Cardiff vs Derby

Which is better to live in? (2026)

77

Cardiff

Grade BHigher Overall
49

Derby

East Midlands

Grade D
Cardiff: 8 wins|Derby: 1 wins

Category Comparison

Cardiff
Category
Derby
77/100BETTER
๐Ÿ†Overall Score
49/100
72/100BETTER
๐Ÿ”’Crime Safety
25/100
0% Good/OutstandingBETTER
๐ŸŽ“Schools
40% Good/Outstanding
88/100
๐Ÿš†Transport
BETTER90/100
72/100BETTER
๐Ÿ’ทAffordability
41/100
~ยฃ405/moBETTER
๐ŸงพMonthly Bills
~ยฃ411/mo
75/100BETTER
๐Ÿ“ถBroadband
70/100
87/100BETTER
๐ŸŒฟEnvironment
48/100
72/100BETTER
๐ŸฅHealthcare
25/100

Our Verdict

Cardiff comes out ahead in 6 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, schools, affordability. However, Derby performs better in transport, so the best choice depends on your priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cardiff or Derby better to live in?

Cardiff comes out ahead in 6 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, schools, affordability. However, Derby performs better in transport, so the best choice depends on your priorities.

Is Cardiff safer than Derby?

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

Which has better schools, Cardiff or Derby?

Cardiff has 0 schools within 3km, with 0% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Derby has 15 schools nearby, with 40% rated Good or Outstanding.

Is it cheaper to live in Cardiff or Derby?

Estimated monthly bills are lower in Cardiff (~ยฃ405/month) compared to Derby (~ยฃ411/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.