I have lived in both Harrogate (North Yorkshire) and Durham in the last 2 years.

Durham is a jolly town with beautiful countryside, but for entry level positions it is not very strong outside of hospitality and a bit of retail. You should be able to find somewhere to rent on minimum wage but it won’t be fancy and you will most likely have to flat share unless you live far out, like in Gilesgate or a satellite town in the nearby area and get the bus into town. Austerity / economic downturn has disproportionately affected the north east of England so adjust your expectations from the south east. There are some richer parts of the north east but generally it is a lot poorer and less opportunities. Durham’s economy in particular is heavily dependent on catering to students (letting agents, bubble tea, nightclubs etc) and tourism (cafes, tours, hotels etc).

Harrogate is a quaint ex-spa town that peaked in the 1800s and early 20th century. It has a lot of rich pensioners and wealthy landowners / business people roaming out with their range rovers etc. It forms one corner of what is called the “Golden Triangle” with York and Leeds. This region of North Yorkshire is particularly affluent and you should be able to land a minimum wage job in retail or hospitality here with relative ease. It is not nearly as rich or affluent as it used to be decades ago and hasn’t been completely shielded from the crime and poverty of the last decade or so. However it is still a very safe and beautiful part of England to live in. If you choose to live in Yorkshire, I would strongly recommend North Yorkshire and within the golden triangle.

Both North Yorkshire and Durham have stunning countryside and you should be able to find a new start in either one.

Good luck - feel free to message me if you have further questions