Glasgow vs Leeds

Which is better to live in? (2026)

72

Glasgow

Grade BHigher Overall
51

Leeds

Yorkshire and The Humber

Grade D
Glasgow: 7 wins|Leeds: 1 wins

Glasgow () and Leeds (Yorkshire and The Humber) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Glasgow rates 72/100 (grade B) and Leeds rates 51/100 (grade D). Glasgow is the safer of the two on crime (72/100 versus 25/100). Leeds has the stronger schools, with 40% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Glasgow works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£371 versus ~£422). The full side-by-side breakdown of crime, schools, transport, affordability, broadband, environment and healthcare is below, followed by our verdict on which area fits which kind of buyer.

Glasgow vs Leeds: Category Comparison

Glasgow
Category
Leeds
72/100BETTER
🏆Overall Score
51/100
72/100BETTER
🔒Crime Safety
25/100
0% Good/OutstandingBETTER
🎓Schools
40% Good/Outstanding
60/100
🚆Transport
BETTER91/100
72/100
💷Affordability
72/100
~£371/moBETTER
🧾Monthly Bills
~£422/mo
75/100BETTER
📶Broadband
70/100
87/100BETTER
🌿Environment
25/100
72/100BETTER
🏥Healthcare
25/100

Our Verdict

Glasgow comes out ahead in 6 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, schools, broadband. However, Leeds performs better in transport, so the best choice depends on your priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Glasgow or Leeds better to live in?

Glasgow comes out ahead in 6 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, schools, broadband. However, Leeds performs better in transport, so the best choice depends on your priorities.

Is Glasgow safer than Leeds?

Glasgow scores higher for crime safety (72/100) compared to Leeds (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.

Which has better schools, Glasgow or Leeds?

Glasgow has 0 schools within 3km, with 0% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Leeds has 15 schools nearby, with 40% rated Good or Outstanding.

Is it cheaper to live in Glasgow or Leeds?

Estimated monthly bills are lower in Glasgow (~£371/month) compared to Leeds (~£422/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.