clickref=1011lijaZwQY&partnerID=1100l59541&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=0&adref=&utm_source=pagodaprojects&partnerizecampaignID=1011l727)