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Living in Leeds

Leeds is a city in the United Kingdom. Leeds had a population of 536,280 at the end of 2021. For Leeds, the regional median gross salary was €3,095 per month at the end of 2024. The city faced an unemployment rate of 3.25% at the end of 2018.

More recorded crime than 80% of United Kingdom cities that publish it and dirtier air than any other United Kingdom city that publishes it.

Which United Kingdom-wide rules apply when you move to Leeds?

National rules stay on the country page instead of being relabelled as city data.

Visa and entry rulesPassport-specific entry and national residence context.BenefitsCountry-wide eligibility and official application routes.Taxes in United KingdomNational rates and thresholds that apply in Leeds.Healthcare eligibilityCountry-wide insurance and residence conditions.

Housing and cost

No city-level rent or cost figure is published for Leeds yet. United Kingdom has country-level context; it is not substituted for this city.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Rent price index, mean1,335 EUR/month31 Jul 2026Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR), UK: monthly price statistics12Official

Work and income

At the end of 2021, the employment rate stood at 55.3%. At the end of 2021, Leeds recorded 239,265.

What is the unemployment rate in Leeds?

The unemployment rate is about 3.3 % (2018).

  • Unemployment rate: 3.25 % · Eurostat3
Unemployment across cities in United KingdomUnemployment in Leeds is 3.3%. Of 1,007 cities with data, 657 have unemployment of 2 to under 4%.
unemployment rate, % · measured cities in United Kingdom per band24 cities: 0% to under 2%240–2657 cities: 2% to under 4%6572–4Leeds 3.3%265 cities: 4% to under 6%2654–649 cities: 6% to under 8%496–87 cities: 8% to under 10%78–104 cities: 10% to under 12%410–121 city: 16% to under 18%116–18

Unemployment rate (%)

MetricValuePeriodSource
Employment rate55.3 %31 Dec 2021Office for National Statistics4Official
Median gross salary (regional)3,095 EUR/month31 Dec 2024Office for National Statistics (ONS)7Official · regional context
Unemployment rate3.25 %country median 3.4%31 Dec 2018Eurostat3Official
Unemployment rate over time11 published observations, 1991–2018
Unemployment rate in Leeds by year, %2.8%5.1%7.4%9.8%1991200120082011201620183.3%%

Unemployment rate fell 65.0% between 1991 and 2018, from 9.3% to 3.3%.

Public employment service

No exact public employment office is currently linked to Leeds. The verified national service may still offer online registration, job search or an official office finder.

Country-level information

Jobcentre Plus — Public employment service

Department for Work and Pensions

Job SearchUnemployment Claim
Open official service
Open the United Kingdom service overview

Country-level service information is not treated as proof of a physical office in Leeds. Sources checked through 10 Aug 2026.

Family and education

MetricValuePeriodSource
Primary School Count186 count3 Aug 2026Department for Education (GIAS)1Official
School Count258 count3 Aug 2026Department for Education (GIAS)1Official

Safety

How safe is Leeds?

Police recorded about 11,462 incidents per 100,000 (2024). This counts all offences, so it is not comparable with a violent-crime-only rate from another source.

  • Recorded incidents per 100,000 residents: 11,462 offences per 100,000 · Office for National Statistics6
Recorded crime across major citiesLeeds highlighted among comparable cities
Recorded crime across major cities with Leeds highlighted14,267Manchester13,099Bristol12,409Liverpool11,700Bradford11,462Leeds11,416Birmingham11,001Leicester9,693Sheffield9,379Cardiff8,836Coventry757Glasgow549Edinburghrecorded incidents per 100k residents
MetricValuePeriodSource
Recorded incidents per 100,000 residents11,462 offences per 100,000country median 9,66931 Dec 2024Office for National Statistics6Official

Mobility and administration

Leeds's nearest airport was LBA, 11 km away and offered 51 direct destinations.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Airport Direct Destinations Count51 count3 Aug 2026OpenFlights10Official
Nearest Major Airport Distance Km11 km3 Aug 2026OurAirports11Official
Nearest Major Airport IataLBA3 Aug 2026OurAirports11Official

Climate and air quality

Leeds recorded annual PM2.5 of 12 µg/m³ at the end of 2019.

Is the air quality good in Leeds?

The annual PM2.5 mean is 12 µg/m³ (2019) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: European Environment Agency2

Annual mean at the measuring site(s) serving the city; current-day readings differ.

Temperature through the yearAverage daytime high and night-time low, °C
Leeds average monthly daytime high and night-time low temperature, °C0°10°20°JFMAMJJASOND19°1°Daytime highNight-time low
Rainfall through the yearAverage monthly precipitation, mm
Leeds average monthly precipitation, mm03570105140109897766648075868398109121JFMAMJJASONDmm
Air quality vs health guidelinesAnnual means against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limits
Leeds annual air pollutant levels against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limitsCity valueWHO guidelineEU limit52512.0PM2.5µg/m³

City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.

PM2.5 across cities in United KingdomOf 864 cities with data, 448 have annual PM2.5 of 6 to under 7 µg/m³.
annual PM2.5, µg/m³ · measured cities in United Kingdom per band1 city: 3 µg/m³ to under 4 µg/m³13–428 cities: 4 µg/m³ to under 5 µg/m³284–5203 cities: 5 µg/m³ to under 6 µg/m³2035–6448 cities: 6 µg/m³ to under 7 µg/m³4486–7174 cities: 7 µg/m³ to under 8 µg/m³1747–88 cities: 8 µg/m³ to under 9 µg/m³88–91 city: 9 µg/m³ to under 10 µg/m³19–101 city: 13 µg/m³ to under 14 µg/m³113–14

Annual PM2.5 (µg/m³)

MetricValuePeriodSource
PM2.5 — annual mean12 µg/m³31 Dec 2019European Environment Agency2Official · nearest-station reading
Average daytime high by monthJan 5.7 · Feb 6.2 · Mar 8.3 · Apr 11.4 · May 14.5 · Jun 17.2 · Jul 19.3 · Aug 18.7 · Sep 16.1 · Oct 12.3 · Nov 8.5 · Dec 6.2 °C31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI13Official · nearest-station reading
Average night-time low by monthJan 1 · Feb 0.9 · Mar 1.9 · Apr 3.6 · May 6.2 · Jun 9.1 · Jul 11.2 · Aug 11.2 · Sep 9.2 · Oct 6.4 · Nov 3.5 · Dec 1.4 °C31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI14Official · nearest-station reading
Average temperature by monthJan 3.3 · Feb 3.5 · Mar 5.1 · Apr 7.5 · May 10.4 · Jun 13.2 · Jul 15.3 · Aug 15 · Sep 12.6 · Oct 9.4 · Nov 6 · Dec 3.8 °C31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI15Official · nearest-station reading
Average precipitation by monthJan 109.2 · Feb 88.8 · Mar 77.2 · Apr 66 · May 64 · Jun 79.8 · Jul 75.1 · Aug 86.4 · Sep 82.5 · Oct 97.8 · Nov 109.4 · Dec 121.1 mm31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI16Official · nearest-station reading

Cities of a similar size in United Kingdom

Closest published populations, for a like-for-like comparison.

All United Kingdom cities
Liverpool506,565 residentsSheffield500,535 residentsEdinburgh488,050 residentsManchester470,405 residentsGlasgow640,350 residentsBristol425,215 residents

Population and city profile

Median age stood at 33 years at the end of 2021.

How many people live in Leeds?

The published population was 536,280 people in 2021. Source: Office for National Statistics5

MetricValuePeriodSource
Population536,280 people31 Dec 2021Office for National Statistics5Official

International community in Leeds

Named groups from exact city-grain official distributions. Citizenship, birthplace, language and ancestry answer different questions and stay separate.

Country of birth

Usual residents living in the individual ONS Built-up Area on Census Day 21 March 2021 · 2021 Census

Published groupPeopleShare
Europe: United Kingdom423,69579.0%
Non-EU countries (including British Overseas)76,27514.2%
Europe: EU countries36,3106.8%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source9

Is Leeds a good place to live?

There is no universal answer. The profile scores below show who the available published evidence may suit; they are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.

Try your profile
Remote worker27%strong on work, weak on safety · range 18–36%
Skilled employee60%strong on work, weak on safety · range 52–68%
Student37%strong on education, weak on safety · range 29–45%
Family53%strong on family, weak on cost · range 45–61%
Retirement26%strong on legal route, weak on admin · range 14–38%
Population536,280 people31 Dec 2021Official source · Office for National Statistics
Rent price index, mean1,335 EUR/month31 Jul 2026Official source · Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR), UK: monthly price statistics
Employment rate55.3 %31 Dec 2021Official source · Office for National Statistics
Median gross salary (regional)3,095 EUR/month31 Dec 2024Official source · Office for National Statistics (ONS)
Unemployment rate3.25 %31 Dec 2018Official source · Eurostat
PM2.5 — annual mean12 µg/m³31 Dec 2019Official source · European Environment Agency
Every value keeps its source, geographic scope and verification date · Last checked 2026-09-14

Additional context

MetricValuePeriodSource
G07 Bachelors Or Higher Share Pct34.6 %31 Dec 2021Office for National Statistics4Official
G09 Total Workers 16plus239,265 workers31 Dec 2021Office for National Statistics4Official
Median age33 years31 Dec 2021Office for National Statistics4Official
Universities4 count3 Aug 2026Office for Students8Official

Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Leeds under the national coverage rules.

Healthcare access follows the country-wide insurance rules; local capacity facts remain city data and are not used as proof of eligibility.

Open the official coverage guide
Country rule verified 2026-08-03.

How does Leeds compare?

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Common questions

Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.

How many people live in Leeds?

The published population was 536,280 people in 2021. Source: Office for National Statistics.

Is the air quality good in Leeds?

The annual PM2.5 mean is 12 µg/m³ (2019) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: European Environment Agency.

How safe is Leeds?

Police recorded about 11,462 incidents per 100,000 (2024). This counts all offences, so it is not comparable with a violent-crime-only rate from another source. Source: Office for National Statistics.

What is the unemployment rate in Leeds?

The unemployment rate is about 3.3 % (2018). Source: Eurostat.

What is the typical salary around Leeds?

The median gross salary is 3,095 EUR/month. Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Is Leeds a good place to live?

Leeds may suit different people for different reasons. The page's profile scores compare published cost, work, housing, safety, healthcare and other available factors; they are a decision aid, not a universal recommendation.

How many people born in Europe: EU countries live in Leeds?

The official country of birth distribution records 36,310 people (6.8%) in the source-defined population for 2021 Census. This is a country of birth measure, not a general estimate of ethnicity or migration status.

Cite this page

Open a format to select or copy this ImmigrationDB compilation citation. The native disclosure and text fallback work without JavaScript.

APA citation
ImmigrationDB. (2026, September 14). Leeds, United Kingdom: rent, salary, jobs, safety, climate [ImmigrationDB compilation; snapshot approved-static-c751ebb1b4085a62; version approved-static-c751ebb1b4085a62]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/uk/leeds/ Retrieved 2026-09-14. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_leeds-united-kingdom-rent-salary-jobs-safety-climate_eeb5bd680631,
  author = {ImmigrationDB},
  title = {Leeds, United Kingdom: rent, salary, jobs, safety, climate},
  publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-09-14},
  version = {approved-static-c751ebb1b4085a62},
  snapshot = {approved-static-c751ebb1b4085a62},
  url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/uk/leeds/},
  note = {Retrieved 2026-09-14. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}
Markdown citation
[Leeds, United Kingdom: rent, salary, jobs, safety, climate](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/uk/leeds/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; snapshot approved-static-c751ebb1b4085a62; version approved-static-c751ebb1b4085a62; retrieved 2026-09-14; built 2026-09-14.

This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.

Sources

JSON Markdown
  1. Department for Education (GIAS) get-information-schools.service.gov.uk · checked 2026-08-03
  2. European Environment Agency air.discomap.eea.europa.eu · checked 2026-08-05
  3. Eurostat ec.europa.eu · checked 2026-08-05
  4. Office for National Statistics ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-08-07
  5. Office for National Statistics ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-08-04
  6. Office for National Statistics ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-08-04
  7. Office for National Statistics (ONS) ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-08-06
  8. Office for Students officeforstudents.org.uk · checked 2026-08-03
  9. ONS Census 2021 BUA row and ONS/OS BUA 2022 geometry for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-07-06
  10. OpenFlights raw.githubusercontent.com · checked 2026-08-03
Show 6 more sources
  1. OurAirports davidmegginson.github.io · checked 2026-08-03
  2. Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR), UK: monthly price statistics ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-09-12
  3. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-05
  4. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-05
  5. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-05
  6. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-05

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