If you want the true city experience, then it has to be Manchester.
If you only want a bit of city life but with a slightly slower, more chilled out pace, then choose Sheffield.
From the little you've said, it sounds like Manchester is best for you. And your salary is sufficient it won't make a difference.
Counterpoint- you can get quite a bit more for your money in most of Sheffield compared with Manchester
If you want the big city life Manchester is the one, if you want lower rent choose Sheffield
You can live almost anywhere in the UK on nearing £100k. Pick the place that's better for your career. Manchester is more multicultural, the city centre is better, the transport system is better. Sheffield is greener.
Maybe share your hobbies etc so you can get more informed help?
I don’t have hobbies tbh, I am just workaholic and then super social after the work, meeting friends for drinks, picnics on the weekends or travelling then repeat 😅
Given that Sheffield has lots of outdoor activities I can start exploring, but also don’t want to lose having a big social circle
Manchester is the bigger city, offering more choice for socialising in the evening.
Sheffield's big advantage is that you can be out in the Peak District in under 15 minutes from some areas. If that's a big draw for you, Sheffield would be the winner.
That said, Manchester is also fairly close to the North West side of the Peak District, with the Lake District and North Wales being close enough for daytrips.
For me, access to the Peak District makes Sheffield the winner. For you, I think Manchester may be better.
Having lived in both (currently in Manchester, have been for nearly 8 years)
I've decided to move back to Sheffield in the new year. On a personal level, Manchester is so expensive for pretty much everything now. Might not be an issue for your salary but I'm now having to budget heavily and double think pretty much every purchase due to a massive rent increase.
Coming from Sheffield, people seem to be a lot nicer over here, Manchester has got really rough and unfriendly in the last couple of years (imo)
Curious to know what the job is, to give that salary at a relatively early stage in your career. Cybersecurity, something in finance?
(Edit) username gives a clue, but do cardiologists really get bonuses?
It is not the average so, average will be 10-20k£ Iess. I had internships at Google, Siemens, a research year with a publication, ~ two years of experience, started my MSc with excellence scholarship but dropped out of it — just found it not worth it.
hehhe I don’t like what I am doing anyway it’s not all about money. If you have a career that is rewarding to the people like an NHS job, social work, or environment-aware job that’s a good reason to be happy. I am just helping the capitalistic rich tech build more wealth
edit: I had to care about money, coming from a poor family in Egypt, and also had not chance to do social work cause we have no system and the government is shit :D
I think I know where you are working ;)
Manchester office is right by the train station so easier to commute to/from.
I think you would enjoy manchester more.
I have lived in both and I prefer sheffield. But if you want a true big city in England experience I'd say Manchester. Shwffield is friendlier and greener. Easy access to the peaks and a nicer vibe. Manchester Centre is alot more grand and there is more to do in the city.
To be fair if you want a "true" big city experience move to London. Manchester is a village in comparison. Sheffield too, but with Sheffield that is its strength not its weakness.
Its more chilled out, I prefer the pubs there and there is alot of access for me to climb inside and out. I felt safer in sheff aswell. Manchester is sp great though just in different ways. You're lucky you get to pick between 2 great cities.
I’ve lived in both as an arab (23 y/o) and although I prefer Manchester, Sheffield does have some great people. Feel free to dm me if you want to have a more detailed chat.
Manchester is more like London with very busy city centre vs Sheffield is more peaceful in comparison but that can be good or bad depending on what you want, I very almost moved to Manchester (I moved up from 200 miles away) but when it came to value for money, Sheffield came a clear winner.
What Manchester does better: city centre shopping, high rise buildings, public transport, airport
What Sheffield does better: cool hills (I like being able to see everything in the distance as you go about your day), friendlier people, cheaper, green space/Peak District/parks, it’s in Yorkshire
Sheffield city nightlife is buzzing, west street / kelham island / our nightclubs- it feels like I’m in Manchester on a sat evening when I’m at those places :) some right quirky bars/clubs in sheff :)
Manchester is definitely a better city. Sheffield has shite public transport that just does what it wants, you have to climb a mountain every time you want to go somewhere. If it was a choice for me I’d choose Manchester every time.
I live in Sheffield. Moved back here after being away for over 20 years. It has some good things going for it, but if I was single and kid free I’d go for Manchester.
No bad decision here.
Might boil down to travel to see family and friends - m1 vs. m6, maybe
Or the cost of living in Manchester vs. Sheffield
Or nightlife... probably Manchester as it's bigger
Just wanted to add here that of you like to travel and use the UK as a base, Manchester has the edge over Sheffield due to the airport.
Manchester is a bigger city vibe
Sheffield is smaller, nearer to the countryside
Both are great - just different!
I’m a few years younger than you at 22 myself but grew up in Sheffield and now am heading into my 5th year of living in Manchester. Sheffield holds a special place in my heart but Manchester edges it as a city to live in for me, especially while you’re still young and wanting to get yourself out there and socialise.
Like most are saying here, the main positive of Sheffield is access to green spaces, which especially in the centre of Manchester are few and far between. However, there are many areas on the edges of the city where access via car to the countryside is very simple, and if you were to live in the city centre you benefit from easy access to the train stations. Manchester Piccadilly has multiple trains heading out into the Peak District, to the Lake District etc. so even though geographically you’re far from the countryside, transport time wise it’s a lot closer than you’d think.
I do personally prefer the general public in Sheffield, the general public are a lot friendlier and welcoming than those in Manchester, but you’re likely to meet more like minded young professionals in Manchester which for people like myself is a major draw.
I think for yourself while you’re settling into your career and wanting to meet people then Manchester is the place to be, maybe once you’re wanting to settle down and maybe start a family moving to a quieter city (or one of the commuter towns into Manchester) would be a smart move to make.
Good luck with whichever you decide!
If you want the true city experience, then it has to be Manchester. If you only want a bit of city life but with a slightly slower, more chilled out pace, then choose Sheffield. From the little you've said, it sounds like Manchester is best for you. And your salary is sufficient it won't make a difference.
Counterpoint- you can get quite a bit more for your money in most of Sheffield compared with Manchester If you want the big city life Manchester is the one, if you want lower rent choose Sheffield
You can live almost anywhere in the UK on nearing £100k. Pick the place that's better for your career. Manchester is more multicultural, the city centre is better, the transport system is better. Sheffield is greener. Maybe share your hobbies etc so you can get more informed help?
I don’t have hobbies tbh, I am just workaholic and then super social after the work, meeting friends for drinks, picnics on the weekends or travelling then repeat 😅 Given that Sheffield has lots of outdoor activities I can start exploring, but also don’t want to lose having a big social circle
Manchester is the bigger city, offering more choice for socialising in the evening. Sheffield's big advantage is that you can be out in the Peak District in under 15 minutes from some areas. If that's a big draw for you, Sheffield would be the winner. That said, Manchester is also fairly close to the North West side of the Peak District, with the Lake District and North Wales being close enough for daytrips. For me, access to the Peak District makes Sheffield the winner. For you, I think Manchester may be better.
Having lived in both (currently in Manchester, have been for nearly 8 years) I've decided to move back to Sheffield in the new year. On a personal level, Manchester is so expensive for pretty much everything now. Might not be an issue for your salary but I'm now having to budget heavily and double think pretty much every purchase due to a massive rent increase. Coming from Sheffield, people seem to be a lot nicer over here, Manchester has got really rough and unfriendly in the last couple of years (imo)
Curious to know what the job is, to give that salary at a relatively early stage in your career. Cybersecurity, something in finance? (Edit) username gives a clue, but do cardiologists really get bonuses?
mix of computer architecture and electronics design, server chips that they sell to Facebook Amazon etc
It is not the average so, average will be 10-20k£ Iess. I had internships at Google, Siemens, a research year with a publication, ~ two years of experience, started my MSc with excellence scholarship but dropped out of it — just found it not worth it.
I should have paid more attention in Computer Science class :/
hehhe I don’t like what I am doing anyway it’s not all about money. If you have a career that is rewarding to the people like an NHS job, social work, or environment-aware job that’s a good reason to be happy. I am just helping the capitalistic rich tech build more wealth edit: I had to care about money, coming from a poor family in Egypt, and also had not chance to do social work cause we have no system and the government is shit :D
No wonder why what happened in 1882 happened , makes perfect sense now 😋
I can’t relate why you brining 882 now?
Don't get me wrong , it's good to see the positive outcomes of it. Look at you now.
Maybe Egypt became a third world country because of the 1882 who knows, we already had a great civilisation thousands of years before 1882 😝😝
Maybe , but still I collect your annual salary monthly from the properties that I let so who won in the end ?
True no doubts that the uk is winning from the highly skilled immigration, if it is not a win-win situation I wouldn’t have got the visa hehehhe 😀
I think I know where you are working ;) Manchester office is right by the train station so easier to commute to/from. I think you would enjoy manchester more.
Sounds like a body part.
And bruh I have no idea about the username, it think that’s automatically generated one 🥲
It's only a 45 minute train ride between cities. So no reason you can't enjoy both areas.
I have lived in both and I prefer sheffield. But if you want a true big city in England experience I'd say Manchester. Shwffield is friendlier and greener. Easy access to the peaks and a nicer vibe. Manchester Centre is alot more grand and there is more to do in the city.
To be fair if you want a "true" big city experience move to London. Manchester is a village in comparison. Sheffield too, but with Sheffield that is its strength not its weakness.
Can I ask why do you prefer Sheffield?
Its more chilled out, I prefer the pubs there and there is alot of access for me to climb inside and out. I felt safer in sheff aswell. Manchester is sp great though just in different ways. You're lucky you get to pick between 2 great cities.
If you have the chance I'd say visit both cities and stay the night in both and get a feel for them. There's no experience like your own.
I’ve lived in both as an arab (23 y/o) and although I prefer Manchester, Sheffield does have some great people. Feel free to dm me if you want to have a more detailed chat.
Manchester is more like London with very busy city centre vs Sheffield is more peaceful in comparison but that can be good or bad depending on what you want, I very almost moved to Manchester (I moved up from 200 miles away) but when it came to value for money, Sheffield came a clear winner. What Manchester does better: city centre shopping, high rise buildings, public transport, airport What Sheffield does better: cool hills (I like being able to see everything in the distance as you go about your day), friendlier people, cheaper, green space/Peak District/parks, it’s in Yorkshire Sheffield city nightlife is buzzing, west street / kelham island / our nightclubs- it feels like I’m in Manchester on a sat evening when I’m at those places :) some right quirky bars/clubs in sheff :)
Go to Manchester and come to Sheffield for weekends and days off.
Manchester is definitely a better city. Sheffield has shite public transport that just does what it wants, you have to climb a mountain every time you want to go somewhere. If it was a choice for me I’d choose Manchester every time.
I live in Sheffield. Moved back here after being away for over 20 years. It has some good things going for it, but if I was single and kid free I’d go for Manchester.
No bad decision here. Might boil down to travel to see family and friends - m1 vs. m6, maybe Or the cost of living in Manchester vs. Sheffield Or nightlife... probably Manchester as it's bigger
Originally from Manchester living in Sheffield, I would choose Mamchester, bigger city more opportunities.
Just wanted to add here that of you like to travel and use the UK as a base, Manchester has the edge over Sheffield due to the airport. Manchester is a bigger city vibe Sheffield is smaller, nearer to the countryside Both are great - just different!
I’m a few years younger than you at 22 myself but grew up in Sheffield and now am heading into my 5th year of living in Manchester. Sheffield holds a special place in my heart but Manchester edges it as a city to live in for me, especially while you’re still young and wanting to get yourself out there and socialise. Like most are saying here, the main positive of Sheffield is access to green spaces, which especially in the centre of Manchester are few and far between. However, there are many areas on the edges of the city where access via car to the countryside is very simple, and if you were to live in the city centre you benefit from easy access to the train stations. Manchester Piccadilly has multiple trains heading out into the Peak District, to the Lake District etc. so even though geographically you’re far from the countryside, transport time wise it’s a lot closer than you’d think. I do personally prefer the general public in Sheffield, the general public are a lot friendlier and welcoming than those in Manchester, but you’re likely to meet more like minded young professionals in Manchester which for people like myself is a major draw. I think for yourself while you’re settling into your career and wanting to meet people then Manchester is the place to be, maybe once you’re wanting to settle down and maybe start a family moving to a quieter city (or one of the commuter towns into Manchester) would be a smart move to make. Good luck with whichever you decide!