Bristol vs Cardiff

Which is better to live in? (2026)

54

Bristol

South West

Grade C
77

Cardiff

Grade BHigher Overall
Bristol: 1 wins|Cardiff: 7 wins

Category Comparison

Bristol
Category
Cardiff
54/100
๐Ÿ†Overall Score
BETTER77/100
25/100
๐Ÿ”’Crime Safety
BETTER72/100
60% Good/Outstanding
๐ŸŽ“Schools
BETTER0% Good/Outstanding
92/100BETTER
๐Ÿš†Transport
88/100
72/100
๐Ÿ’ทAffordability
72/100
~ยฃ426/mo
๐ŸงพMonthly Bills
BETTER~ยฃ405/mo
65/100
๐Ÿ“ถBroadband
BETTER75/100
33/100
๐ŸŒฟEnvironment
BETTER87/100
25/100
๐ŸฅHealthcare
BETTER72/100

Our Verdict

Cardiff leads in 5 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, schools, broadband. That said, Bristol has the edge in transport, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bristol or Cardiff better to live in?

Cardiff leads in 5 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, schools, broadband. That said, Bristol has the edge in transport, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.

Is Bristol safer than Cardiff?

Cardiff scores higher for crime safety (72/100) compared to Bristol (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.

Which has better schools, Bristol or Cardiff?

Bristol has 15 schools within 3km, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Cardiff has 0 schools nearby, with 0% rated Good or Outstanding.

Is it cheaper to live in Bristol or Cardiff?

Estimated monthly bills are lower in Cardiff (~ยฃ405/month) compared to Bristol (~ยฃ426/month). Bills include council tax, energy, water, broadband, and insurance estimates.

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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.