Birmingham vs Leeds
Renting in Leeds costs £46/month more than Birmingham.
Rent comparison
Overall, renting in Birmingham is £46/month cheaper than Leeds - that's £552/year.
Source: ONS Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR)
Earnings comparison
Residents of Leeds earn £1,499/year more than those in Birmingham.
Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings
House prices comparison
Overall, average house prices in Leeds are £8,000 higher than Birmingham, but this is driven by the mix of properties sold - Birmingham is actually more expensive for most property types (detached and terraced).
Over the last 10 years, house prices in Birmingham have risen by 61.2%, compared to 55.1% in Leeds.
Source: ONS / HM Land Registry
Council tax comparison
You would pay £79/year more in council tax (Band D) living in Birmingham than in Leeds.
| Band | Birmingham | Leeds | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | £1,575 | £1,522 | Birmingham +£53/yr |
| Band B | £1,838 | £1,776 | Birmingham +£62/yr |
| Band C | £2,100 | £2,030 | Birmingham +£70/yr |
| Band D Benchmark | £2,363 | £2,284 | Birmingham +£79/yr |
| Band E | £2,888 | £2,791 | Birmingham +£97/yr |
| Band F | £3,413 | £3,299 | Birmingham +£114/yr |
| Band G | £3,938 | £3,806 | Birmingham +£132/yr |
| Band H | £4,726 | £4,567 | Birmingham +£159/yr |
Source: MHCLG / Scottish Government / Welsh Government
Band D is used as the standard benchmark for comparing council tax across areas. Other bands are set as fixed proportions of the Band D amount.
Energy comparison
| Measure | Birmingham | Leeds |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | £1,723 | £1,723 |
| Monthly | £144 | £144 |
| Energy region | West Midlands | Yorkshire |
Energy estimates are based on the Ofgem price cap, which is set nationally. Regional variation is small; we show the same headline figure across regions for transparency.
Source: Ofgem Energy Price Cap, Q4 2026
Water comparison
| Measure | Birmingham | Leeds |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | £594 | £636 |
| Monthly | £50 | £53 |
| Water company | Severn Trent Water | Yorkshire Water |
Water in Leeds costs about £42/year more than in Birmingham.
Source: Water UK / Discover Water, 2026-27
Water company boundaries don't always align cleanly with local authority boundaries; the company shown here is the most common provider in each area.
Climate comparison
Birmingham gets around 40mm more rainfall per year and 124 more hours of sunshine than Leeds.
Source: Met Office HadUK-Grid, 1991-2020 averages. Crown copyright. Open Government Licence v3.0.
Crime comparison
Birmingham has a lower crime rate than Leeds, with 1,148 vs 1,153 recorded crimes per 10,000 people.
Source: Home Office / Scottish Government recorded crime
Recording practices vary between police forces. Crime rates reflect reported and recorded crime only.
Choosing between Birmingham and Leeds? Check a home in either.
Enter a postcode in Birmingham or Leeds for a free preview: last sale price, EPC rating, flood risk and crime nearby.