Cost of Living in Birmingham for Students

Birmingham is a county in the West Midlands region of England.

It attracts students worldwide to study and work in the youngest city in the UK. If you are planning to study in this city, you need to understand the cost of living there.

Is housing in Birmingham affordable?

Like any other city in the UK, some areas in Birmingham are expensive, while others are a lot cheaper to rent.

Luckily, speaking of housing in particular, Birmingham offers affordable student housing options. Even the cost of living is comparably less than the national average.

However, bear in mind that your lifestyle will determine your expenses.

While housing may be safe for your budget, be careful of expenses on healthcare and groceries. It tends to be a little higher than the national average.

Therefore, do proper research and budget wisely.

Before we list the details of the cost of living in Birmingham, let’s summarize its cost.

Expenses	Cost (Average)
Average Tuition Fees	£17,000 – £25,000 / Year
Accommodation	£500 – £950 / Week
Local transport	£60 / Month

Costs of Tuition Fees

The cost of tuition fees in Birmingham will depend on the type of university you choose and the course you study.

Undergraduate Tuition Fee	Post-Graduate Tuition Fee
£17,340 to £26,460 / Year	£17,910 to £27,690 / Year

Student Accommodation Costs in Birmingham

There are many student accommodations in Birmingham. You will find three types of accommodations available for students. It depends on where you want to stay and the type of accommodation. In conclusion, you will never run out of options.

1. Student Housing

In this type of housing, the location is often off-campus but not far from it. The best part about student housing is the variety of options available based on your preferences, location, room types, etc. It is fully furnished and comes with an inclusive bill for your utilities.

Most of the accommodations are at a distance of 0.13 miles. While the ones outside of the city center are only 3.87 miles.

Student Housing	Price
Ensuite/ Studio	£131 – £282 / Week

2. Private Apartment

A private apartment gives students the same rights as any other lodger who rents the apartment. In this type of housing, you can rent out the whole place or share it with others.

Apartment	Price
Monthly	£1000 – £9500 / Month

3. University Halls

University Halls vary in shape and size and are located within the university campus. There are many rooms available in the halls. They can range from basic, standard, shared, studio, etc.

University Hall	Price
Ensuite/ Studio	£129- £165 / Week

[Also Read: Best 5 Student Accommodation in Birmingham]

Food

Eating in restaurants is more expensive than fast food. But breakfast prices are lower than lunch or dinner. For instance, a meal at a restaurant will cost you £12.

Utility Bills

If you choose student housing, you will have bills inclusive of utilities. Some university halls charge extra, while others provide inclusive utility bills.

Transportation

The city is well-connected, and getting around town is easy. Thanks to its good network of public transportation links (trams, buses, and trains), A word of advice: if you travel daily by bus, take the monthly bus pass instead of a day pass; it will save you a lot of cash.

How to try to live on a budget in Birmingham

Try to find affordable accommodation and share it with friends
Start planning and budgeting your expenses
Eat more at home than outside
Look for a part-time job to spend some money on your fun activities
If you can, try to walk, cycle, or use a bike to travel to nearby places

Things to do for free in Birmingham

Birmingham offers cool things to explore and experience without any cost. You may think everything will cost money, but there are free places to visit and activities to do as a student in Birmingham.

These are a few places we are listing below that you can do during your fun time: