Living in Leeds as an Expat (The Ultimate Guide)

If you’re asking yourself, “Is living in Leeds a good idea?”, “What is it like?” I have the answers for you!

When I told people in my home country that I moved to the UK, they always asked me, “How was life in London?” and I awkwardly needed to explain that I didn’t live in London but I lived somewhere near Manchester because the reality is many people have no idea where Leeds was. 

If you’re trying to decide on where to move, and you’re thinking about Leeds, in this blog, I’m going to tell you all the things you must know about the city, what it is like living in Leeds as an expat, and tips from my personal experience.

Although I no longer live in Leeds, many of these still apply. I still visit the city.

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Cost of living in Leeds

Living in Northern England is much cheaper than living in London. Budget is a big important aspect to consider when making a decision on where to live, or at least, for the vast majority of people.

Leeds is an affordable city, but it doesn’t mean that everything is cheap. After all, the UK isn’t a cheap country to move to, so depending on the country you come from, your perception of the cost of living in Leeds may be different.

If you’re moving from a Mediterranean country, like me, you’ll soon realise that the UK isn’t cheap. 

Rent 

The average monthly cost for an apartment in the city centre – is 939.00 £ 

The average monthly cost for an apartment outside the city centre is 702.00 £

Transport 

61.00 £ for a monthly bus ticket

Food shopping

Between £150 and £200 a month per two people 

Restaurant meal

15.00 – 20.00 £ per person

Pros and cons of living in Leeds

Pros of living in Leeds

It is a multicultural city

One of the best things about Leeds is that the city is very diverse. Despite being smaller than London, you still find that multicultural atmosphere that any expat loves. 

Leeds is home to over 170 nationalities (Polish, Romanian, Indian, etc.), making it a great place to learn about British culture and other cultures. 

As an expat, living in a multicultural city makes things easier – especially the feeling of being accepted and welcomed and the chance to make friends worldwide.

My time in Leeds wouldn’t have been the same without all my friendships with people from other countries.

There are plenty of green spaces

If nature is important to you, then you’ll be happy to know that Leeds has many green spaces, not only in the city centre but in the surroundings too.

You can easily disconnect from the city atmosphere by visiting its central parks and canal, getting a bus, and exploring the incredible Roundhay Park – the best park in Leeds.

In addition to these city parks, you can also visit nearby country houses such as Harewood House and Temple Newsam, which are among the most popular in the area.

These country houses also host events that you can’t miss out on. For example, Harewood House is beautifully decorated during Christmas, which makes it a special place to visit.

Last but not least, Leeds isn’t far from incredible national parks such as the Yorkshire Dales, Peak District and Lake District. 

It is a budget-friendly city

As I mentioned previously, Leeds is a budget-friendly city compared to London. 

In Leeds, you can find all sorts of accommodation that suit your budget. If you want to live in the city centre, you’ll pay a higher rent, however, if living in the city centre isn’t a priority for you, then other neighbourhoods – not necessarily far from Leeds- have reasonable prices.

Supermarket prices can be similar to those of other cities in the UK; however, you can always go to Leeds City Market and buy high-quality and cheaper products. The market includes ingredients such as spices you may not find in supermarkets.

Regarding leisure, there are a few things to do in Leeds city centre which are budget-friendly. Some of the free activities to do in Leeds include visiting Leeds City Museum, exploring its green parks like Hyde Park and going on a walk in the canal area.

The good variety of restaurants and cafes

Foodies, coffee and tea lovers will be surprised by the number of restaurants and cafes in Leeds.

Whether you fancy Thai, Italian or Lebanese, you’ll find a restaurant or takeaway to have these cuisines. Not only does Leeds have international restaurants, but it also has excellent British pub food and fine dining.

One of my favourite places to eat is Trinity Kitchen, located in Trinity Leeds shopping centre in the city centre. This is the sort of place you want to visit if you plan to eat out with friends. 

In Trinity Kitchen, you’ll find street food stalls that serve anything from noodles and pizza to Mexican burritos and kebabs. They often change some of these food stalls. So it’s an excellent place to go and is perfect for those on a budget, too.

If you can’t make it without your daily dose of coffee or tea, Leeds has amazing independent coffee shops that you will love, too. Some of my favourite cafes are IF… and 200 Degrees Coffee. 

📌 Related blog post: 12 Best Cafes and Places for Brunch in Leeds

Well-connected with other cities

Leeds is well-connected with other cities and towns, not only in Yorkshire or Northern England but with London and central England too.

This is an important thing to consider if you don’t drive or you prefer to use public transport. In the city centre, you’ll find the train and coach station from where you can travel to many national destinations.

It’s very easy to travel from Leeds with all the transport options, and there are many incredible day trips from Leeds, like York or Knaresborough.

Leeds also has its own airport, Leeds-Bradford airport, which is about 27 minutes car drive or 40 minutes bus drive.

The university options

I moved to Leeds because I wanted to study abroad for my Master’s Degree. Leeds is such a great city to study in because of the student atmosphere, the reputable universities and student support. 

Leeds has several universities – Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Trinity University and the University of Leeds, among others.

The nightlife

The nightlife in Leeds is really good because you can find all sorts of pubs and clubs. Leeds’ most famous street for a night out is Call Lane.

Popular nightclubs include Revolución de Cuba, Backroom and Fiber.

Cons of living in Leeds

The weather 

The weather in the UK is extremely unpredictable during spring and summer, and it’s often rainy and cold during the winter.

There isn’t much difference between London’s and Leeds’s weather. Leeds is slightly colder and gets a little less sun, but you won’t even notice the difference across the UK.

If you come from a warm country, be ready to buy good jumpers, gloves, hats, coats, and of course, a good umbrella because Leeds can be very windy.

And when I mean windy, I can’t remember how many umbrellas have been broken by the strong wind.

Dark winters

Something that I struggled with is the dark and long winters. There is not much sunlight; it rains and gets dark as soon as it’s 3:30 pm. This is a big culture shock, and it’s probably one of the reasons why many expats from some European countries go back to their countries.

As an example, I’m from Southern Spain, where it gets dark around 6:30 pm. That meant I had 3 hours less of light and sun in the UK.

If you love winter, being cosy in your living room and sipping hot chocolate, then you’ll love living in Leeds or the UK.

The airport is small

It’s great that Leeds has an airport, but the downside is that Leeds Bradford Airport is a very small airport which means there are fewer flight routes.

Having said so, it has recently opened a few more routes to other countries. However, the flights may not be regular to your desired destination.

If you want to travel from Leeds to long-haul destinations, and even many European destinations, you’ll probably have to travel to Manchester Airport, which is about 1 hour from Leeds by train. 

There is no coast

Are you a sea lover? Well, then, Leeds may not be the city for you. There is no beach; the closest beach is about 1 hour and a half. 

Many locals travel to coastal towns or abroad during the summer holidays, and therefore, you won’t see the city as busy as it is in September when schools and university start.

The lack of events

When you compare Leeds with London or Edinburgh, you realise that there aren’t as many leisure activities and events as in Leeds. I am not saying there aren’t at all, but you can’t compare big cities with smaller ones like Leeds.

At the same time, Leeds doesn’t have as many attractions either – apart from the couple of museums you find in the city centre.

Living in Leeds as a student

Leeds is one of the best university cities in England. This is because the city has over three universities that offer a good number of courses across different subjects – Tourism, Translation, IT, Teaching, etc.

All these universities have amazing campuses and host many events for students – from the popular freshers’ week to language exchanges and sports clubs. In addition to this, you get many discounts as a student, which help you save money when you move to the city.

There is plenty of student accommodation in Leeds, and you can find anything from an expensive modern studio on the university campus to an affordable single room in a shared house.

If you’re on a budget, I highly recommend looking for shared accommodation. There are plenty of them, but the best and cheapest shared houses tend to be taken early in the year, so don’t look for accommodation at the last minute.

Best neighbourhoods in Leeds for expats

If you’re wondering what are the best places to live in Leeds, here are my top 3 options for you:

Headingley

Headingley is a popular neighbourhood for students as it’s close to university campuses such as Leeds Beckett. But it’s also a great area for expats and young adults as it has everything you need – supermarkets, independent restaurants and shops, bars, etc.

Burley

Burley is a good neighbourhood for those who are on a budget, and this is why it attracts students, expats and even families. 

The good thing about living in this neighbourhood is the fact that you aren’t far from the city centre and you have supermarkets, unique restaurants, a cinema and lovely green spaces such as the beautiful Kirkstall Abbey.

Leeds Waterfront

If you want to stay very close to Leeds city centre, Leeds Waterfront is the place to live in Leeds for you. Although its location is a great advantage, especially if you don’t have a car, be prepared to pay a higher rent than in other areas of Leeds.

What I love the most about Leeds Waterfront is that despite being super close to the city centre, it’s a very tranquil area. However, Leeds Waterfront has a small Tesco supermarket and restaurants, so you don’t always need to head to the city centre.

Yorkshire words you must know

Whether you’re an English native speaker or not, you’ll realise that the accent in Leeds is a bit different from other areas in the UK.

The Yorkshire accent is included in the ten most difficult British accents list, so don’t worry if you can’t understand everything someone tells you. I’ve been in that position before, and it does take time to adapt to the accent! 

The best way to improve your understanding as quickly as possible is, of course, to talk to the locals.

In addition to the accent, you’ll also hear words you’ll never hear in other parts of the UK. Here are some common expressions or words you must know:

• Aye – yes
• Brew – a cup of tea
• Butty – sandwich
• Dinner – lunch (yes, this is a very confusing one!)
• ‘Eee by gum – Oh my God!
• Lass – girl
• Lad – boy
• Nah then – hello, hi
• Nowt – nothing
• Faffing – wasting time 

Traditional food in Leeds

Leeds doesn’t have traditional dishes itself, but the region of Yorkshire has, and of course, you’ll find these products or dishes in Leeds.

• Yorkshire Pudding
• Wensleydale Cheese
• Rhubarb
• Yorkshire Curd Tart
• Liquorice
• Chilli Jam
• Parkin

Frequently asked questions about life in Leeds

Conclusion on moving and living in Leeds as an expat

Leeds is a welcoming city, and there are many good things about living in Leeds, like the affordable cost of living, the amazing universities, the convenience of living in a smaller city, and the beautiful natural surroundings and parks.

If you have any questions about living in Leeds, drop them in the comments below.

Cristina xx

P.S. Do you know any friend who’s moving to Leeds? Share the blog with them 🙂

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Other articles about the UK you will find useful

• Leeds Attractions and Hidden Gems You Must See
• Best Free Things To Do in Leeds
• The Best Cafes and Places for Brunch in Leeds
• Best Things to Do in Halifax, England
• Best Things to Do in Skipton, Yorkshire
• Fantastic Things to Do in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire
• Great Things To Do in Harrogate in a Day

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