Living in Selly Oak, Birmingham

Monthly rent in GBP (£). First-hand contracts come straight from the landlord or housing company. Second-hand contracts are sublets, and they usually cost more.

Within AffordWhere's Birmingham dataset, a one-bedroom here averages about £750/month — roughly 14% below the city median, and among the more affordable of the 6 areas we track. Two-bedrooms run £850 - £1,050/month and three-bedrooms £1,100 - £1,350/month on second-hand contracts. At 15 minutes to the center by train, it sits about as central as most Birmingham areas in the set. On safety it rates 3/5, among the lower-rated in the city. Based on its rent, commute, and the students, affordable, university tags, it may suit value-conscious renters and students.

Weighing options? For a shorter commute, see Digbeth.

Rent figures reflect official statistics compiled January 2026. See data sources.

OpenStreetMap maps Selly Oak as the nearest rail stop, Goodmans Yard as nearby green space and Aldi as the nearest supermarket around the Selly Oak reference point. A school and a pharmacy are also mapped within walking distance. It also shows many cafés and restaurants mapped within about 700m of that point.

Amenity data from OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). The extracted amenity dataset is published under the same license.

How much is rent in Selly Oak, Birmingham?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Selly Oak costs £650 - £850/month (second-hand contract) or £600 - £750/month (first-hand). A 2-bedroom ranges from £850 - £1,050/month, and a 3-bedroom from £1,100 - £1,350/month.

Is Selly Oak safe for expats?

Selly Oak has a safety rating of 3/5 (Moderate) on our scale. That is mid-scale; standard urban precautions are advisable.

How long is the commute from Selly Oak to Birmingham center?

The commute from Selly Oak to Birmingham city center takes approximately 15 minutes by train.

What is Selly Oak like to live in?

Student hub near University of Birmingham. Affordable with good transport links. In our data it is tagged as students, affordable, university.