Bristol vs Cardiff
Renting in Bristol costs £706/month more than Cardiff.
Rent comparison
Overall, renting in Cardiff is £706/month cheaper than Bristol - that's £8,472/year.
Source: ONS Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR)
Earnings comparison
Residents of Bristol earn £1,295/year more than those in Cardiff.
Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings
House prices comparison
House prices in Bristol are £76,750 (28%) higher than in Cardiff.
Over the last 10 years, house prices in Bristol have risen by 56.7%, compared to 55.4% in Cardiff.
Source: ONS / HM Land Registry
Council tax comparison
You would pay £701/year more in council tax (Band D) living in Bristol than in Cardiff.
| Band | Bristol | Cardiff | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | £1,809 | £1,342 | Bristol +£467/yr |
| Band B | £2,111 | £1,566 | Bristol +£545/yr |
| Band C | £2,412 | £1,789 | Bristol +£623/yr |
| Band D Benchmark | £2,714 | £2,013 | Bristol +£701/yr |
| Band E | £3,317 | £2,461 | Bristol +£856/yr |
| Band F | £3,920 | £2,908 | Bristol +£1,012/yr |
| Band G | £4,523 | £3,355 | Bristol +£1,168/yr |
| Band H | £5,427 | £4,026 | Bristol +£1,401/yr |
| Band I | N/A | £4,697 | n/a |
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 | Bristol | Cardiff |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | £1,723 | £1,723 |
| Monthly | £144 | £144 |
| Energy region | South West | South Wales |
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 | Bristol | Cardiff |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | £813 | £627 |
| Monthly | £68 | £52 |
| Water company | South West Water | Dwr Cymru Welsh Water |
Water in Bristol costs about £186/year more than in Cardiff.
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
Bristol gets around 426mm less rainfall per year and 42 more hours of sunshine than Cardiff.
Source: Met Office HadUK-Grid, 1991-2020 averages. Crown copyright. Open Government Licence v3.0.
Crime comparison
Bristol has a higher crime rate than Cardiff, with 1,308 vs 944 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.
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