Bristol vs Leeds

Which is better to live in? (2026)

54

Bristol

South West

Grade CHigher Overall
51

Leeds

Yorkshire and The Humber

Grade D
Bristol: 4 wins|Leeds: 2 wins

Category Comparison

Bristol
Category
Leeds
54/100BETTER
๐Ÿ†Overall Score
51/100
25/100
๐Ÿ”’Crime Safety
25/100
60% Good/OutstandingBETTER
๐ŸŽ“Schools
40% Good/Outstanding
92/100BETTER
๐Ÿš†Transport
91/100
72/100
๐Ÿ’ทAffordability
72/100
~ยฃ426/mo
๐ŸงพMonthly Bills
BETTER~ยฃ407/mo
65/100
๐Ÿ“ถBroadband
BETTER70/100
33/100BETTER
๐ŸŒฟEnvironment
25/100
25/100
๐ŸฅHealthcare
25/100

Our Verdict

Bristol comes out ahead in 4 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in schools, transport, environment. However, Leeds performs better in broadband, so the best choice depends on your priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bristol or Leeds better to live in?

Bristol comes out ahead in 4 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in schools, transport, environment. However, Leeds performs better in broadband, so the best choice depends on your priorities.

Is Bristol safer than Leeds?

Bristol and Leeds have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.

Which has better schools, Bristol or Leeds?

Bristol has 15 schools within 3km, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Leeds has 15 schools nearby, with 40% rated Good or Outstanding.

Is it cheaper to live in Bristol or Leeds?

Estimated monthly bills are lower in Leeds (~ยฃ407/month) compared to Bristol (~ยฃ426/month). Bills include council tax, energy, water, broadband, and insurance estimates.

Related Comparisons

Data sources: Scores are estimated using pre-loaded data from MHCLG Indices of Deprivation, Ofsted/GIAS school ratings, DfT Transport Connectivity 2025, MHCLG council tax data, Ofgem energy price cap, and regional averages. For full live data from 20+ government sources, view the individual town reports. Data provided under the Open Government Licence v3.0.