Bournemouth vs Cardiff
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Bournemouth (South West) and Cardiff () are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Bournemouth rates 55/100 (grade C) and Cardiff rates 77/100 (grade B). Cardiff is the safer of the two on crime (72/100 versus 25/100). Bournemouth has the stronger schools, with 71% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Cardiff works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£376 versus ~£448). 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.
Bournemouth vs Cardiff: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Cardiff leads in 7 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, schools, transport. That said, Bournemouth has the edge in , making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bournemouth or Cardiff better to live in?
Cardiff leads in 7 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, schools, transport. That said, Bournemouth has the edge in , making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Bournemouth safer than Cardiff?
Cardiff scores higher for crime safety (72/100) compared to Bournemouth (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Bournemouth or Cardiff?
Bournemouth has 7 schools within 3km, with 71% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Cardiff has 0 schools nearby, with 0% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Bournemouth or Cardiff?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Cardiff (~£376/month) compared to Bournemouth (~£448/month). Bills include council tax, energy, water, broadband, and insurance estimates.
Related Comparisons
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.