How expensive is Birmingham compared to the rest of United Kingdom?

Birmingham ranks #120 out of 577 cities globally. It is 2.6% cheaper than the United Kingdom average, based on 23 cities. The rent index is 28.9 and local purchasing power is 169.9.

What is the average rent in Birmingham?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Birmingham city centre costs approximately GBP 651 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to GBP 510 (saving 22%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around GBP 1,135.

Is Birmingham affordable to live in?

Birmingham is expensive by global standards. Groceries are average, restaurants are average, and local purchasing power is very strong. Workers in United Kingdom earning GBP 42,720 gross take home approximately GBP 2,857 per month after tax.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom · 2026

Levnadskostnader i Birmingham

2.6% under United Kingdom-genomsnittet

Placering #120 av 577 städer · Dyrare än 79.2% av städerna i världen

-2.6%

Levnadskostnader

-13.2%

Hyra

-4.2%

Livsmedel

+31.5%

Köpkraft

Jämfört med United Kingdom-genomsnittet · Se United Kingdom-ranking →

Hyrespriser i Birmingham

Lägenhet	Innerstad	Utanför centrum	Du sparar
1 rum	GBP 651/mo ≈ $862	GBP 510/mo ≈ $676	22%
3 rum	GBP 1,135/mo ≈ $1,504	GBP 863/mo ≈ $1,143	24%

Uppskattat från hyresindex. Faktiska priser kan variera. · 2026

Prices of Goods & Services in Birmingham

Groceries

Item	Price	Sources
Apples (1kg)	GBP 1.95	2 sources
Beer (0.5L, supermarket)	GBP 2.44	2 sources
Bread (500g)	GBP 1.16	2 sources
Local cheese (1kg)	GBP 9.06	2 sources
Chicken (1kg)	GBP 6.85	2 sources
Cigarettes (Marlboro)	GBP 15.30	2 sources
Eggs (12)	GBP 4.37	2 sources
Milk (1L)	GBP 1.31	2 sources
Potatoes (1kg)	GBP 2.96	2 sources
Tomatoes (1kg)	GBP 3.78	2 sources
Water (1.5L)	$2.80	1 source
Wine (mid-range)	GBP 9.50	2 sources

Apples (1kg)

GBP 1.95

Beer (0.5L, supermarket)

GBP 2.44

Bread (500g)

GBP 1.16

Local cheese (1kg)

GBP 9.06

Chicken (1kg)

GBP 6.85

Cigarettes (Marlboro)

GBP 15.30

Eggs (12)

GBP 4.37

Milk (1L)

GBP 1.31

Potatoes (1kg)

GBP 2.96

Tomatoes (1kg)

GBP 3.78

Water (1.5L)

$2.80

Wine (mid-range)

GBP 9.50

Restaurants

Item	Price	Sources
Draft beer (0.5L)	GBP 5.04	2 sources
Cappuccino	GBP 4.20	2 sources
McMeal	GBP 8.50	2 sources
Cheap meal	GBP 14.50	2 sources
Mid-range dinner (2 people)	GBP 65.00	2 sources

Draft beer (0.5L)

GBP 5.04

Cappuccino

GBP 4.20

McMeal

GBP 8.50

Cheap meal

GBP 14.50

Mid-range dinner (2 people)

GBP 65.00

Clothing & Shoes

Item	Price	Sources
Business shoes (leather)	GBP 82.38	2 sources
Jeans (Levi's 501)	GBP 56.67	2 sources
Sport shoes (Nike)	GBP 76.47	2 sources
Summer dress (Zara/H&M)	GBP 33.65	2 sources

Business shoes (leather)

GBP 82.38

Jeans (Levi's 501)

GBP 56.67

Sport shoes (Nike)

GBP 76.47

Summer dress (Zara/H&M)

GBP 33.65

Leisure

Item	Price	Sources
Cinema ticket	GBP 10.75	2 sources
Gym membership	GBP 28.08	2 sources

Cinema ticket

GBP 10.75

Gym membership

GBP 28.08

Transportation

Item	Price	Sources
Gasoline (1L)	GBP 1.45	2 sources
Taxi start	GBP 3.80	1 source
Monthly pass	GBP 68.50	2 sources

Gasoline (1L)

GBP 1.45

Taxi start

GBP 3.80

Monthly pass

GBP 68.50

Utilities

Item	Price	Sources
Basic utilities (85m²)	GBP 247.91	2 sources

Basic utilities (85m²)

GBP 247.91

Prices in local currency, cross-referenced from multiple independent sources. October 2026.

Multi-Source Comparison

★★★ High Confidence

Birmingham has a cost of living index of 52.3 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 3 of 3 data sources.

52.3

Index

Sources

4.1

Gap between sources

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo

51.1

Expatistan

55.0

LivingCost

50.9

ShouldIMove price index

No data

ShouldIMove price index: our own basket of real item prices plus rent.

View all 577 cities

Kostnadsindex

Levnadskostnader

-2.6% Average

Hyra

-13.2% Affordable

Livsmedel

-4.2% Average

Restauranger

-0.5% Average

Köpkraft

+31.5% Very strong

Att bo i Birmingham: vad du kan förvänta dig

Birmingham är expensive enligt globala mått (plats #120 av 577 städer). 2.6% billigare än United Kingdom-genomsnittet, baserat på 23 städer.

Matvaror är average, medan att äta ute är average. Rent erbjuder bäst värde, medan Restaurants är dyrast.

Den lokala köpkraften är stark: invånare har råd med fler varor och tjänster än i de flesta städer.

Anställda i United Kingdom med GBP 42,720 brutto får GBP 2,857/mån netto efter skatt (effektiv skattesats: 19.8%%). Se hela skattekalkylatorn för United Kingdom →