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The 10 Best Areas to Rent in Manchester

Zenyx Griffiths

Written by

26th Apr 2019 (Last updated on 2nd Jan 2024) 8 minute read

Our best and cheapest area to rent in Manchester is Wigan, with a current average asking rent of £514 per month and a close-knit community to make you feel at home.

The third-most visited city in the UK and one famous for its iconic music scene, Manchester is a vibrant and multi-cultural part of the UK. From families to students, there’s something for everyone here with a perfect opportunity to step onto the property ladder.

According to Home, the current average rent in Manchester is £1,175 pcm with flats averaging at £918 pcm. As the city isn't too expensive, a lot of people are choosing to move from London to Manchester.

To help with your research, we’ve created a list of the best and cheapest areas to rent in Manchester, allowing you to find the perfect area within your budget. To make your Manchester removals as stress-free as possible, have a browse and discover the best Manchester home for you.

Where to Rent in Manchester

Using data from Zoopla, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best areas to rent in Manchester. It’s important to set yourself a budget before moving to Manchester, so we’ve included the current average asking rent as well as the current rent for 1-bedroom flats in these areas. However, it’s important to note that prices will vary depending on the property’s size and exact location as well as other external factors.

Area in ManchesterOverall Average Asking Renting Price (pcm)Average Asking Rent for 1-Bedroom Flats (pcm)

Wigan

£514

£435

Tameside

£618

£467

Whitefield

£731

£381

Prestwich

£897

£522

Sale

£890

£611

Chorlton

£951

£573

Didsbury

£985

£635

New Islington

£969

£794

Castlefield

£1,131

£837

Altrincham

£1,159

£673

All data has been taken from Zoopla, correct as of April 2019.


  1. 1. Wigan
  2. 2. Tameside
  3. 3. Whitefield
  4. 4. Prestwich
  5. 5. Sale
  6. 6. Chorlton
  7. 7. Didsbury
  8. 8. New Islington
  9. 9. Castlefield
  10. 10. Altrincham

1. Wigan

Our number one area in Manchester is Wigan as it currently has the cheapest properties to rent with 1-bedroom flats averaging at £435 pcm. Not only a great place to live on a budget, but it has been previously crowned as the ‘Happiest Place in Manchester’ by the Manchester Evening News in 2017.

From affordable flats to tree-lined streets with period houses, there’s a range of properties for you to call home. Wigan is a 49-minute commute to Manchester by car or there’s the choice of catching a train to reach the city in less time. For those looking to go further afield, it’s a 43-minute drive away from Manchester Airport, depending on traffic.

For those looking for larger properties, the current asking rent for 4-bedroom houses in Wigan is £755 pcm, resulting in £188.75 per person, assuming there’s someone renting each room.

Property TypeCurrent Asking Rent (pcm)Asking Rent Per Person (pcm)

1-bedroom flat

£435

£435

2-bedroom flat

£494

£247

3-bedroom house

£568

£189

2. Tameside

Tameside is next on our list of the best areas to rent in Manchester. With some of the best schools in Manchester located nearby, Tameside has become incredibly popular amongst young families. If you’re house-sharing, 4-bedroom houses currently have an asking rent of £858 pcm, ensuring you get more for your money.

Only a 30-minute drive from Manchester City Centre, it’s a perfect area for those looking to commute. It also contains a range of open parks and green spaces, ensuring a great balance between city and country life. It’s a caring and multi-cultural community, perfect to call home.

Property TypeCurrent Asking Rent (pcm)Asking Rent Per Person (pcm)

1-bedroom flat

£467

£467

2-bedroom flat

£551

£275.50

3-bedroom flat

£558

£186

3. Whitefield

With 4-bedroom houses with a current asking rent of £1,261 pcm, you can save yourself more by splitting the costs so that it’s an average of £315.25 per person. Whitefield is another affordable area and is only a 13-minute drive from the city centre making it a great Manchester commuter town with an abundance of trams as alternative options.

With Sedgley Park R.U.F.C. playing their home matches here as well as an array of quaint local stores, you’ll be fully entertained staying in Whitefield.

Property TypeCurrent Asking Rent (pcm)Asking Rent Per Person (pcm)

1-bedroom flat

£381

£381

2-bedroom flat

£696

£348

3-bedroom house

£693

£231

4. Prestwich

Prestwich is a highly popular area within Manchester, with a vibrant community spirit and affordable housing. The average asking rent for a 4-bedroom house here is currently £1,332 pcm, meaning you could potentially be paying as little as £333 per person. Prestwich is just over a 20-minute drive from Manchester City Centre, with the option of taking trams or trains. From family homes to trendy apartments, there’s something for everyone.

Property TypeCurrent Asking Rent (pcm)Asking Rent Per Person (pcm)

1-bedroom flat

£522

£522

2-bedroom flat

£686

£343

3-bedroom flat

£1,352

£451

5. Sale

In 2018, Sale was voted the 4th best place to live in England and was also number 1 on our best places to live in Manchester list. From Victorian detached houses to smaller terraced houses, there’s an abundance of property types to choose from. 4-bedroom houses in Sale currently have an asking rent of £1,413 pcm, with still a rather affordable monthly payment of £353.25 per person.

With 3 stops on the Metro-link, you can reach the city centre within 20-minutes making it favourable amongst commuters. With highly-rated schools and a thriving high street, it’s easy to see why it’s a popular suburb, placing it higher up our list than even some of the more cheaper areas.

Property TypeCurrent Asking Rent (pcm)Asking Rent Per Person (pcm)

1-bedroom flat

£611

£611

2-bedroom flat

£742

£371

3-bedroom house

£1,077

£359

6. Chorlton

Described as the ‘liberal heart of Manchester’, Chorlton is next on our list of the best areas to rent in Manchester. The community has a green and organic lifestyle with local delis and restaurants, small recycling facilities and a variety of charity shops to explore. It’s not the cheapest, but the rent is slowly improving with flats becoming more affordable and 4-bedroom houses have an asking rent of £1,248 pcm or £312 between all 4 people.

Property TypeCurrent Asking Rent (pcm)Asking Rent Per Person (pcm)

1-bedroom flat

£573

£573

2-bedroom flat

£760

£380

3-bedroom flat

£1,148

£383

7. Didsbury

One of the most sought-after areas of Manchester, Didsbury has 4 Metro-link stations making it great for commuters, as well as a variety of festivals to keep you busy throughout the year. With a range of beautiful parks and gardens, it’s a lovely area to move with a young family or with beloved pets. Didsbury was also once home to former poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy for any literature lovers interested.

The flats for rent are slightly higher in price but they’re still rather affordable compared to the overall asking price of Manchester. If you’re looking to house-share, 4-bedroom houses currently have an asking rent of £1,454 pcm.

Property TypeCurrent Asking Rent (pcm)Asking Rent Per Person (pcm)

1-bedroom flat

£635

£635

2-bedroom flat

£898

£449

3-bedroom flat

£1,174

£391

8. New Islington

One of the easiest commutes on our list, New Islington is only a 15-minute walk to Manchester Piccadilly or you could catch a train to arrive within 8-minutes. It’s a thriving industrial area with a variety of job opportunities. With stunning views of the wharf and marina, it’s a perfect atmosphere for a calm and cosy home.

Most flats to rent are at rather reasonable prices with 2-bedroom flats costing each person £495 per month. The larger flats, however, can rise dramatically in price with 4-bedroom properties costing £3,501 pcm. If this is your preferred option, it would be much cheaper to house-share in New Islington.

Property TypeCurrent Asking Rent (pcm)Asking Rent Per Person (pcm)

1-bedroom flat

£794

£794

2-bedroom flat

£990

£495

3-bedroom flat

£1,829

£610

9. Castlefield

Another easy commute, Castlefield is only a 6-minute drive to Manchester City Centre, or 10-minutes if you catch the train. It’s a rather tranquil area in Manchester, highly popular with professionals, young renters and families. From unique loft conversions to cobblestone streets and cottages, the architecture varies hugely ensuring everyone can find their perfect home.

Due to its popularity, Castlefield property prices are slightly higher than the others on our list but there are still rather affordable areas to explore. It’s a great place to house-share, drastically cutting down the rent per person. 4-bedroom houses offer a vast amount of space for only £381.25 per person.

Property TypeCurrent Asking Rent (pcm)Asking Rent Per Person (pcm)

1-bedroom flat

£837

£837

2-bedroom flat

£1,037

£518.50

3-bedroom flat

£1,403

£468

10. Altrincham

Last on our list of the best areas to rent in Manchester, is Altrincham. In 2018, the Sunday Times crowned Altrincham as the best place to live in the North West. With Alty Market, the food hall and a range of Victorian and Edwardian houses, it’s easy to see how it claimed this title. There’s so much to explore in Altrincham but it also offers great transport links, being only a 13-minute drive to Manchester Airport.

With only a 40-minute train journey to Manchester City Centre, Altrincham is a great area to rent before committing to a mortgage as it has a variety of Help-to-Buy properties as well as Shared Ownership opportunities to research once you inevitably settle in.

Property TypeCurrent Asking Rent (pcm)Asking Rent Per Person (pcm)

1-bedroom flat

£673

£673

2-bedroom flat

£788

£394

3-bedroom flat

£3,376

£1,125

Saving Money on Your Move to Manchester

Now that you’re aware of the best places to rent in Manchester, it’s time to get connected with up to 6 local and reliable removal companies near you. Just fill out our quick and easy form to save you up to 70% off of the cost of your removal. Also, check out our house removal costs guide so you know what to expect.

Zenyx Griffiths

Before Compare My Move, Zenyx once wrote lifestyle and entertainment articles for the online magazine, Society19 as well as news articles for Ffotogallery.

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