Cost of Living: Manchester vs Perth (2026)

United Kingdom vs Australia — relocation comparison

TL;DRPerth summers average 29°C vs 20°C. Both countries will let you complain about the government in public — and mean it.
68
Livability Score
🇬🇧 Manchester
United Kingdom
Full profile
66
Livability Score
🇦🇺 Perth
Australia
Full profile
Manchester and Perth are almost suspiciously well-matched. Flip a coin.
💰
Cost of Living
Manchester
$118/mo cheaper on rent alone
🗳️
Democracy
Perth
8.7/10 EIU index
☀️
Weather
20°C vs 29°C summers
Manchester
Metric
Perth
$1703/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1821/mo
$831/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$428/mo
$5,531
🧳
Cost to land
$11,432
1.1 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
0.8 / 100k
56 / 100
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
20°C
☀️
Summer high
29°C
3°C
❄️
Winter low
9°C
102 Mbps
Internet speed
8.3 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
8.7 / 10
Very High (96/100)
🗣️
English ease
Very High (95/100)
$62k
💼
GDP per capita
$72k
3.3%
📈
Inflation
3.2%
68 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
66 / 100
92/100 — Reliable
Grid reliability
92/100
🗽
Freedom House
5 years
📋
Time to PR

For the Kids

Schools, pediatric care, and whether your children can actually enroll

494
PISA
country avg
497
25
Intl schools
1
Yes (English)
Public school
Full pediatric NHS coverage for all residents
Pediatric care
6–18 weeks
Specialist wait
$1486/mo
Childcare
full-day
$2347/mo

Sources: OECD PISA 2022 · Wikipedia · Numbeo · official health systems

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
stable
digital-mediafintechhealthcareadvanced-manufacturing
Industries
active
Startup ecosystem
92/100
Grid reliability
5 yrs
Time to PR
Moderate
EU visa
Complex
RU visa
Moderate
UA visa
Your partner can also work
Spouse works

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

The Short Version

  • Rent is 6% cheaper in Manchester ($1703/mo vs $1821/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are dramatically warmer in Perth (29°C vs 20°C).

Manchester vs Perth — Common Questions

Is Manchester cheaper than Perth?

Manchester is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1703/month in Manchester vs $1821/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Manchester or Perth?

Perth is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Manchester has a rate of 1.07 per 100,000 and Perth has 0.83 per 100,000.

Should I move to Manchester or Perth?

Manchester and Perth are almost suspiciously well-matched. Flip a coin. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Manchester or Perth?

Manchester: UK Skilled Worker Visa (complex process, Up to 5 years). Perth: no specific remote work visa. See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, Manchester or Perth?

Perth is warmer in summer (29°C vs 20°C). Manchester has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

Don't agree? Take the quiz and see what fits you.

Factor in your salary, family size, weather preferences, and deal-breakers.