Birmingham vs Bristol
Renting in Bristol costs £784/month more than Birmingham.
Rent comparison
Overall, renting in Birmingham is £784/month cheaper than Bristol - that's £9,408/year.
Source: ONS Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR)
Earnings comparison
Residents of Bristol earn £3,871/year more than those in Birmingham.
Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings
House prices comparison
House prices in Bristol are £111,750 (47%) higher than in Birmingham.
Over the last 10 years, house prices in Birmingham have risen by 61.2%, compared to 56.7% in Bristol.
Source: ONS / HM Land Registry
Council tax comparison
You would pay £351/year more in council tax (Band D) living in Bristol than in Birmingham.
| Band | Birmingham | Bristol | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | £1,575 | £1,809 | Bristol +£234/yr |
| Band B | £1,838 | £2,111 | Bristol +£273/yr |
| Band C | £2,100 | £2,412 | Bristol +£312/yr |
| Band D Benchmark | £2,363 | £2,714 | Bristol +£351/yr |
| Band E | £2,888 | £3,317 | Bristol +£429/yr |
| Band F | £3,413 | £3,920 | Bristol +£507/yr |
| Band G | £3,938 | £4,523 | Bristol +£585/yr |
| Band H | £4,726 | £5,427 | Bristol +£701/yr |
Source: MHCLG / Scottish Government / Welsh Government
Band D is used as the standard benchmark for comparing council tax across areas. Other bands are set as fixed proportions of the Band D amount.
Energy comparison
| Measure | Birmingham | Bristol |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | £1,723 | £1,723 |
| Monthly | £144 | £144 |
| Energy region | West Midlands | South West |
Energy estimates are based on the Ofgem price cap, which is set nationally. Regional variation is small; we show the same headline figure across regions for transparency.
Source: Ofgem Energy Price Cap, Q4 2026
Water comparison
| Measure | Birmingham | Bristol |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | £594 | £813 |
| Monthly | £50 | £68 |
| Water company | Severn Trent Water | South West Water |
Water in Bristol costs about £219/year more than in Birmingham.
Source: Water UK / Discover Water, 2026-27
Water company boundaries don't always align cleanly with local authority boundaries; the company shown here is the most common provider in each area.
Climate comparison
Birmingham gets around 113mm less rainfall per year and 125 fewer hours of sunshine than Bristol.
Source: Met Office HadUK-Grid, 1991-2020 averages. Crown copyright. Open Government Licence v3.0.
Crime comparison
Birmingham has a lower crime rate than Bristol, with 1,148 vs 1,308 recorded crimes per 10,000 people.
Source: Home Office / Scottish Government recorded crime
Recording practices vary between police forces. Crime rates reflect reported and recorded crime only.
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