Manchester vs Birmingham
Renting in Manchester costs £274/month more than Birmingham.
Rent comparison
Overall, renting in Birmingham is £274/month cheaper than Manchester - that's £3,288/year.
Source: ONS Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR)
Earnings comparison
Residents of Birmingham earn £113/year more than those in Manchester.
Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings
House prices comparison
House prices in Manchester are £16,000 (7%) higher than in Birmingham.
Over the last 10 years, house prices in Manchester have risen by 74.5%, compared to 61.2% in Birmingham.
Source: ONS / HM Land Registry
Council tax comparison
You would pay £51/year more in council tax (Band D) living in Birmingham than in Manchester.
| Band | Manchester | Birmingham | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | £1,541 | £1,575 | Birmingham +£34/yr |
| Band B | £1,798 | £1,838 | Birmingham +£40/yr |
| Band C | £2,055 | £2,100 | Birmingham +£45/yr |
| Band D Benchmark | £2,312 | £2,363 | Birmingham +£51/yr |
| Band E | £2,826 | £2,888 | Birmingham +£62/yr |
| Band F | £3,340 | £3,413 | Birmingham +£73/yr |
| Band G | £3,853 | £3,938 | Birmingham +£85/yr |
| Band H | £4,624 | £4,726 | Birmingham +£102/yr |
Source: MHCLG / Scottish Government / Welsh Government
Band D is used as the standard benchmark for comparing council tax across areas. Other bands are set as fixed proportions of the Band D amount.
Energy comparison
| Measure | Manchester | Birmingham |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | £1,723 | £1,723 |
| Monthly | £144 | £144 |
| Energy region | North West | West Midlands |
Energy estimates are based on the Ofgem price cap, which is set nationally. Regional variation is small; we show the same headline figure across regions for transparency.
Source: Ofgem Energy Price Cap, Q4 2026
Water comparison
| Measure | Manchester | Birmingham |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | £627 | £594 |
| Monthly | £52 | £50 |
| Water company | United Utilities | Severn Trent Water |
Water in Manchester costs about £33/year more than in Birmingham.
Source: Water UK / Discover Water, 2026-27
Water company boundaries don't always align cleanly with local authority boundaries; the company shown here is the most common provider in each area.
Climate comparison
Manchester gets around 160mm more rainfall per year and 116 fewer hours of sunshine than Birmingham.
Source: Met Office HadUK-Grid, 1991-2020 averages. Crown copyright. Open Government Licence v3.0.
Crime comparison
Manchester has a higher crime rate than Birmingham, with 1,430 vs 1,148 recorded crimes per 10,000 people.
Source: Home Office / Scottish Government recorded crime
Recording practices vary between police forces. Crime rates reflect reported and recorded crime only.
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