How Much Does It Cost to Live In Cardiff?
Cardiff is well known as the most affordable city for a living in the United Kingdom.
Being that it is the capital city of Wales, it is expected that this modern and cosmopolitan city does not offer such a great housing, food and restaurant costs.
If you are considering moving to Cardiff, you should get as much information as possible related to the daily spendings so as to make the right decision.
United Kingdom : Cost of Living by City
- Aberdeen
- Bath
- Belfast
- Birmingham
- Brighton
- Bristol
- Cambridge
- Cardiff
- Coventry
- Derby
- Edinburgh
- Exeter
- Glasgow
- Leeds
- Leicester
- Liverpool
- London
- Manchester
- Milton Keynes
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Norwich
- Nottingham
- Oxford
- Peterborough
- Plymouth
- Portsmouth
- Reading
- Sheffield
- Southampton
- Swindon
- York
RESTAURANTS
People who live in Cardiff enjoy eating out and there is a wide variety of foods available.
In their restaurants, you can find a lot of imported food, but have in mind that the prices are higher.
Alcohol is not as expensive as in London, but still not too affordable.
MARKETS
As the food is the greatest expense in Cardiff, the best advice is to find stores and supermarkets that are offering discounts or buy groceries at the local markets.
That way you will be able to purchase fresh and quality food at lower prices and save some money for other expenses.
TRANSPORTATION
Due to the fact that Cardiff is a compact city, you can go from one place to another on foot.
Most places are relatively close to each other and people here tend to walk so as to save on transportation.
Those who prefer going by bus can make use of good bus service within the city.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Cardiff is a great city for families, but have in mind that all the costs will go up as more people are living in one apartment.
The more you spend, the higher the bills will be, especially during the winter days when heating in turned on.
SPORTS & LEISURE
The climate in Cardiff is mild, which is good for those people who like doing sports activities outdoors.
However, those who prefer doing them indoors will be glad to hear that the fitness club prices are more than affordable.
The cinema tickets have also very reasonable prices.
CLOTHING & SHOES
It might be expected that the clothing items are less expensive here than in London, but that is not the case.
The designer clothing items prices are high and people would rather buy low cost apparel in order to save some money on that.
RENT PER MONTH
The problem we might encounter first when settling somewhere is the place to live and house prices in Cardiff are very reasonable compared with other major cities around the globe.
It is normal that the prices would vary between an apartment in the center and out of it, so you can choose which area to live in.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Cardiff
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $12.90 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $4.13 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $1.17 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.10 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $2 |
| Eggs (12) | $3.19 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $2.45 |
| Monthly Pass | $68.39 |
| Gasoline | $1.59 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $145.61 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.12 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $35.54 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $29.25 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $10.69 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $6.45 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $81.40 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $35.81 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $72.69 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $891.86 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $697.59 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $1535.51 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Cardiff?
In Cardiff, rent is not the greatest expense and if you want to save more on it you should know that different areas include different prices, and pick accordingly.
Food will be the expense on which the most money will be spent every month, so consider cheaper stores and markets as ideal places for groceries shopping.
Transportation and restaurant prices are lower than in many huge cities in the United Kingdom, as well as utilities.
Clothing prices are almost equal as in London, even though the standard of living is not the same.
Average Costs Breakdown
Cardiff: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
The costs and pricing which have been mentioned above should give you a good idea of the cost of living in Cardiff.
However, your spendings will depend only on the amount of money you possess and earn each month.
You need to plan your budget in advance so as to make your move go smoothly and knowing your future salary is very important.
Being that you will have to pay the rent, you will need at least the average salary to cover the expenses.
Cardiff Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Cardiff Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: HIGH
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Cost of Living by City in Cardiff
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 73.02 |
| Bath | 74.48 |
| Belfast | 62.42 |
| Birmingham | 64.46 |
| Brighton | 69.54 |
| Bristol | 69.58 |
| Cambridge | 72.6 |
| Coventry | 66.31 |
| Derby | 61.5 |
| Edinburgh | 61.5 |
| Exeter | 66.56 |
| Glasgow | 66.5 |
| Leeds | 68.26 |
| Leicester | 65.59 |
| Liverpool | 62 |
| London | 81.31 |
| Manchester | 69.86 |
| Milton Keynes | 78.5 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 62.76 |
| Norwich | 64.95 |
| Nottingham | 67.05 |
| Oxford | 72.6 |
| Peterborough | 41.93 |
| Plymouth | 70.02 |
| Portsmouth | 71.04 |
| Reading | 76.73 |
| Sheffield | 62.64 |
| Southampton | 63.73 |
| Swindon | 69.92 |
| York | 69.33 |
