Admittedly I'm no longer in Manchester so don't have to pay the tariff but, when I was I didn't pay crazy prices, there's always another pub especially if you're out for a drink not a pose.
Nowadays I drink on the coast, Fleetwood, Cleveleys, Blackpool area and can pay anything from £1.49 a pint upto £3.40 and that's in some decent pubs/bars that aren't TB (tourist bastard) dives.
As for the price in the ground, as I drive I'm a one pint guy and not every game. The price being a captive audience isn't extreme but the quality especially of Asahi is crap in plastic.....go with the Groulsh cheaper and tastes better in the ground.