Living in Liverpool vs Manchester: Which would you choose?

[UnderTheFridge]

I’m planning a move in the near future and I’ve been pretty set on a smaller UK city but various things have making me contemplate if I should consider Manchester or Liverpool.

Personally I preferred Liverpool when visiting but I’ve only been to Manchester once and I’m curious to know which people prefer?

I’m not a nightlife person at all and I don’t drink but I do enjoy theatre, museums, a variety of restaurants and a good range of shops. An area that I feel relatively safe in is a must.

Which city would you choose if you had a choice?

TIA

Liverpool. Mainly because I’d hate to live inland.

Liverpool for me. Closer to the coast and I find Manchester a bit too big, Liverpool is a bit more compact.

I live in Manchester but if I had no ties to either I’d choose Liverpool.

A lot cheaper, a prettier centre and nicely by the coast.

Liverpool. Beautiful city, lovely coastline and property is cheaper than Manchester.

Love Manchester and it has more jobs, but it is ‘sprawling’. Liverpool great too and more ‘navigable’

I think you would be better off in Manchester for culture. Liverpool is great but its pretty small and out of the way. Manchester is a hub, third to Birmingham and its so easy to get places round the UK as well as the airport.

I can recommend south Manchester.

The only thing to consider is that Liverpool is cheaper to buy a house like for like.

Outside the centre, Manchester feels more like a bunch of towns swallowed up by suburbs, Liverpool seems more compact and is better served for the Arts.

Two of the biggest concerns would be what's your budget and do you need to be in physical proximity to a good job market? Liverpool is generally more affordable but the economy in Manchester is generally larger.

I prefer Manchester for most things, nights out, culture, shopping, museums etc. The only thing preferable for Liverpool is it’s cheaper.
The wind is absolutely bitter even in summer too which is another thing that would put me off. But then it rains a lot in Manchester.

I personally prefer the museums in Liverpool. Manchester probably better for theatre though.

It's a tough one really. Can you come and spend some time in both?

I've lived and worked in both. First Manchester, then Liverpool.

I'd live in Liverpool again like a shot, but not Manchester.

Liverpool is just different to anywhere. It's bloody brilliant.

Thanks all. I WFH.

My budget is up to 700k. No kids. It’s just me and my dogs.

Depends on your budget. Both are attractive cities in which to live. Liverpool is a small town city, Manchester has a proper city feel. Manchester feels better connected to great countryside to-the Peak District is a short train ride away and near the big motorways. Both are good so it’s really down to personal preference.

On that budget in Luverpool, have a look at L18. Lovely area.

In that case, you have a good budget so Manchester.

700k gives you a lot of choices in both cities.

Another point is, how bothered are you about surrounding countryside? Manchester is better for access to hills, Liverpool for access to sea.

With that budget and dogs i’d say neither and pick a nice village in Cheshire instead.

somewhere like Lymm.

i loved in liverpool for 13 years and would choose it over manchester in a heartbeat. it's a friendly warm city, so much to do and very compact.

Small city? Neither - I’d choose Leeds 😂

They’re both great cities.

Manchester isn’t really a city but a series of suburbs that are geographically connected but socially very different. It’s great for academia, culture, and diversity. The schools are exceptional. There’s something for everyone but you will need to seek it out - everyone disappears back to their suburb after work and at weekends, because nobody other than students really live in the central areas. You will definitely need a car.

Liverpool feels like a city without a doubt, and like London, its suburbs are desperate to identify as Liverpool. Locals are proud of it and geographically and architecturally it’s more interesting than Manchester. It’s walkable and the trains and stations are conveniently located. However it’s not as diverse as you would think a port city would be, and although it has several universities it doesn’t feel rich culturally in the way that Manchester does - there’s a theatre scene and a music scene, but if you have niche interests you’re likely not going to be well served. Housing is 25% cheaper like-for-like than Manchester, and it’s by the sea.

Lived in both but looking back wish I had opted for Cheshire, which is bang in the middle, clean and pretty.

You're so close to each one no matter which you live in so could visit loads anyway. 40 mins on the train or by car.

You can go into Manchester really easily by train for the theatre and concerts etc though. It's not that far.

With a 700k budget, I’d look at Crosby / Blundellsands or Lark Lane area of Liverpool.

Since you have dogs I’d choose somewhere out in the country but with access to both. A nice Cheshire village

Liverpool! With that budget you could get something really nice in L18 or L19.