If you’re trying to decide between relocating to the UK or somewhere in the US we have created a side-by-side look in 2025.
The focus on the UK is Manchester, which is based in the North West and is somewhere we have helped people relocate to for close to 15 years.
For these costs we have focused on the 4 key areas of housing, healthcare, utilities, and transport, with part 1 covering housing and healthcare.
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Manchester (UK)
The average rent for a private flat in Manchester in July 2025 is about £1,316/month, with 1 bedroom apartments being slightly less and and 2 bedroom apartments similar if not slightly more. For more traditional family homes in the suburbs, then pricing varies from £1450 – £1800 as a guide.
The average house price in Manchester is around £242,000 as of mid-2025.
Over the past decade, rents in Greater Manchester have risen by ~65% from ~£783 to ~£1,291/month.
So Manchester is relatively moderate (for a major UK city) in both rent and property value compared to London, but still has seen strong upward pressure.
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US (general / example ranges)
Because the US is so diverse, here’s what typical ranges look like in 2025 (mid- or midsize US cities) and how they compare to national averages:
National average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the US is about US$1,154/month (as of recent data)
In many larger metro areas—New York, San Francisco, Boston, Los Angeles—one-bedroom and two-bedroom rents often run significantly higher (many thousands USD monthly)
Median price of a single-family home in the US is around US$273,992 (recent data)
In moderately expensive cities, one-bedroom rentals often run from US$1,600 to $2,800+, depending on location.
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Comparison & takeaways
On average, many US Cities will have higher rents than Manchester for comparable quality housing (especially in coastal or desirable cities).
As for purchase cost in many US cities (especially desirable ones) can exceed what you’d pay for Manchester property, especially after factoring in mortgage interest, property taxes and other costs.
In Manchester, your housing cost is relatively predictable and stable in the UK context; in the US, your costs may swing more depending on local market, interest rates, and property tax regimes.
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So if you’re relocating from a comparative city (for example, a mid-sized US City rather than NYC or SF) housing in Manchester might still be slightly more expensive, though the differential is not as extreme as comparing Manchester and London.
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Medical / Healthcare
Manchester / UK
As a resident of Manchester (and the UK broadly), you would generally have access to the NHS, meaning that hospital care, GP visits, emergency care are free at the point of use (for residents).
As for prescriptions, these are free also for children under 16, over 65s and adults with certain exemptions, otherwise a fee is applicable in the region of £10.
For dentistry work and opticians similar exemptions apply also and for those who are required to pay, the cost can vary dependent on works required.
The best arrangement is to utilise the NHS services for day to day care but having private medical care (often provided by employers) in case of required treatment or surgery.
US
Healthcare in the US operates quite differently with employer family premiums approximately US$25,572/year, and single premiums ~ US$8,951/year in many plans. Deductibles (for those with general deductibles) average ~ US$1,787 for singles.
Many people also carry supplemental insurance or pay for specific services out of pocket. A hospitalization or specialist imaging can lead to large bills if the insurance is weak or has high deductibles.
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Comparison & practical implications
In Manchester, you avoid the uncertainty and risk of massive medical bills for most usual services.
In the US, even with “good” coverage, you should budget for significant annual healthcare costs beyond just premiums (deductibles, co-pays, etc.).
So from a risk and predictability standpoint, Manchester / UK has a major advantage in shielding you from unpredictable medical bills. But again, waiting times or non-covered services may push some to pay privately.
I hope the above has been useful and part 2 will be focused on utility and transport costs which is due to go live at the end of November.
To find out more about the range of property services Dream Move offer, you can contact us using the below and for recent activity hop on over to our social media.
WhatsApp: +44 (0) 7513 282 421 or andrew.white@dmrelocation.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/manchesterpropertyfinder/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX-GzQDEeTPgzcWHhjAG3sA/
