20 Cheapest Places to Buy a House or Flat in Birmingham
Birmingham's most affordable property location is B2 (Birmingham City Centre) with average asking prices of £173,065, a remarkable 25% below Birmingham's average house price of £229,780.
Using the latest HM Land Registry sold house prices and current asking prices from estate agents and the UKs best property websites, we've identified Birmingham's 20 most affordable locations where buyers can find exceptional value. Eight areas offer average property prices under £220,000, with the cheapest starting from just £173,065.
Interestingly, Birmingham is 21% cheaper than the UK average (£269,735) and 21% cheaper than England (£291,852). Property prices range from detached houses averaging £434,914 to flats at £146,374, with the best opportunities concentrated in specific postcodes. Birmingham's most affordable areas span from parts of the city centre to northeastern and western suburbs, with B2, B6, and B18 leading our rankings.
Our research reveals affordability ratios from 3.71x to 6.79x in Birmingham's cheapest areas, which is well below the UK's average of 7.1x where homes cost over seven times annual earnings. This means properties in areas like B2 cost just 3.71x the local average household income of £46,600, making homeownership significantly more achievable than in most of the UK.
Our analysis combines current property asking prices, historical price trends, crime rates, population data, and local household incomes to provide a comprehensive view of Birmingham's most affordable property markets. This reveals not just the cheapest locations, but crucially identifies each area's safety profile and income-to-price ratios.
Through detailed examination of over 60 Birmingham postcodes, we've ranked the 20 most affordable places to buy a home, complete with crime statistics, household income data, and regional comparisons.
Exploring other UK regions? Check our guides on the cheapest places to live in Manchester, lowest house prices in London, most affordable areas in Wales, and the cheapest regions across England.
Article updated: October 2025
Birmingham's Most Affordable Property Markets 2025
Analysis of Birmingham's 20 cheapest property locations reveals exceptional value across the city centre, northeastern suburbs, and western areas, representing 17% to 25% below Birmingham's average house price of £229,780.
- Birmingham's cheapest locations: £173,065 (B2, Birmingham City Centre) to £240,266 (B21, Handsworth) across Birmingham's 20 most affordable postcodes
- Below UK average: All 20 locations are 11% to 36% cheaper than the UK's average house price of £269,735
- Affordability ratios: Birmingham's cheapest locations range from 3.71x to 6.79x annual household income, significantly below the UK average of 7.1x
- Regional breakdown: Locations span city centre, northeastern suburbs (Aston, Bordesley), western areas (Perry Barr, Handsworth), and outer suburbs.
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by Robert Jones, Founder of Property Investments UK
With two decades in UK property, Rob has been investing in buy-to-let since 2005, and uses property data to develop tools for property market analysis.
Property Data Sources
Our location guide relies on diverse, authoritative datasets including:
- HM Land Registry UK House Price Index
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
- Ordnance Survey Data Hub
- Propertydata.co.uk
We update our property data quarterly to ensure accuracy. Last update: October 2025. All data is presented as provided by our sources without adjustments or amendments.
Top 20 Cheapest Places to Buy a House in Birmingham
Based on current house asking prices and HM Land Registry data, these 20 Birmingham postcodes offer the most affordable apartnents and houses across the city. The table includes price per square foot to help identify genuine value. Lower figures indicate more space for your money.
| Rank | Area | Average Asking Price | Price per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B2 (Birmingham City Centre) | £173,065 | £275 |
| 2 | B6 (Aston) | £192,500 | £161 |
| 3 | B18 (Winson Green) | £200,141 | £238 |
| 4 | B35 (Castle Vale) | £206,064 | £200 |
| 5 | B25 (Yardley) | £218,242 | £222 |
| 6 | B3 (Hockley) | £218,350 | £350 |
| 7 | B11 (Sparkbrook) | £218,521 | £216 |
| 8 | B23 (Erdington) | £220,038 | £219 |
| 9 | B5 (Digbeth) | £221,295 | £321 |
| 10 | B1 (Birmingham City Centre) | £222,327 | £342 |
| 11 | B70 (West Bromwich) | £222,575 | £232 |
| 12 | B9 (Bordesley Green) | £222,666 | £220 |
| 13 | B12 (Balsall Heath) | £222,830 | £315 |
| 14 | B44 (Perry Barr) | £223,936 | £244 |
| 15 | B33 (Stechford) | £227,864 | £246 |
| 16 | B8 (Saltley) | £228,290 | £226 |
| 17 | B15 (Edgbaston) | £229,803 | £333 |
| 18 | B66 (Smethwick) | £232,498 | £216 |
| 19 | B34 (Shard End) | £232,753 | £239 |
| 20 | B42 (Perry Barr) | £236,425 | £273 |
Safest Cheap Areas in Birmingham
Crime rates across Birmingham's cheapest postcodes range from 100 to 265 per 1,000 residents. Eastern suburbs and northwestern areas offer the best combination of low prices and lower crime rates.
Top 10 Safest Among Birmingham's Cheapest Areas
| Rank | Area | Crime per 1,000 | Average Asking Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B8 (Saltley) | 106 | £228,290 |
| 2 | B11 (Sparkbrook) | 108 | £218,521 |
| 3 | B42 (Perry Barr) | 100 | £236,425 |
| 4 | B44 (Perry Barr) | 102 | £223,936 |
| 5 | B35 (Castle Vale) | 125 | £206,064 |
| 6 | B23 (Erdington) | 174 | £220,038 |
| 7 | B34 (Shard End) | 136 | £232,753 |
| 8 | B9 (Bordesley Green) | 151 | £222,666 |
| 9 | B33 (Stechford) | 162 | £227,864 |
| 10 | B25 (Yardley) | 172 | £218,242 |
Saltley (B8) and Sparkbrook (B11) stand out as Birmingham's safest cheap areas, with crime rates below 110 per 1,000 residents despite their proximity to the city centre. Both areas benefit from strong community networks and traditional residential streets, offering genuine affordability at £228,290 and £218,521 respectively.
Perry Barr's two postcodes (B42 and B44) demonstrate why northwestern Birmingham remains popular with families. With crime rates around 100-102 per 1,000 and prices under £237,000, these areas offer excellent transport links via the A34 and proximity to Birmingham's universities, making them particularly attractive for first-time buyers and investors targeting the student market.
Castle Vale (B35), once known for its tower blocks, has transformed through regeneration into a safer residential area with a crime rate of 125 per 1,000. At £206,064, it represents the fourth cheapest area in Birmingham while maintaining lower crime levels than many city centre locations.
Most Affordable Areas Across Birmingham by Income Ratio
| Area | Average Asking Price | Household Income | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| B2 (Birmingham City Centre) | £173,065 | £46,600 | 3.71x |
| B3 (Hockley) | £218,350 | £46,600 | 4.69x |
| B1 (Birmingham City Centre) | £222,327 | £44,900 | 4.95x |
| B5 (Digbeth) | £221,295 | £42,700 | 5.18x |
| B15 (Edgbaston) | £229,803 | £43,600 | 5.27x |
| B18 (Winson Green) | £200,141 | £35,200 | 5.69x |
| B42 (Perry Barr) | £236,425 | £41,200 | 5.74x |
| B23 (Erdington) | £220,038 | £37,700 | 5.84x |
| B25 (Yardley) | £218,242 | £36,900 | 5.91x |
| B11 (Sparkbrook) | £218,521 | £35,500 | 6.15x |
This affordability ratio is incredibly important for landlords who are seeking a property investment that can actually achieve a suitable ROI (return on investment). In addition for homeowners, it indicates how achievable homeownership is on local incomes. For landlords looking specifically at purchasing a buy to let property in Birmingham, it helps assess local tenant affordability and rental demand, making it a key part of any property investment checklist.
Birmingham's most affordable area, B2 (Birmingham City Centre), shows an exceptional 3.71x ratio, meaning properties cost just 3.71 times the local average household income of £46,600. This represents one of the best affordability ratios in any major UK city centre. Most of Birmingham's cheapest areas show ratios between 5.0x and 6.5x, still well below the UK average of 7.1x.
Understanding House Price to Income Ratios
The house price to earnings ratio (also called the affordability ratio) shows how many years of household income it would take to buy a property outright. This is a crucial metric for understanding whether an area is genuinely affordable for local residents.
For example, if a house costs £192,500 and the average household income is £30,800, the affordability ratio would be 6.25x, meaning it would take 6.25 years of total household income to buy the property.
How Birmingham's Cheapest Areas Compare
Birmingham's most affordable postcodes show affordability ratios ranging from 3.71x to 6.32x, better than the UK average of 7.1x. This means homes in these areas cost between 3.7 and 6.3 times annual household income, compared to over 7 times nationally and over 10 times in expensive areas like London.
Affordability Categories
- Under 3.0x: Exceptionally affordable, rare in the UK
- 3.0x - 4.0x: Very affordable (B2 Birmingham City Centre at 3.71x)
- 4.0x - 5.0x: Moderately affordable, better than UK average (B3 Hockley at 4.69x)
- 5.0x - 7.0x: Approaching UK average affordability (most Birmingham cheap areas)
- Over 7.0x: Above UK average, increasingly challenging
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Manchester?
Birmingham is slightly cheaper than Manchester overall. Birmingham's average house price is £229,780 compared to Manchester's average of approximately £245,000, making Birmingham about 6% more affordable. Both cities offer significantly better value than London and the South East, but Birmingham edges ahead particularly in its cheapest areas. B2 (Birmingham City Centre) at £173,065 is considerably cheaper than Manchester's most affordable city centre options. For detailed Manchester pricing, see our guide on the cheapest places to live in Manchester.
Q: How much do you need to earn to buy a house in Birmingham?
For Birmingham's cheapest area (B2 at £173,065), you would need a household income of approximately £38,500 annually to qualify for a mortgage, assuming a 4.5x income multiple and a 10% deposit for owner-occupiers. For the Birmingham average price of £229,780, you would need around £51,000 household income. Property investors typically require a 25-30% deposit, meaning a £173,065 property would need £43,000-£52,000 upfront. First-time buyers should budget for their deposit plus additional costs including stamp duty, surveys, and legal fees. Areas like B6 (Aston) and B18 (Winson Green) offer good value for buyers earning £35,000-£40,000 annually.
Q: Are house prices falling in Birmingham?
Birmingham property prices show mixed trends across different postcodes. Some areas like B2 and B16 have experienced recent price declines, while areas such as B38, B35, and B62 have seen strong growth of 8-11% over the past year. The city's overall market remains stable with moderate growth in most affordable areas. For comprehensive analysis of Birmingham's property market trends, investment yields, and growth forecasts, see our detailed Birmingham buy-to-let investment guide.
Q: Where can I find cheap below market value properties in Birmingham?
Below market value (BMV) properties in Birmingham can be found through several channels including our own BMV sourcing agents, auction houses, repossessed property sales, direct-to-vendor purchases, and probate sales. Areas like Castle Vale (B35), Aston (B6), and Bordesley Green (B9) may have more BMV opportunities due to higher sales turnover rates and properties hitting the market. In addition to these, the West Midlands has approximately 27,751 empty homes, indicating significant housing stock that could be run down, have a motivated seller and could be brought back into use for local residents. As well as buying them a lower to market value, there may also be local empty home grants in the West Midlands if you find a property that has been empty for a long time.
Q: Is Birmingham expensive to live in?
No, Birmingham is one of the UK's most affordable major cities. With an average house price of £229,780, Birmingham is 21% cheaper than the UK average (£269,735) and 21% cheaper than England overall (£291,852). Birmingham's growing population of 1.14 million demonstrates its appeal as an affordable alternative to London and the South East. Birmingham's cheapest areas start from just £173,065, offering exceptional value. Living costs including rent, transport, and daily expenses are significantly lower than London while maintaining excellent amenities, employment opportunities, and transport links.
Q: What is the average house price in Birmingham?
The average house price in Birmingham is currently £229,780 based on the latest HM Land Registry data. However, this varies significantly by property type: detached houses average £434,914, semi-detached £267,395, terraced £216,142, and flats £146,374. Birmingham's cheapest postcode (B2) averages £173,065, while more expensive areas can exceed £600,000. For context, Birmingham remains substantially cheaper than nearby Solihull (£330,520 average) and far below London prices. First-time buyers can find properties from £173,000 in central locations, while families seeking larger homes in suburban areas like Perry Barr or Erdington typically pay £220,000-£240,000. For comparison, see Birmingham's most expensive streets.