Cardiff () and Exeter (South West) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Cardiff rates 77/100 (grade B) and Exeter rates 53/100 (grade D). Cardiff is the safer of the two on crime (72/100 versus 25/100). Exeter has the stronger schools, with 67% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Cardiff works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£376 versus ~£449). 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.
Cardiff vs Exeter: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Cardiff comes out ahead in 7 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, schools, transport. However, Exeter performs better in , so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cardiff or Exeter better to live in?
Cardiff comes out ahead in 7 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, schools, transport. However, Exeter performs better in , so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Cardiff safer than Exeter?
Cardiff scores higher for crime safety (72/100) compared to Exeter (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Cardiff or Exeter?
Cardiff has 0 schools within 3km, with 0% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Exeter has 15 schools nearby, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Cardiff or Exeter?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Cardiff (~£376/month) compared to Exeter (~£449/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.