Living Costs in 2025: Manchester vs. Barcelona

Are you considering a move from Manchester to Barcelona (or vice versa) and wondering how the cost of living compares today? In 2022, a MyCheapRemovals blog post provided a detailed comparison of living costs in these two vibrant cities. Since then, inflation and economic changes have shifted some of those costs. This 2025 update revisits each expense category – Food, Housing, Clothes, Transportation, Personal Care, and Entertainment – to see where prices stand now and how they’ve changed since 2022. We’ll highlight current average prices in both cities, note increases or decreases from 2022, and clearly point out which city is more affordable in each category.

Food

According to recent cost-of-living data, food expenses are now somewhat lower in Manchester than in Barcelona – a reversal of the 2022 comparison. In 2022, Expatistan estimated food in Manchester was ~5% pricier than in Barcelona. By 2025, however, Expatistan indicates Barcelona’s overall food basket is about 11% more expensive than Manchester’s. Numbeo’s data similarly shows that restaurant and grocery prices in Barcelona are 13–18% lower than in Manchester, suggesting Manchester has the edge for affordability in daily food costs.

To illustrate, Table 1 lists a few representative food prices in each city as of 2025:

Table 1: Selected food and grocery prices in Manchester and Barcelona (2025). Local prices are in GBP (£) for Manchester and EUR (€) for Barcelona.

As shown above, many everyday food items now cost more in Barcelona than in Manchester. For example, a basic lunch menu in Barcelona’s business district averages about €18, whereas in Manchester it’s around £13 (≈€15). This Barcelona lunch price rose roughly 20% from about €15 in 2022, while Manchester’s price held roughly steady. A Big Mac combo meal, which in 2022 was cheaper in Manchester by ~16%, now costs £8 in Manchester vs ~€12 in Barcelona, making Barcelona’s fast-food combo about 33% pricier.

Grocery prices have likewise shifted. In 2022, a liter of milk was about £0.92 in Manchester vs €0.90 in Barcelona (slightly cheaper in Spain). By 2025 the same milk costs £0.96 in Manchester vs €1.12 in Barcelona, meaning milk is now ~17% more expensive in Barcelona. A dozen eggs that cost ~£2.35 in Manchester and €2.67 in Barcelona in 2022 have seen price jumps in both countries – now £3.63 in Manchester and €4.41 in Barcelona – but eggs remain a bit pricier in Barcelona (about 20% higher than Manchester). Similarly, 1 kg of tomatoes costs about £1.73 in Manchester versus €2.29 in Barcelona, making Barcelona ~30% more expensive for fresh tomatoes (in 2022 their prices were almost on par). Even bread (daily loaf for two) is now cheaper in Manchester (~£0.78) than in Barcelona (~€1.04).

On the other hand, a few items remain more expensive in Manchester. Notably, domestic beer from a supermarket costs about £1.71 in Manchester versus €1.14 in Barcelona – Manchester’s price is still roughly 50% higher, though this gap narrowed slightly since 2022 (when a beer was ~£1.89 vs €0.96). Apples are also marginally costlier in Manchester (~£2.30 per kg) than Barcelona (~€2.21), but the difference is small.

In summary, Barcelona’s food costs have risen faster, making Manchester the more affordable city for food in 2025. Many staples (milk, eggs, produce, bread) and mid-range restaurant meals are cheaper in Manchester now, whereas in 2022 they were similarly priced or costlier there. Barcelona still offers cheaper supermarket beer and equally cheap cold drinks, but for day-to-day groceries and dining, Manchester has a slight cost advantage in 2025.

Housing

Housing costs encompass rents, utilities, and related expenses. In 2022, average housing costs in Manchester and Barcelona were roughly comparable, with Manchester only ~“about the same” or slightly higher overall. For instance, a furnished 85 m² apartment in an expensive city-center area cost ~£1,396 in Manchester versus ~€1,451 in Barcelona in 2022 – almost no difference (Manchester ~11% higher). By 2025, however, differences have emerged, largely due to soaring utility bills in the UK. Overall, housing (rent plus utilities) in Barcelona is now around 10–12% cheaper than in Manchester on average.

Table 2 compares current 2025 rents and utilities for different apartment sizes in each city:

Table 2: Comparative housing costs in Manchester and Barcelona (2025). Rents are for furnished accommodations; utilities include heating, electricity, etc.

Rents have increased since 2022 in both cities, but Manchester’s remain in a similar range to Barcelona’s, with some variations by neighborhood. For a mid-to-large apartment (~85 m²) in a high-end area, 2025 rent averages around £1,693 in Manchester and €2,169 in Barcelona. That suggests upscale Barcelona flats have become more expensive – about 11% higher than Manchester for that size (in 2022, the same Barcelona flat was ~€1,451, significantly lower). In standard neighborhoods, a similar 85 m² flat is about £1,028 in Manchester vs €1,496 in Barcelona, meaning Barcelona’s rent is ~26% higher for that category. By contrast, smaller city apartments have flipped in affordability: A 45 m² studio in an expensive central area now costs £1,830 in Manchester but only €1,347 in Barcelona – Manchester’s price is roughly 36% higher, whereas in 2022 Manchester was cheaper for small high-end flats (about £845 vs €1,047). In more ordinary areas, a small studio runs ~£785 in Manchester vs €968 in Barcelona, a ~7% premium for Barcelona. In summary, rents in 2025 are generally similar or slightly lower in Barcelona for larger apartments, but Manchester can be cheaper for smaller or mid-range flats. The rental market in Barcelona appears to have heated up post-2022, especially in prime locations, narrowing the gap or even surpassing Manchester in some cases.

The game-changer in housing costs has been utilities. The UK experienced a sharp increase in energy bills around 2022–2023, and it shows: monthly basic utilities for a mid-sized flat (heating, electricity, etc., for two people) now average about £282 in Manchester, more than double the roughly €137 (£118) cost in Barcelona. Back in 2022, the same Manchester utilities were about £127 – meaning utility costs in Manchester have over doubled in three years – while Barcelona’s were ~€136 (virtually unchanged). A single-person’s utilities in a small apartment tell a similar story: ~£143 in Manchester vs €88 in Barcelona. This disparity in energy costs makes overall housing expenses higher in Manchester despite comparable rents, a shift from 2022 when utilities were fairly even and rents were the main factor.

Other housing-related expenses show mixed changes. Internet service runs about £22/month in Manchester vs €28 in Barcelona, so the UK remains ~20% cheaper for broadband (in 2022 it was a similar ~17% cheaper in Manchester at £20 vs €28). Basic household goods present a split: for example, laundry detergent (3 L) costs about £7 in Manchester vs €9 in Barcelona (Manchester ~14% cheaper, as it was in 2022), whereas a mid-range 40” TV is priced around £244 in Manchester vs ~€353 in Barcelona – meaning electronics are pricier in Spain now (in 2022, a similar TV was €350 in Barcelona vs ~£316 in Manchester, slightly cheaper in Barcelona then). Hiring help is still a bit cheaper in Barcelona (cleaning services ~€14/hour in Barcelona, roughly equal to £12, versus £14 in Manchester).

Overall, Housing is more affordable in Barcelona in 2025 when you account for all costs, primarily because utility bills are far lower in Spain. If you rent in both cities, expect to pay less in total housing costs in Barcelona, whereas Manchester’s higher utilities and some rents make it pricier for accommodation. This is a change from 2022, when living costs for housing were essentially on par. Anyone relocating should budget for these differences – especially the steep energy bills in Manchester – when comparing the two cities.

Clothes

Day-to-day clothing and footwear expenses remain lower in Manchester than in Barcelona overall. In 2022, clothing in Manchester was about 8% cheaper on average. In 2025, the difference is similar – Barcelona is around 5–6% more expensive for comparable apparel. While the gap narrowed slightly, Manchester is still the more affordable city to refresh your wardrobe.

Several brand-name items highlight the difference. A pair of Nike running shoes (or similar sports shoes) costs about £79 in Manchester versus approximately €103 in Barcelona. Converting currencies, that’s around a 15% higher price in Barcelona – virtually the same premium as in 2022, when the same sneakers were ~15% costlier in Barcelona (around €84 vs ~£72). Levi’s 501 jeans tell an interesting story: in 2022, a pair of Levi’s was dramatically pricier in Barcelona (~€91) compared to Manchester (~£60). Now in 2025, those jeans average about €83 in Barcelona vs £74 in Manchester, which after conversion is nearly the same price (Barcelona’s is only ~3% cheaper). In other words, Manchester’s price for jeans climbed closer to Barcelona’s, and now there’s barely any difference – a change from the past when Manchester shoppers got a much better deal.

For other staples: a summer dress from a high-street retailer (e.g. Zara or H&M) goes for roughly £34 in Manchester and €43 in Barcelona. Barcelona’s dress is about 10% more expensive, whereas intriguingly in 2022 Barcelona had the slight edge (approx €30 vs £29 in Manchester). On the formal side, men’s leather business shoes cost about £73 in Manchester and €99 in Barcelona – making Barcelona roughly 18% more expensive for a comparable quality pair, a difference that has persisted (it was on the order of 15–20% in 2022 as well).

In summary, Manchester remains the cheaper city to buy clothing in 2025. Price increases in the UK have been modest for apparel, while some items in Spain saw larger hikes or were already high. Barcelona shoppers will generally pay more for the same brand-name outfits, with a few exceptions now close to parity. If affordable fashion is a priority, Manchester offers better value overall.

Transportation

Getting around town (and owning a car) is an area where the UK – and Manchester in particular – has traditionally been more expensive, and that trend has intensified by 2025. In 2022, transportation costs in Manchester were about 38% higher than in Barcelona overall, mostly due to pricy public transit. Now Manchester’s transportation is roughly 50%+ more expensive than Barcelona’s on average. Barcelona is clearly the more affordable city for getting around, especially if you rely on public transport.

One dramatic difference is the cost of public transportation. A monthly transit pass in Manchester has increased from around £69 in 2022 to about £79 in 2025, whereas Barcelona’s equivalent pass actually became cheaper, dropping from ~€41 to about €26 (likely due to new transit subsidies). This means Manchester’s monthly commute ticket now costs three times more than Barcelona’s – £79 vs €26 – a ~72% difference in favor of Barcelona. (Back in 2022, Manchester’s pass was ~93% more than Barcelona’s, so the gap, incredibly, has grown even wider.) For anyone using buses, trams, or metros daily, Barcelona offers huge savings.

Everyday fuel prices remain a bit higher in Spain, but nearly on par. A liter of gasoline in mid-2025 costs about £1.54 in Manchester and €1.55 in Barcelona. These prices (around €1.75/L equivalent in the UK vs €1.55 in Spain) mean fuel is ~10–15% cheaper in Barcelona, similar to the difference in 2022 when Spanish petrol was about 13% cheaper. Fuel costs rose in both countries over the past years but have stabilized to comparable levels; neither city has a major advantage, though drivers might save a bit at Spanish pumps.

Owning a car has flipped in relative expense. In 2022, buying a new Volkswagen Golf (or similar) was slightly cheaper in the UK (~7% less than in Spain). Now in 2025, that situation is reversed – the car costs roughly 20% less in Barcelona. A new Golf runs about £29,600 in Manchester versus €26,800 in Barcelona, meaning UK car prices climbed higher. Contributing factors could be post-pandemic supply issues or higher taxes in the UK. Regardless, if you plan to purchase a vehicle, Spain will likely be easier on the wallet for the sticker price.

Day-to-day transport fares also show convergence in some areas. Taxi fares, for example, used to be cheaper in Manchester – around £13 for an 8 km ride vs €20 in Barcelona in 2022. Now, that same ride is roughly £16 in Manchester and €16 in Barcelona. In currency terms, £16 is about €18.50, so Manchester taxis are still a bit more expensive (~10% higher), but the gap has narrowed considerably. It appears Barcelona’s taxi rates have come down or stagnated while Manchester’s rose slightly, essentially equalizing taxi costs.

In summary, Barcelona is the clear winner for transportation affordability. Public transport is far cheaper (monthly passes in Manchester are exorbitant by comparison), and even owning and operating a car (from purchase to fuel) tends to cost less in Spain. Manchester’s transport costs have increased since 2022, widening the cost gap. Unless you have a specific reason to need a car in the UK or a subsidized travel card, you’ll find getting around Barcelona much easier on your budget.

Personal Care

Personal care and health-related expenses – things like medical visits, medications, toiletries, and personal items – were notably more expensive in Manchester in 2022 (about 20% higher than Barcelona). By 2025, this category has evened out considerably. Personal care costs are now almost the same in both cities overall, with each city having some items that cost more than the other. Essentially, Manchester’s previously high health costs have moderated, while a few personal items in Barcelona have become pricier, balancing the scale. Neither city has a strong overall affordability advantage in this category today.

Healthcare services in the UK saw some relative price relief. For example, a short private doctor’s visit (15 minutes) in Manchester averaged around £101 (€116) in 2022. In 2025 that has come down to roughly £68 on average, whereas in Barcelona a similar appointment is about €63. Manchester is still more expensive for a private doctor (~19% higher), but the gap is smaller than the huge 73% premium it had in 2022. Prescription medications have crept closer in price as well. A standard antibiotics course that used to cost around €9 in Manchester vs €7 in Barcelona now goes for about £11 in Manchester versus **€9 in Barcelona】. The UK price rose, making the difference a bit larger in absolute terms, but in percentage terms it’s still on the order of a 20–30% premium in Manchester. Meanwhile, a pack of cold medicine (for 6 days) now costs roughly €5.5 in both cities – Manchester’s price nearly doubled since 2022 (when it was ~£2.84 ≈ €3.27) to match Barcelona’s ~€5.5 (which was already higher at €5.51). In other words, an item that was much cheaper in the UK (cold medicine) has risen to parity, eliminating that advantage.

Everyday personal care products show a mix of trade-offs, similar to 2022. Generally, Manchester has cheaper basic toiletries, while Barcelona has an edge in some pharmacy items. Here’s how some products compare now:

• Shampoo (400 ml, 2-in-1) – About £3.54 in Manchester vs €2.88 in Barcelona, so the UK price is ~30% higher (nearly the same markup as in 2022, when it was £3.31 vs €2.86).
• Toilet paper (4 rolls) – ~£1.84 in Manchester vs €1.79 in Barcelona, meaning Manchester pays ~15% more (again consistent with the ~16% difference in 2022).
• Deodorant (roll-on, 50 ml) – Only £1.21 in Manchester but about €2.73 in Barcelona. Barcelona’s price is roughly double (95% higher), an even larger gap than before (it was ~€2.98 vs ~£2 in 2022). The UK clearly offers cheaper hygiene staples like deodorant.
• Toothpaste (tube) – Approximately £1.43 in Manchester vs €2.42 in Barcelona, so Barcelona’s price is ~47% higher. This gap, while still large, has narrowed a bit from 2022 when it was ~61% higher (Barcelona ~€2.21 vs Manchester ~£1.19).
• Tampons (box of 32) – Around £4.05 in Manchester vs €5.55 in Barcelona. Barcelona’s price is ~18% more, a smaller difference than in 2022 when it was ~€4.82 vs £3.25 (~29% more).

As the above examples show, Barcelona tends to charge more for personal hygiene products (often due to higher VAT on cosmetics and non-subsidized goods in Spain), whereas Manchester’s higher costs are in medical services and certain medications. In 2022, Manchester residents paid significantly more for doctors and pharmacy items, but those costs have either dropped (doctor fees) or risen in Spain (meds) to close the gap. Now each city has its pricy items: Manchester for healthcare visits and some prescriptions, Barcelona for everyday toiletries and drugstore goods. On the whole, these differences even out, making personal care essentially equally affordable (or expensive) in both cities as of 2025.

Entertainment

The cost of entertainment and leisure – from movies and theatre tickets to dining out, drinks, and gym memberships – is a mixed bag in Manchester vs Barcelona. In 2022, there wasn’t a clear winner; each city was cheaper for some aspects of entertainment and costlier for others. This remains true in 2025: overall entertainment expenses are very close in both cities. Minor shifts have occurred (Barcelona’s drinks have gotten a bit pricier, Manchester’s theatre even more so), but neither city can claim a decisive overall affordability advantage in leisure activities.

To break it down, consider common entertainment expenses:

• Cinema: Two movie tickets in 2022 cost about €17 in Barcelona vs €18 in Manchester. Now in 2025, it’s €20 in Barcelona and £18 (~€21) in Manchester. Manchester still pays roughly €1 more for a movie night, a small ~5% difference. So Barcelona remains slightly cheaper for movies, as in 2022 (when the gap was also ~€1).
• Theatre: Live theater is one area that heavily favors Barcelona. Two top-tier theatre tickets are about €53 in Barcelona versus a steep £129 (≈€150) in Manchester. This Manchester price has nearly doubled since 2022 (it was ~£67 then), perhaps reflecting high-end shows or London’s West End influence, whereas Barcelona’s price stayed around the same (~€57 in 2022). Now Manchester’s best seats cost almost 3× Barcelona’s price – a 64% difference. Barcelona is far more affordable for theatre and cultural events.
• Dining Out: Casual dining is very similar between the cities. A basic dinner for two at a pub is around £43 in Manchester and €45 in Barcelona – effectively the same range (Manchester’s is ~€50, so ~9% higher). Back in 2022 these pub dinners were ~€33–34 in both cities, so both have seen increases. A three-course Italian dinner for two (in an expat-favored area), including wine and dessert, costs about £58 (~€68) in Manchester and €64 in Barcelona. That’s nearly equal (Manchester ~5% higher), and a much smaller gap than in 2022 when Manchester’s similar dinner (~€67) was notably more than Barcelona’s (~€45). In short, restaurant prices in Barcelona have risen to close the gap with Manchester, and dining out is now comparably priced.
• Drinks & Coffee: Barcelona historically had cheaper drinks, but differences have shifted. A cappuccino in an expat neighborhood costs about £3.50 in Manchester vs €3.70 in Barcelona. That makes Manchester’s coffee ~€4.05, only slightly higher (~9%) than Barcelona’s. In 2022, Manchester coffees were dramatically pricier (around €4.07 vs €2.51, a 60%+ gap). So coffee in Barcelona has gotten more expensive, erasing much of the savings. For beer at a pub, the tables have turned: a pint (0.5 L) is now ~£5.53 in Manchester and ~€7 in Barcelona. Converting Manchester’s price (~€6.30), Barcelona’s pub beer is about 10% higher – whereas in 2022, a pint was cheaper in Barcelona (~€3.92) than Manchester (~€4.56). This reversal might be due to rising tourism and nightlife costs in Barcelona. Cocktails remain roughly equal at around £11/€12 in both cities (no real change from the ~€10 each in 2022).
• Fitness and Smokes: If your leisure includes the gym or a pack of cigarettes, note that gym memberships are more budget-friendly in Manchester. A month at a city-center gym is around £39 (~€45) in Manchester versus €62 in Barcelona, so Barcelona gym-goers pay ~37% more. This gap was even larger in 2022 (Barcelona gyms ~€51 vs Manchester ~€32), but Manchester still wins for gym affordability. On the flip side, if you smoke, the UK’s high tobacco taxes mean a pack of Marlboro cigarettes costs about £12 in Manchester, double the €6 in Barcelona. That difference also grew – in 2022 a pack was ~€10 in both cities (UK prices have since jumped).

As these examples show, each city offers certain cheaper pleasures. Barcelona will save you money at the cinema, theatre, and on sunshine in a beer garden (though no longer as much on the beer itself), while Manchester will save you on your latte, pint, and gym membership. A night out for dinner and drinks will cost roughly the same in both places, especially as Barcelona’s restaurant prices have climbed. Taken in total, entertainment costs in Manchester and Barcelona in 2025 are nearly equivalent. When planning your leisure budget, it’s best to consider the specific activities you enjoy – you might find Barcelona better for arts and culture, and Manchester better for pub nights and fitness – but you won’t see a huge disparity in overall entertainment spending between the two cities.

Cost of Living – Summary

To sum up, despite some category-specific swings, the general picture remains that Barcelona offers a lower overall cost of living than Manchester. The gap has actually widened a bit since 2022. Back then, it was estimated you’d need about £2,890 (€3,327) in Barcelona to maintain the same living standard as £3,200 in Manchester – meaning Manchester was roughly 10% more expensive overall. As of 2025, updated sources suggest you now need around £3,770–£4,100 in Barcelona to match what £4,700 could buy you in Manchester. In other words, living in Manchester is about 12–20% more expensive than living in Barcelona for an equivalent lifestyle, depending on the estimate.

For a practical perspective: one would spend approximately £4,700 per month in Manchester to achieve a certain comfort, while the same level of comfort in Barcelona costs ~£3,800 (≈€4,360). This considers rent, food, transport, and so on. The cost gap has grown from that 10% in 2022 to somewhere in the low double digits now. The chief reasons are Manchester’s increased housing and transport costs – especially energy bills and public transit – which outpaced the rises seen in Barcelona. Barcelona did see significant price increases in some areas (rent, dining, etc.), but not enough to overtake the overall cost advantage it holds.

Which city is more affordable? Per the above breakdown: Barcelona is cheaper in most categories – notably transportation, housing (when including utilities), and often food – while Manchester remains cheaper for things like clothing, personal care items, and some entertainment expenses. If you’re moving on a tight budget, Barcelona’s lower living costs (particularly for big expenses like rent and getting around) can offer relief. Manchester will demand a bit more income to maintain the same standard of living, primarily due to higher recurring costs.

However, personal spending habits matter. A frugal person in Manchester might live more cheaply than a lavish spender in Barcelona. These figures are averages and examples. Still, the trends are clear: since 2022, Manchester has become relatively more expensive, and Barcelona relatively more affordable, across a range of living expenses.

For anyone considering a move, use this updated comparison as a guide. Adjust your expectations and budget for the city you choose – for instance, allocate more for heating and commuting in Manchester, or for shopping and entertainment splurges in Barcelona. By knowing which city is more affordable in each category, you can plan accordingly and make the most of your salary on either side of the English Channel.

Sources: Cost-of-living data from Expatistan (user-contributed price index, updated Sept 2025); Numbeo (crowdsourced cost indices, mid-2025); MyCheapRemovals blog (2022 comparison as baseline); and national statistics/inflation reports from the UK and Spain for context. All prices are mid-2025 averages.