Moving to Birmingham: A Stashbee Moving Guide 2024

As the second largest major city in the UK, Birmingham is the most populated area in the UK and is home to a diverse culture, rich in music, sport and art. 

Known for famous TV shows like Peaky Blinders as well as being the host of the most recent Commonwealth Games and the home of Cadbury chocolate, Birmingham makes a fantastic place to move to if you are looking to explore new cultures and try new things.

Despite Birmingham being a popular location to relocate to, whether for work or other reasons, you may not know much about the city. That is where we come in. With this handy guide to moving to Birmingham, you will be clued up in no time! 

Key Facts about Birmingham

• Population: 984,333
• Average salary: £35,089 per year
• Average house price: £254,024
• Average monthly rent: £800-£1000 (based on a 1 bedroom apartment in the City Centre)
• Main train station(s): Birmingham New Street
• Closest Airport: Birmingham Airport
• Air pollution levels: Moderate
• Average price for a pint of milk: £1.33
• Average price of a pint of beer: £5.20

Cost of Moving

Let's get the boring-but-important bit out of the way first. Moving can put a dent in your wallet if you're not careful. Hiring professional movers is certainly the most convenient option, but the costs can be jaw-dropping - anywhere between £300 for a small flat move to over £1000+ if you're shifting a larger home across longer distances.

The distance is key - a move across town may only set you back £400-600, but if you're coming from further afield like London, Manchester or beyond, add at least a few hundred quid to those estimates. You'll also pay premiums for things like packing services, an extra pair of hands, transit insurance, etc.

However, the thrifty mover can save big by doing it themselves with just a rental van and some bribery...I mean, persuasion tactics for your friends. A van rental could be as little as £50-100 per day plus mileage. Buy some cheap loading straps, beg your mates to pitch in with the heavy lifting and you could potentially move an entire 2-bed flat for under £200 in just vehicle/fuel costs. 

One hassle you can avoid is finding temporary storage for excess belongings. Use Stashbee to easily rent an affordable and convenient storage space near you or your new Birmingham home. There are thousands of local spaces to choose from that offer secure storage units of all sizes to make your move seamless.

The Cost of Living in Birmingham 

If you are considering a move to Birmingham you will be pleased to hear that it is still cheaper to live than most other cities. House prices sit quite a bit below the UK average and the ratio of house price to earnings is pretty decent. The council tax is also ~8% below the national average.

Because of this, Birmingham can actually be considered one of the most cost-effective places to call home in England. This makes it a great place to live, especially for young professionals and graduates or those relocating to the UK. As with any town, the closer to the city centre and transport links you are, the more expensive!

Compared to London, and other UK cities, living costs in Birmingham are also quite low - so, you can do your food shop and eat out for a much lower rate than in the capital! 

When it comes to housing, you have the option to buy or rent in Birmingham - if you’re looking to save some money you could also houseshare, and look for housemates on sites such as Gumtree or SpareRoom.

Best Neighbourhoods

Young Professionals and Students:

If you're young, free and can handle a bit of hustle-and-bustle, areas like the Jewellery Quarter, Digbeth, and the City Centre itself are your best bets for an urban experience. The Jewellery Quarter is a trendy historic area with loads of cool independent shops, bars and street art. Digbeth has more of a gritty, bohemian vibe but also great nightlife.

Living in the City Centre puts you right in the thick of the action near attractions like the Bullring, Grand Central, Symphony Hall and more bars/clubs than you could ever need. The downside is higher rent, fees like parking permits, and the general noise/chaos of downtown living. But you can't beat the convenience!

Families:

If you'd rather more green space, peace and quiet, you'll want to look at family-friendly suburbs. Moseley is a hugely popular option - an arty, bohemian vibe with attractive parks, cafes and rated schools. Sutton Coldfield offers more of a traditional suburban area with larger homes and plenty of open spaces.

Other great family 'hoods to consider are Solihull (one of the more posh suburbs), Harborne (a pretty Victorian-esque village area), and Edgbaston (near some of the best schools). You'll pay a premium for these nicer suburbs, but get more living space, quieter streets and proximity to the countryside if you need a break.

Working in Birmingham 

Birmingham has a booming economy, which is why it makes it such a popular place move to, and many do so for work specifically. People flock to Birmingham from around the UK and Europe for its impressive employment opportunities. Industries such as manufacturing, engineering, retail and tourism are all popular job markets in the city.

Make sure to check out the local job market before moving, if you are looking for jobs in the city you can check out job boards such as Indeed to see what is out there.

Birmingham also has opportunities across sectors like business/finance, logistics, education and more. Major employers include HSBC, Jaguar Land Rover, and two big universities. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic hit Birmingham pretty hard, with higher unemployment rates being recorded since. However, there is hope that the city will recover well due to big-name brands calling the city home. 

Transport in Birmingham 

Transport is always something to consider when moving to a new city. The last thing you want is to move, and not know how to get around easily! Luckily, Birmingham offers a good public transport system that includes bus, train and tram - or midlands metro - networks. Trains from London to Birmingham generally only take between 1.5 - 2.5 hours.

Birmingham promotes green initiatives and so relies quite heavily on its public transport network - so whether you choose the bus or tram you will find navigating the city pretty easy. The Bus services run regularly through the day and night, aside from Sundays and the tram runs every 6-8 minutes Monday to Saturday.

Not only is getting around Birmingham itself easy, but there are also multiple train stations in the city so you can access the rest of the UK by rail.


 

Culture in Birmingham

Birmingham has a great cultural scene and lifestyle. Mainly it is quite family-orientated - lots of young families live in the area and there are plenty of fun attractions and events held locally that are perfect for kids. Not to mention the football team - Birmingham City - though they are not the only West Midlands team, with Aston Villa and West Brom also being in the area - and many other teams!

There are also several parks and green spaces to enjoy, so you can spend time exercising and enjoying nature, despite living in the city! This is great for people of all ages and particularly good for those of us with pets who like to run around outside.

What makes Birmingham special though is its kaleidoscope of cultures. You'll find vibrant communities hailing from India, Pakistan, the Caribbean, Ireland and pretty much every corner of the world. This incredible diversity is woven into the fabric of the city's neighbourhoods, restaurants, events and general vibe.

When it comes to partying, Birmingham doesn’t hold back. There are a variety of different bars and clubs around the city which are always bustling with people unwinding after work. It is a great place for a night out especially when there is an event on!

And, the fun doesn’t stop there - especially if you love food! Birmingham has an eclectic culture which lends itself to a fantastic array of food and restaurants - from cheap and cheerful to Michelin starred! So, whatever your taste buds wish for, you will certainly find it!

Conclusion

There you have it! Now, you know everything you need to know about moving to Birmingham. As with any move, it can be stressful so you should always be prepared. Make sure to have lined up a job if you can beforehand as well as a place to live - whether that be rented or purchased.

Once you’re ready to make the move, you simply need to pack up and go. Birmingham is a friendly city so you will find like-minded people and settle in before you know it! If you find yourself with some extra space after the move, why not list it on Stashbee and earn some extra money!