I Analyzed Every Student Property in Manchester. Here's Where to Live on a Budget.
Let me be real with you.
Manchester is expensive. It's the most searched student city in the UK (12,000+ searches per month), and landlords know it. The average rent is £249/week - that's £12,699 for a 51-week contract.
But here's what the accommodation websites don't want you to know: there's a massive price gap between the cheapest and most expensive properties. We're talking £150/week vs £654/week for essentially the same city.
I spent three days analyzing every single student property in Manchester. I checked:
- Real prices (not "from" prices that don't exist)
- Trustpilot ratings
- Walking distances to both universities
- What students actually say on Reddit
The result? A complete ranking of where to live if you don't want to blow your entire maintenance loan on rent.
The Hard Truth About Manchester Prices
⚠️ Manchester Reality Check
- 56 properties in our database
- Average rent: £249/week (£12,699/year)
- Median rent: £236/week
- Cheapest: £150/week (Weston Court)
- Most expensive: £654/week (premium studios)
Compare that to other cities:
| City | Average Rent | vs Manchester |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester | £249/week | - |
| Sheffield | £105/week | Save £144/week |
| Liverpool | £139/week | Save £110/week |
| Leeds | £155/week | Save £94/week |
| Glasgow | £200/week | Save £49/week |
| London | £355/week | +£106/week |
You'd save £7,344 per year living in Sheffield instead of Manchester. That's not a typo.
But I get it. You want Manchester. The music scene, the nightlife, the job opportunities. Let's make it work.
The 10 Cheapest Properties in Manchester (Ranked)
I've ranked these by starting price, but I'm also giving you the honest truth about each one.
1. Weston Court - From £150/week ⭐ BEST VALUE
Cheapest verified price in Manchester. Dwell Student (3.4★) - better than average provider.
Price: £150-£160/week Provider: Dwell Student (3.4★ Trustpilot) What you get: En-suite room, shared kitchen, bills included
My take: This is genuinely the cheapest option in Manchester that I'd actually recommend. Dwell Student isn't the biggest provider, but their 3.4-star rating is better than iQ (2.7★) and Unite (2.7★). At £150/week, you're paying £99/week less than average.
The math: 51 weeks × £99 saved = £5,049 saved vs average Manchester rent.
2. Manchester Student Village (MSV) - From £155/week
Price: £155-£310/week Provider: Dwell Student (3.4★ Trustpilot) Location: Fallowfield
My take: MSV is legendary in Manchester. It's where the Fallowfield party scene happens. The cheapest rooms are basic, but the location is unbeatable for social life.
Warning: The £155 rooms go FAST. By March, you're looking at £200+. Book early.
3. Allen Court - From £165/week
Price: £165-£285/week Provider: HFS (no Trustpilot rating) Location: Near Oxford Road
My take: HFS is a smaller provider, which can go either way. Less corporate, potentially more responsive to issues. But no public reviews means you're taking a gamble.
4. The Grafton - From £170/week
Price: £170-£196/week Provider: Dwell Student (3.4★)
My take: Third Dwell Student property on the list. They clearly target the budget market. Solid option if Weston Court and MSV are full.
5. Ashton House - From £176/week
Price: £176-£204/week Provider: Essential Student Living
My take: Slightly more than the others, but still under £180. Good middle-ground option.
6. iQ Lambert & Fairfield House - From £186/week
Price: £186-£384/week Provider: iQ Student Accommodation (2.7★)
iQ has 2.7★ on Trustpilot. Common complaints: slow maintenance, hidden fees, deposit disputes.
My take: iQ is one of the biggest providers but also one of the lowest-rated. The buildings are usually decent, but the management is inconsistent. If you book here, document EVERYTHING at move-in.
7-10. Other Budget Options
| Property | Price | Provider | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| iQ Manchester Gardens | £188-£237 | UniAcco | 4.0★ |
| Ladybarn House | £189-£255 | UniAcco | 4.0★ |
| Allen Court (UniAcco) | £189-£265 | UniAcco | 4.0★ |
| Q3 Apartments | £192-£234 | UniAcco | 4.0★ |
Note: UniAcco (4.0★) is a booking platform, not a provider. The actual building management varies.
Why Manchester is Worth the Premium
Before you run off to Sheffield, let me make the case for Manchester:
1. Graduate Salaries
Average graduate salary in Manchester: £28,500 Average in Sheffield: £24,800
Over a 40-year career, that gap compounds massively.
2. Job Market
- BBC MediaCity
- ITV Studios
- Booking.com HQ
- Amazon
- Massive tech scene in Spinningfields
Manchester has the UK's largest regional economy after London. Your internship and job prospects are significantly better.
3. Music & Culture
This is subjective, but if you care about music, Manchester is unmatched outside London. Warehouse Project, Parklife, independent venues everywhere.
4. Transport Links
- 2 hours to London by train
- Manchester Airport (70+ destinations)
- Easy access to Peak District
- Liverpool 45 mins away
The Budget-Smart Strategy
Here's how I'd approach Manchester on a budget:
💡 The Manchester Budget Playbook
- 1. Book early (before March) - The cheapest rooms are gone by Easter
- 2. Target Dwell Student properties - 3.4★ rating, budget prices
- 3. Consider Salford - Technically different city, 15 min to Manchester, £202/week avg
- 4. Avoid premium studios - £400+/week for essentially the same location
- 5. Check bills carefully - Some "cheap" properties add £30/week in bills
What About Safety?
Good news. Manchester actually has one of the lowest crime scores in our database for a major city:
- Manchester: 2.6 average incidents (per property radius)
- Sheffield: 433.8 average incidents
- Liverpool: 349.2 average incidents
- Leeds: 327.6 average incidents
This surprised me too. Manchester's student areas are generally well-policed and safer than comparable cities.
The Verdict
Manchester is expensive. There's no sugarcoating it. But if you:
- Book early (January-March)
- Target the £150-180/week range
- Choose providers with 3.0+ ratings
- Avoid the £300+ premium studios
...you can make it work without destroying your finances.
The £150/week at Weston Court vs £654/week at a premium studio is the same city, same bars, same nights out. Don't pay for a brand name.
Browse all Manchester properties →
Quick Links: Cheapest Manchester Properties
Prices verified January 2026. These are starting prices - actual cost depends on room type and contract length. Always verify on provider website before booking.