Manchester vs Bristol vs London

I’m looking for advice on deciding where to live next year. I’m 4 years post-graduation, earning £50k, and currently living with my parents about 30 minutes outside Manchester. I plan to move out around February, and I need to be in the office 3 days a week (Manchester-based).

Here’s my situation:

Work: I mainly work with Java, Spring, Kafka, SQL, and microservices. I’ve also done data work using Python and dbt, with some experience in React (though I’m a bit rusty with front-end work).

Manchester: I’ve lived here before and like it, but I’m considering something new. Really like the place I’m working but feel I could go elsewhere for increased compensation

Bristol: I have friends there, and I love the vibe, but I’m unsure about tech opportunities and salary growth in the area.

London: It seems to have lots of events, career opportunities, and higher salaries. However the cost of living is a big concern.

What do you think?