United Kingdom • Updated 2026
Is it worth living in Manchester on £30,000?
Compare take-home pay vs essentials (rent, food, transport, utilities). Use sliders to match your situation — then judge by disposable left + rent pressure.
Take-home (monthly)
£2,035
Essentials total
£1,610
Disposable left
£425
Rent % of income
52%
Rent£1,050
Food£280
Transport£120
Utilities£160
Verdict
3/100 • Struggle Rent in Manchester is the biggest challenge here, consuming over half your take-home pay. You will have some spending money, but big savings goals or frequent travel might be tight. Overall, this salary is likely too low for an independent lifestyle in Manchester without compromises.
Related pages
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Same salary • other cities
FAQ
Is this accurate?
It’s a consistent baseline for comparisons. Sliders let you match your real situation.
What comfort score is “good”?
Rough guide: 70+ comfortable, 50–69 okay, 30–49 tight, below 30 struggle.
What’s the best lever?
Rent. If rent is high relative to take-home, the outcome is tight even on decent salaries.