Cost of Living in Birmingham - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,052 (excluding rent), and $2,394 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,629 (excluding rent), and $4,478 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.50 £15.31

$13.67 £10.21

$34.16 £25.52

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.2 £60.7

$60.9 £45.52

$135 £101

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.49 £7.09

$8.81 £6.58

$12.20 £9.11

Cappuccino

$4.49 £3.35

$2.66 £1.99

$6.63 £4.96

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 £1.83

$1.55 £1.16

$3.59 £2.68

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 £1.35

$1.40 £1.05

$2.80 £2.09

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.80 £5.08

$4.77 £3.56

$8.16 £6.10

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.21 £4.64

$5.52 £4.12

$11.05 £8.25

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 £1.30

$1.04 £0.78

$2.78 £2.07

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 £1.20

$0.73 £0.55

$3.07 £2.29

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 £1.96

$1.65 £1.23

$4.10 £3.07

Eggs

$3.80 £2.84

$2.02 £1.51

$5.03 £3.76

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.26 £7.67

$5.14 £3.84

$40.57 £30.31

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.24 £6.16

$5.54 £4.14

$9.70 £7.25

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.22 £10.62

$6.18 £4.62

$20.61 £15.40

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 £1.96

$1.18 £0.88

$3.88 £2.90

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 £1.38

$1.24 £0.92

$2.76 £2.06

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 £1.48

$1.33 £1.00

$4.00 £2.99

Tomato (1kg)

$2.72 £2.03

$1.34 £1.00

$4.28 £3.20

Potato (1kg)

$1.67 £1.25

$0.54 £0.40

$4.05 £3.03

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 £1.07

$0.81 £0.61

$2.43 £1.82

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.41 £1.06

$1.05 £0.78

$2.67 £1.99

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 £0.99

$1.01 £0.75

$2.01 £1.50

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.03 £14.22

$19.02 £14.21

$33.99 £25.39

Wine (Bottle)

$12.00 £8.96

$6.65 £4.97

$20.00 £14.94

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.34 £2.49

$2.00 £1.49

$5.32 £3.97

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 £3.17

$2.08 £1.55

$6.91 £5.16

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.48 £2.60

$2.79 £2.08

$4.04 £3.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.3 £63.0

$80.2 £59.9

$101 £75.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.78 £5.06

$6.77 £5.05

$12.21 £9.12

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 £1.07

$1.53 £1.14

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.11 £17.27

$20.62 £15.40

$34.35 £25.66

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.96 £1.46

$1.87 £1.39

$2.19 £1.63

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$39.2K £29.3K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.5K £29.5K

$41.2K £30.8K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$294 £220

$230 £172

$474 £354

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$23.92 £17.87

$13.61 £10.17

$68.0 £50.8

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.10 £29.21

$33.70 £25.17

$53.9 £40.28

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.16 £24.03

$22.66 £16.93

$46.68 £34.87

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.09 £7.54

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 £13.69

$10.86 £8.11

$24.43 £18.25

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,601 £1,196

$1,455 £1,087

$1,819 £1,359

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.9K £14.1K

$15.4K £11.5K

$21.4K £16.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.5 £73.6

$37.74 £28.19

$128 £95.7

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.31 £36.09

$26.96 £20.14

$53.9 £40.28

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 £89.1

$87.7 £65.5

$162 £121

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$140 £105

$66.7 £49.79

$347 £259

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,347 £1,007

$1,231 £919

$1,641 £1,226

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,079 £806

$880 £657

$1,354 £1,011

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,335 £1,745

$2,061 £1,539

$2,748 £2,052

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 £1,233

$1,363 £1,018

$2,066 £1,543

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,428 £4,054

$5,240 £3,914

$5,481 £4,095

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,234 £3,163

$4,093 £3,057

$4,393 £3,282

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,342 £2,497

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.76

4.3

5.99

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: January 12, 2026

Birmingham Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

249

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

293

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🇪🇺 Europe

Cost of Living in Birmingham - Frequently Asked Questions

Compared with London or Manchester, Birmingham often feels like solid value for money, especially if you prioritize housing and everyday essentials. Central areas can be pricier, while outer neighborhoods offer more space and lower rents, with a distinct city center vibe and good local amenities. Dining and groceries are affordable relative to other major cities, and public transport is practical for exploring or commuting to the broader Midlands. You’ll find coworking spaces and reliable internet that suit remote work, plus a lively mix of cafes and markets. Cost of Living in Birmingham, United Kingdom gives a practical baseline for planning. Tip: Start by testing a few neighborhoods for vibe and commute before committing.

For a traveler or expat, Birmingham feels approachable for daily life. Start your housing search in areas with good transit and walkability, such as the central quarter or riverfront zones, then expand to quieter suburbs with garden space. Food is diverse and affordable, from bustling markets and curry houses to modern cafes and international groceries. Public transport includes rail links and a tram network, plus bike-friendly streets for short hops. Co-working spaces and coworking-friendly cafes keep you connected without heavy costs. Run errands in local markets or large supermarkets; seasonal produce is usually good value. Birmingham, United Kingdom living cost can guide your budgeting. Tip: Make a week's plan of neighborhood explorations to balance convenience and character.

Quality of life in Birmingham often hinges on neighborhood fit and daily rhythm. If you value a strong cultural scene, look to central zones like the Jewellery Quarter or Digbeth for cafés, markets, and nightlife; for a calmer vibe with parks and families, Harborne or Edgbaston can feel more relaxed. Build a simple budgeting framework by grouping essentials, lifestyle, and occasional splurges, then adjust with seasons – heating in winter, outdoor events in spring and summer. Seasonality also shapes food choices and transport needs. Use a mix of walking, cycling, and public transit to stay flexible. Tip: test short stays in a couple of areas before locking in a longer lease.