Aberdeen () and Cardiff () are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Aberdeen rates 72/100 (grade B) and Cardiff rates 77/100 (grade B). Aberdeen works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£361 versus ~£376). The full side-by-side breakdown of crime, schools, transport, affordability, broadband, environment and healthcare is below, followed by our verdict on which area fits which kind of buyer.
Aberdeen vs Cardiff: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Cardiff leads in 1 of 8 categories, scoring higher for transport. That said, Aberdeen has the edge in , making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aberdeen or Cardiff better to live in?
Cardiff leads in 1 of 8 categories, scoring higher for transport. That said, Aberdeen has the edge in , making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Aberdeen safer than Cardiff?
Aberdeen and Cardiff have similar crime safety scores (72/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Aberdeen or Cardiff?
Aberdeen has 0 schools within 3km, with 0% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Cardiff has 0 schools nearby, with 0% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Aberdeen or Cardiff?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Aberdeen (~£361/month) compared to Cardiff (~£376/month). Bills include council tax, energy, water, broadband, and insurance estimates.
Data sources: Scores are estimated using pre-loaded data from MHCLG Indices of Deprivation, Ofsted/GIAS school ratings, DfT Transport Connectivity 2025, MHCLG council tax data, Ofgem energy price cap, and regional averages. For full live data from 20+ government sources, view the individual town reports. Data provided under the Open Government Licence v3.0.