City in West Midlands, United Kingdom
Cost of living in Birmingham
How much a month costs in Birmingham
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $3,040–4,360 (£2,300–3,300).
Prices in Birmingham
Typical 2026 ranges in GBP, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | GBP | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | £950–1,450 | $1,260–1,920 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | £750–1,050 | $992–1,390 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | £20–35 | $26–46 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | £75–140 | $99–185 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | £7–12 | $9.3–15.9 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | £17–30 | $22–40 |
| Cappuccino | £3–4 | $4.0–5.3 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | £4–6 | $5.3–7.9 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | £2–3 | $2.6–4.0 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | £8–14 | $10.6–18.5 |
| Work and life | ||
| Coworking day pass | £15–30 | $20–40 |
| Gym membership (month) | £20–45 | $26–59 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | £10–20 | $13–26 |
Value for money: 10/100
A value score of 10/100 means Birmingham gives more quality of life per dollar than 9% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 71/100. It's the 10th most affordable of 22 places we cover in United Kingdom.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across United Kingdom
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Snowdonia | $2,640–3,700 | 28/100 |
| Newcastle | $2,640–3,830 | 22/100 |
| Liverpool | $2,780–3,970 | 20/100 |
| Belfast | $2,780–3,970 | 19/100 |
| Scottish Highlands | $2,910–4,100 | 23/100 |
| Cardiff | $2,910–4,100 | 19/100 |
| Leeds | $2,910–4,100 | 17/100 |
| Glasgow | $2,910–4,230 | 17/100 |
| York | $3,040–4,230 | 20/100 |
| Birmingham | $3,040–4,360 | 10/100 |
| Manchester | $3,170–4,500 | 12/100 |
| Lake District | $3,310–4,630 | 13/100 |
| Cornwall | $3,310–4,630 | 15/100 |
| Edinburgh | $3,310–4,760 | 14/100 |
| Brighton | $3,440–4,760 | 10/100 |
| Isle of Skye | $3,440–4,760 | 13/100 |
| Bath | $3,570–4,890 | 12/100 |
| Bristol | $3,570–5,020 | 8/100 |
| Oxford | $3,700–5,020 | 11/100 |
| Cambridge | $3,700–5,020 | 11/100 |
| Cotswolds | $3,700–5,290 | 10/100 |
| London | $4,360–6,350 | 3/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Birmingham
Similar safety, lower cost, in Europe.
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Birmingham?
About $1,980–2,780 on a lean budget, $3,040–4,360 for a comfortable month and $5,290–8,590 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Birmingham?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs £950–1,450 ($1,260–1,920) a month in the center and £750–1,050 ($992–1,390) outside it.
How much does food cost in Birmingham?
A local meal is £7–12 ($9.3–15.9); a mid-range restaurant is £17–30 ($22–40) per person.
Is United Kingdom expensive?
Prices in United Kingdom are about 89% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Birmingham
Going to Birmingham solo?
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Visit Birmingham
- Transport for West Midlands
- Birmingham Airport
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.