Centrally situated within the UK, Birmingham is a vibrant and multicultural city with five major universities and a large student population.
Located midway between London and Manchester, Birmingham offers a substantially lower cost of living than either, making it an attractive option which has plenty of things to discover on a student budget. As the second most populous city in the UK, there are loads of options for accommodation, lifestyle and transport. In this guide, we break down these key factors and more, helping you to manage your monthly expenditure and make the most out of this remarkable city.
There are a few key factors to consider when estimating the overall cost of living in Birmingham. As an undergraduate student, tuition fees and other university expenses will probably represent a significant portion of your budget. Typically, fees are set at £9,250 per year (this will be rising to £9,535 from the 2025/26 academic year) and you’ll need to allow enough additional spending for living costs such as rent, transport, food and entertainment.
Fortunately, most students are eligible to receive a tuition fee loan through Student Finance. This is paid directly to the university and covers course fees for the duration of study. Student Finance also offers a maintenance loan to help with living costs based on your family income and living situation, and Birmingham students can receive up to £9,978 per year in 2023/24 (this will be rising to up to £10,544 from the 2025/26 academic year). The loan repayments only begin once you have graduated and are earning over a set amount. For new students on Plan 5 this is £25,000 annually (although this threshold is subject to change).
Besides external loan companies like Student Finance, you may also be able to apply for extra funding through scholarship and bursary schemes offered by your uni. Funding packages are usually offered for various merit-based and means-tested criteria. For instance, the University of Birmingham offers a range of academic performance awards, sports and music scholarships, country-specific grants and much more.
Aston University provides a variety of options, including the Aston Achievement/Vice Chancellor’s Achievement Scholarship for students achieving BBB or above in A-levels, or high achievers in other qualifications. We recommend you check your eligibility before applying, you might be surprised at what is available!
Birmingham is a large city with an excellent choice of housing types and locations. Whatever your budget or preference, you can find something that’s right for you.
Most unis in the area offer accommodation in halls of residence with different options for catering, room size and en-suite facilities depending on the uni you choose. At Birmingham City University, single shared-bathroom bedrooms start at £105 per week, and single en-suite bedrooms are between £144 and £200 per week. At Aston University choices are more limited as all university accommodation is self-contained apartments of five or seven en-suite rooms. These are priced from £158 – £164 per week.
If you’d prefer to rent privately, you’re in luck. Birmingham is the second largest city in the country and there is no shortage of housing to explore. A studio flat in the city centre costs around £996 per month, and a three-bedroom apartment around £1,770, working out to about £590 per person. If you choose to live outside the city centre, prices can drop significantly. Expect to budget £80 per month on top of this for utilities bills if you’re living in a shared house, and around £150 if you’re living alone.
Birmingham has all the usual big-name British supermarket brands, from Asda and Tesco to Sainsburys and Waitrose. There are also low-cost alternatives with high-quality goods such as Lidl and Aldi, as well as a thriving street market scene where you can pick up fresh produce at bargain prices.
Average prices for commonly bought goods are as follows:
Milk (1L): £1.30
Bread Loaf: £1.22
Rice (1kg): £1.88
Eggs (12): £2.69
Cheese (1kg): £8.28
Chicken fillets (1kg): £5.84
Apples (1kg): £1.89
Potatoes (1kg): £1.29
The University of Birmingham suggests budgeting around £200 a month for your food shopping.
Birmingham is a city with a huge variety of regional and international cuisines to discover. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant will run to about £15 per person, and a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant costs around £60. A pint of beer costs on average £5, and a Cappuccino comes in at just over £3. Keep an eye out for student deals and discounts to help keep these costs down.
Birmingham has a busy nightlife scene, and with such a large student population, there are always places to go for inexpensive nights out. Many venues offer drinks deals and free entry for students. Costs depend on how often you go out, but overall Birmingham ranks highly for entertainment value, with approximately £50 recommended as a weekly budget.
Birmingham has many options for public transport including buses, trams and trains. An average single journey to a local destination is around £2, with monthly travel passes priced at £60. But don’t forget, as a student you will be able to buy a 16-25 Student Rail Card, which is well worth the £30 investment as it grants you a 1/3 discount on all rail services.
Rail tickets to London can cost as little as £17 on the day of travel, with a journey time of around 90 minutes for a direct train.
Birmingham has a fantastic selection of high-street and designer shopping, with prices for clothing costing around 20% less than London on average. A cinema ticket costs about £9, so there’s always an affordable way to spend an afternoon or evening. You might need to budget extra money for books, printing and photocopying or other course equipment so keep this in mind.
Excluding tuition fees, we’d recommend budgeting around £1,100 per month during your studies in Birmingham, depending on your rent costs and lifestyle.