Cardiff vs Portsmouth
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Cardiff comes out ahead in 5 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, schools, affordability. However, Portsmouth performs better in transport and broadband, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cardiff or Portsmouth better to live in?
Cardiff comes out ahead in 5 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, schools, affordability. However, Portsmouth performs better in transport and broadband, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Cardiff safer than Portsmouth?
Cardiff scores higher for crime safety (72/100) compared to Portsmouth (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Cardiff or Portsmouth?
Cardiff has 0 schools within 3km, with 0% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Portsmouth has 15 schools nearby, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Cardiff or Portsmouth?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Cardiff (~£405/month) compared to Portsmouth (~£418/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.