Cardiff vs Cheltenham
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Cardiff comes out ahead in 4 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, transport, broadband. However, Cheltenham performs better in schools and affordability, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cardiff or Cheltenham better to live in?
Cardiff comes out ahead in 4 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, transport, broadband. However, Cheltenham performs better in schools and affordability, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Cardiff safer than Cheltenham?
Cardiff scores higher for crime safety (72/100) compared to Cheltenham (41/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Cardiff or Cheltenham?
Cardiff has 0 schools within 3km, with 0% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Cheltenham has 15 schools nearby, with 93% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Cardiff or Cheltenham?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Cardiff (~£405/month) compared to Cheltenham (~£426/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.