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Original poster

London or Manchester

54 replies

bare123 · 04/06/2021 19:46

Hi guys

Myself and my friend are looking to relocate to a bigger city, we are both in early 20s and we’re considering London and Manchester.

I myself am leaning towards London because feel there would be way more going on, new places to see constantly however the cost is making my friend lean a lot more towards Manchester, like rent we can find a nice 2 bedroom apartment for 400 each in Manchester whereas in London we would be paying 750 each for a flat share with other people (I don’t mind the sharing tbh)

What is everyone’s opinions on both? I am hoping to work within finance industry as that’s what my degree is and my friend isn’t sure of what career path to go down.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

OP posts:
DoesSheDoesntShe · 04/06/2021 19:49

Manchester (and visit London regularly - fast train)

StarryStarrySocks · 04/06/2021 19:52

Manchester, you'll have a much better quality of life as your money will go further.

LadyFlossieParkingson · 04/06/2021 19:54

Manchester and I work in finance

DoesSheDoesntShe · 04/06/2021 19:57

Think of the fun you will have with that extra £350 p/m ! Like I said, if you miss London, use the train and go!
Agree re. Quality of life. A house share might be tolerable if you are lucky but I would go for my own place any day.

Milomonster · 04/06/2021 19:57

Manchester and I’ve lived in London for 25 years. Much better quality of life, close to the Lakes, 2 hours from London.

DoesSheDoesntShe · 04/06/2021 19:58

Just to add, would you have a lot of disposable income left of you were in Manchester?
London is not fun if you are short of cash.

denverRegina · 04/06/2021 20:13

Manchester. No brainer.

AbstractHeart · 04/06/2021 20:20

Manchester is better while you're young and skint, then maybe move to London in a few years when you're earning more? I'm biased though because that's exactly what I did Grin

MimiSunshine · 04/06/2021 20:21

Manchester every day. You’ll never be bored.

It’s a great city, you can easily visit / work in liverpool, Leeds or chester too. Even Birmingham and London if you’re had other offices to visit.
You’d have the peak / Lake District practically on your door step and could have a day out on the beach at either the NW coast or a day trip to North Wales.

Plus it’s cheaper.

I miss it.

CheshireCats · 04/06/2021 20:25

Manchester ♥️

HmmmmmmInteresting · 04/06/2021 20:26

Manchester 😍

NommyChompers · 04/06/2021 20:27

Leeds as an alternative for finance shouldn’t be overlooked...

NommyChompers · 04/06/2021 20:28

I live in the north and love my disposable income and regularly whizz to london on the train for a fun weekend with the extra cash!

Curatingchaos · 04/06/2021 20:29

Manchester Smile

Original poster
bare123 · 04/06/2021 20:42

@DoesSheDoesntShe

Just to add, would you have a lot of disposable income left of you were in Manchester? London is not fun if you are short of cash.
Thanks you’re right about the extra 350 or so p/m!

I’m not 100% how much disposable income we’ll have, we’re from Ireland so I think wages are a bit different and haven’t really looked in to salary expectations in either cities but we’d have quite a bit of savings which I suppose would run out way quicker in London and wouldn’t be able to do anything so wrecks my point about there being more places to see there.

OP posts:
Original poster
bare123 · 04/06/2021 21:16

@MimiSunshine

Manchester every day. You’ll never be bored.

It’s a great city, you can easily visit / work in liverpool, Leeds or chester too. Even Birmingham and London if you’re had other offices to visit.
You’d have the peak / Lake District practically on your door step and could have a day out on the beach at either the NW coast or a day trip to North Wales.

Plus it’s cheaper.

I miss it.

Thanks for your suggestions, yeah really liking the idea of living in Manchester and visiting London etc for the odd day out.

Lake District looks beautiful!

OP posts:
TentTalk · 04/06/2021 21:22

Manchester.

London's great (I've lived there) but it's huge and busy and expensive. I rarely left my little area where as I regularly go to various bits of Manchester. I've no friends left in London, they've all moved out as they couldn't afford to buy anything but a tiny flat and wanted families. They're fairly high earners as well (£100k + at that point, in finance and IT)). The salary loss moving north (for them) was minimal but how far that money went was much better.

whiteroseredrose · 04/06/2021 21:49

I'd actually say London if you can get a decent job first. Finance is a wide description. London is only possible if you are at the higher paying end.

London is just different to anywhere else. There is a vibrancy like no other. If you are in your 20s it is a great place to live, for a few years anyway.

FWIW I grew up in Manchester and have lived in London, Leeds and Bristol and back to Manchester as an adult. I wouldn't want to raise DC in London but my 20s there were fantastic.

Tiddlywinkly · 04/06/2021 22:01

Manchester. Love it. Stayed after uni. Bought a house at 25.

London is only 2 hours away. I love to visit regularly for family and culture, but it takes forever to get anywhere and it's so expensive and stressful.

Bigwave · 04/06/2021 22:06

do london at your age for 5-10 yrs then go back to Manchester. you can maximise your income much better in London, flatshares can be amazing (try a few until you find an amazing one) and it's so worth living the London life for a few yrs.

Chatty987 · 04/06/2021 22:24

Manchester. London is just too big. Feels unsafe and I felt very isolated and alone. Manchester you have amazing city centre, culture, nightlife, shopping, vibrancy and for all of that you can rent gorgeous city centre apartment. For London you’d get some cr@ppy shared room in an out of town location.

denverRegina · 04/06/2021 22:35

"flatshares can be amazing" and also can be utterly shit, as relayed on here over the past year.

Deciding to become a "household" with strangers would seem a bit daft when you could choose another city and avoid this.

NanaNorasNaughtyKnickers · 04/06/2021 23:41

I've lived in both (and a few other places). London is massively more fun, vibrant, international and "challenging" (make of that what you will)! And it goes without saying that it is a world leader in financial services and will have far more opportunities in that sector than Manchester. It attracts the most able people from all over the globe. But accommodation is still really expensive. That's really what it boils down to. You need to do a budget and to decide how you want to live. If you want a smart two-bedroom "professional" apartment, you are going to be much better off in Manchester. If you don't mind starting out in a couple of scruffy bedsits in Lewisham then London might be ok for you.

(Also, forget the idea that you'll be popping up from Manchester to London on the train for nights out - nice idea, won't happen!)

CustardyCreams · 05/06/2021 07:31

Manchester. I love London but it is horribly overpriced.

DoesSheDoesntShe · 05/06/2021 08:10

(Also, forget the idea that you'll be popping up from Manchester to London on the train for nights out - nice idea, won't happen!)

Why not?
We go regularly. At least once a month!
Not for ‘nights out’ (too old) but for weekends - theatre, meals out, galleries, shopping.
If the OP lives in Manchester she will have disposable income she wouldn’t have if she lived in London. It’s only a few hrs by train!