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Living in Birmingham

Birmingham is known for its friendly atmosphere and multicultural mix, think about the neighbourhood festivals from Diwali, the Balti Triangle and the St Patrick's parade in Digbeth. It is a fast-developing city. The City Centre attracts a lot of students as well as young professionals in almost every sector. The green suburbs are more in favour of families, like Erdington, where the green streets and good schools are located. The City Centre has a well-connected rail network from New Street, Snow Hill and Moor Street and the West Midlands Metro system, which makes the city more dynamic, however, also still relaxed.

What's it like renting in Birmingham?

Birmingham is a big, welcoming city with lots of choices in terms of housing. There are historical buildings around Moseley, newly built apartments in the City Centre and semi-detached houses for families around Erdington. The city is also a nice place for students, with the University of Birmingham and Selly Oak as a student-friendly district. Getting around in Birmingham is well taken care of. There is a rail network, metros and buses. When looking at the rental market, it is very active; however, you will have enough time to consider houses and make a good offer before they are gone. The average rent is around £990, as we see in our own data.

Living in Birmingham

Edgbaston

Edgbaston is a district that lies in the southwest of Birmingham's centre. There are green streets, parks and more traditional homes. In addition to this, the district is the home of the Edgbaston cricket ground and the University of Birmingham. Most tenants are looking for a comforting, quiet quality of life, while still enjoying a city.

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Digbeth

Looking for the creative area in Birmingham? Then you should look at Digbeth. This district is full of street art, cafes, bars, studios and warehouses. This area draws a more outgoing (and younger) crowd, due to the excellent central location and vibrant culture. The city is perfect for those who are seeking an urban lifestyle, because much of its housing is flats and loft-style apartments.

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Ladywood

Ladywood is a district west of the City Centre, which offers a mix of apartments and traditional houses. Ladywood is undergoing a lot of changes to improve the local facilities and transportation. The tenants, young professionals, first-time renters, and just graduates are looking for a city-edge district with a bit more affordable rents than the City Centre of Birmingham.

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Erdington

North-east of the centre of Birmingham, we will find Erdington. This district offers parks, like Rookery Park and Pype Hayes Park and local high streets. You can also find semi-detached houses here, which makes it appealing for families and commuters to live here. For families, it is also interesting because of the many schools that are in the area, like primary schools, like the Shaw Hill school, as well as secondary schools. There is more space and it is quiet compared to other districts.

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Jewellery Quarter

The district name says it all. 40% of the UK jewellery is made here in hubs, which also give workshops. The district offers a blend of working and living, as well as boutiques, and it is just minutes from the City Centre. It is a popular area for creative professionals and for those who are seeking charming flats that are near facilities.

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Stockland Green

This district is located in the North and is known for its more friendly community feel. The district is full of family houses, schools, and shops, which results in the fact that the area tends to attract more families and long-term tenants who are looking for a very stable neighbourhood, rather than a dynamic city.

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Selly Oak

Selly Oak is the area for students and young professionals. This is a result of the well-connected transport link, with the Selly Oak Station that is connected with the Cross-City line. It is also near the university. The area has a large number of shared housing for students, flats. You will find rental prices cheaper, an average of £904 compared to the £990 city average.

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Moseley

Just south of Birmingham, we can find Moseley. This is a more bohemian, green suburb that is known for its vintage shops, restaurants, parks and its strong community. Moseley appeals to professionals and families who are seeking space and lifestyle outside of the city.

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Handsworth

West of Birmingham is Handsworth. This district is culturally rich and long-standing. There is a deep south asian and Caribbean community, as well as traditional housing and a decent value for renters. Handsworth is a more affordable option than other suburbs. This results in it being a good area for renters who are looking for a more local character.

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House Philip Sidney Road in Birmingham

B114HS Birmingham
£50 pcm £12 pw
  • 2 bedrooms
Published 5 minutes ago

House Philip Sidney Road in Birmingham

B114HS Birmingham
£50 pcm £12 pw
  • 3 bedrooms
Published 6 minutes ago

Flat Westminster Road in Birmingham

B203LJ Birmingham
£498 pcm £115 pw
  • 4 bedrooms
  • 2 bathrooms
Published 1 hour ago

Flat Winnie Road in Birmingham

B296JX Birmingham
£429 pcm £99 pw
  • 4 bedrooms
  • 1 bathroom
Published 1 hour ago

Flat Hubert Road in Birmingham

B296ET Birmingham
£468 pcm £108 pw
  • 6 bedrooms
  • 3 bathrooms
Published 1 hour ago
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House Philip Sidney Road in Birmingham

B114HS Birmingham
£50 pcm £12 pw
  • 2 bedrooms
Published 5 minutes ago

House Philip Sidney Road in Birmingham

B114HS Birmingham
£50 pcm £12 pw
  • 3 bedrooms
Published 6 minutes ago

Flat Westminster Road in Birmingham

B203LJ Birmingham
£498 pcm £115 pw
  • 4 bedrooms
  • 2 bathrooms
Published 1 hour ago

Flat Winnie Road in Birmingham

B296JX Birmingham
£429 pcm £99 pw
  • 4 bedrooms
  • 1 bathroom
Published 1 hour ago

Flat Hubert Road in Birmingham

B296ET Birmingham
£468 pcm £108 pw
  • 6 bedrooms
  • 3 bathrooms
Published 1 hour ago
  • Birmingham has some more affordable rents than in London, with an average of £990, which is almost 60% lower than in London. Especially budget-minded people should know this before choosing where to rent in the UK.
  • Next to that, Birmingham has a great variety of neighbourhoods. The city offers a range of City Centre neighbourhoods, student-friendly districts and leafy suburbs. Each district has its own feel and community, which results in Birmingham having an appeal that suits all kinds of people, like Selly Oak for a student-friendly environment and Erdington for families who are looking for more space and green areas.
  • Before living in Birmingham, you should know about the well-connected transport system. Birmingham has very good transportation links, from the City Centre to the suburbs or to the university and the other way around. This results in the fact that getting around is very easy. For a single ticket for the bus, you can expect £3 for a short train ride, it has an average of £3.50, and a metro day ticket can cost between £ 3.30 and £ 4.70, depending on the zones.
  • Unique to Birmingham is the mix between students and young professionals. There are several universities, such as Birmingham University and Aston University. Next to that, there is a significant number of employers in finance, engineering and technology, which results in attracting both of these groups. This gives the city an international and youthful energy.
  • Lastly, the cultural growth of the city. Think about the food scene, festivals and other areas that are thriving at the moment, from the Digbeth nightlife to the Handsworth cultural community. Culture and creativity are aentral concepts in the daily life of Birmingham. When you seek a culturally diverse city, Birmingham is one for you to live in.

What’s it like to live in Birmingham?

Birmingham is a large, very diverse city with families, students and young professionals. It is known for its friendly atmosphere with tons of cultural background around the city, with the Balti Triangle, Diwali and more. The suburbs offer a peaceful, leafy feel. At the same time, the centre of the city is vibrant with dining, culture and nightlife.

What is the average rent in Birmingham?

The average rent in Birmingham is around £990 a month. Of course, it depends on what property you are renting.

Where can I find the latest rental listings in Birmingham?

You can find the latest rentals here.

Which Birmingham districts are popular to live in?

The districts best for renting in Birmingham are Selly Oak and the City Centre. Selly Oak is popular with students. The City Centre, with its well-connected transport, is popular due to the highest rental demand.

What is the cost of renting in Birmingham per month?

The average rent in Birmingham is around £990. When looking at other costs, you will need to think about the expenses for utilities and internet, around £100/180 and also council taxes. Of course, this depends on where you are renting.

What is the cost of living in Birmingham, UK?

The cost of living excluding rent is estimated at around £780 monthly, for water, gas, entertainment and groceries. However, it depends on the lifestyle. The cost of living, including rent, will be £990 a month. Together, the cost of living in Birmingham will be around £1,770.

What is the cost of renting in Birmingham for a student?

Students who are not living on campus but choose a private rental room, based on our platform data, have an estimated rent of £680 per month. With renting come more costs, like energy (£80–£130), water (£30–£50) and insurance (£6–£10). So if these are not included in your rent, you should bear them in mind when budgeting.

What is the cost of renting in Birmingham for international students?

For international students, the cost of living is estimated at around £1,400 monthly and includes water, gas, groceries, transportation and of course entertainment in the evenings/weekends. The average rent here is £680 for a private rental room, so you also need to keep that in mind when budgeting for living in Birmingham.

What is the cost of living in Birmingham for a single person?

The average rent of a one-bedroom apartment is £960, measured from our own data. Including utilities with an average of £850, it's around £1,810 per month for a single person.

Is renting in Birmingham expensive?

Birmingham is more affordable than London and other big cities in the UK. In London, there is a difference of >50% in rent prices. However, for the local area, rents and the competition are rising in Birmingham as well. Average rent in Birmingham is around £990, whereas in London this is about £2,775 and £1,300 in Manchester. So Birmingham is more affordable than London and Manchester.

How good is public transport in Birmingham?

The public transport in Birmingham is well-connected with buses, trams and rail systems. When looking at the cost of public transport, a metro day ticket costs around £3.30–£4.70, and a bus ticket costs £3.00.

What are the housing options like in Birmingham?

There is a whole range of housing options in Birmingham:
  • Shared houses and student flats in Selly Oak
  • Converted lofts in Digbeth and the Jewellery Quarter
  • Newly built apartments in the City Centre
  • Historical terraced homes in Moseley
  • Semi-detached houses in Erdington.