Composite profile
Overall score
72/100
Use the Belfast profile to compare cost framing, transport access, and country-level context against other UK and Irish metros.
Overall72/100
Affordability76/100
Air quality74/100
Energy70/100
United Kingdom / Western Europe
Belfast, United Kingdom City Intelligence
Belfast is Northern Ireland's capital metro, with growing professional-services activity and post-industrial regeneration relevant to relocation comparison. Belfast is a western europe city of about ~0.66M metro in United Kingdom. On the composite city-intelligence score, Belfast sits around the indexed median (72/100).
- Last updated
- 2026-05-16
- Data year
- 2025
- Population
- ~0.66M metro
Image credit: Image: Conor2k10 / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Overall city intelligence
Good72/100
Composite directional score across affordability, air quality, clean energy, and resilience.
Data confidence
Directional
Directional indicators pending integration of verified city-level data.
Verified utility layers
See country hub
Emergency, healthcare, and transport verification status appears on the country hub.
Belfast data table
The table is part of the initial server-rendered HTML and mirrors the key city score cards.
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 72/100 | Composite score across major city intelligence modules. |
| Cost of Living | 76/100 | Belfast's cost-of-living profile is a directional indicator pending integration of verified city-level data; structured benchmark context applies. |
| Air Quality | 74/100 | Belfast's air-quality profile is a directional indicator framed against WHO and regional benchmarks; verified city-level measurements appear in the dedicated air-quality dataset section once integrated. |
| Energy | 70/100 | Belfast's energy-readiness profile is a directional indicator that combines national policy framing with city-level adaptation context. |
| Safety | 71/100 | Belfast's safety profile is a directional indicator; verified country-level emergency profiles attach via the country hub where available. |
| Internet Speed | 71/100 | Belfast's connectivity profile is a directional indicator combining national digital-readiness context with widely cited speed-test references. |
| Climate Risk | 70/100 | Belfast's climate-risk profile is a directional indicator combining regional hazard categories with national adaptation capacity. |
| Resilience | 70/100 | Climate adaptation and infrastructure continuity context. |
Safety
Deterministic safety estimates from our index — planning signals derived from country priors and city data, not official crime statistics.
Safety
Overall safety79/100
Low crime82/100
Personal safety81/100
Night safety75/100
Road safety77/100
Belfast is estimated to be a generally safe city (79/100 in our safety index), with solid personal-safety indicators.
Quality of Life
A composite quality-of-life estimate and its component indicators.
Quality of Life
Quality of life81/100
Healthcare86/100
Education86/100
Green space82/100
Cleanliness86/100
Infrastructure89/100
Mobility72/100
Belfast has a very high quality-of-life estimate (81/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, public transport, green space, cleanliness and infrastructure.
Family Friendliness
How the city scores for raising a family, with the indicators that drive it.
Family Friendliness
Family friendliness82/100
Education86/100
Green space82/100
Overall safety79/100
Belfast scores very high for family living (82/100), helped by education access, safety, parks and green space and healthcare.
Digital Nomad Suitability
Suitability for remote workers, based on connectivity, mobility, and livability.
Digital Nomad Suitability
Digital nomad suitability79/100
Walkability87/100
Cycling60/100
Infrastructure89/100
Belfast is high for remote workers (79/100), based on connectivity, affordability, walkability, safety and overall livability and day-to-day amenities.
Retirement Suitability
Suitability for retirement, weighing healthcare, affordability, climate, and environment.
Retirement Suitability
Retirement suitability79/100
Healthcare86/100
Cleanliness86/100
Outdoor lifestyle49/100
Belfast is high for retirement (79/100), appealing for healthcare access, affordability and a clean environment.
Emergency and public safety in Belfast
Local public safety guidance for Belfast, with the country-level emergency contacts that apply when calling for police, fire, or ambulance.
| Service | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Universal emergency | 99924/7 | 999 is the primary UK emergency number; 112 also connects to the same service from any phone. |
For the universal emergency contacts that apply in Belfast, including police, fire, and ambulance, see the United Kingdom emergency profile.
Public safety sources
Each emergency contact above is attributed to an official emergency service or government publisher. Confirm current numbers directly with these sources.
- European Commission: 112 — The European emergency number
Used as the primary attribution for the EU-wide 112 universal emergency number on European country profiles.
Last verified: 2026-05-16
Methodology and the wider source registry are documented on the scoring methodology and data sources pages.
Healthcare and hospitals in Belfast
Healthcare context for Belfast, with national-level information from United Kingdom where city-specific data is not yet verified. This is informational only and does not provide medical advice.
For the national healthcare and public-health context that applies in Belfast, see the United Kingdom healthcare profile.
Official hospital registry
NHS England service finder for locating hospitals and other NHS services by postcode.
Last verified: 2026-05-16
Healthcare sources
Each entry above is attributed to an official government, public health, or recognised health-system publisher. Confirm current information directly with these sources.
- National Health Service (UK): National Health Service
Used as the primary attribution for United Kingdom public-health and hospital information.
- National Health Service (UK): Find a hospital — NHS
Used as the official England hospital registry reference for verified facility lookups.
Last verified: 2026-05-16
Related sections: emergency and public safety, scoring methodology, and data sources.
Transport and mobility in Belfast
Local mobility context for Belfast, with national-level context from United Kingdom where city-specific data is not yet verified. This is informational only.
For national transport authorities and operators that apply in Belfast, see the United Kingdom transport profile.
Transport sources
Each entry above is attributed to an official transport authority, national operator, airport publisher, or government source. Confirm current information directly with these publishers.
- UK Government: Department for Transport
Used as the primary attribution for United Kingdom national transport context.
- UK Civil Aviation Authority: Civil Aviation Authority
Used as the primary attribution for United Kingdom aviation authority information.
- Network Rail: Network Rail
Used as the primary attribution for Great Britain rail infrastructure information.
Last verified: 2026-05-16
Related sections: emergency and public safety, healthcare and hospitals, cities directory, countries directory, scoring methodology, data sources.
Air quality dataset
Source-attributed air-quality dataset for Belfast. Verified measurements are surfaced when published from accepted official datasets; transparent fallback is shown otherwise.
Air quality dataset for Belfast
Verified data unavailableLast updated 2026-05-16 / data year 2025
Verified air-quality measurements are not yet published for this location
Source-attributed values for Belfast will appear here after the platform integrates verified measurements from accepted official publishers. Until then, structured air-quality module context remains available on the dedicated module page.
| Metric | Value | Data year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | Verified air-quality measurements are not yet published for this location. | ||
Data provenance
Source attributionGlobal City Intelligence — air-quality dataset
Verified data unavailable- Publisher
- Global City Intelligence
- Last verified
- 2026-05-16
The air-quality dataset begins empty by design. Verified city-level measurements appear here only after they are sourced from accepted publishers (WHO, EEA, US EPA, OpenAQ, OECD, or official national/city environmental agencies).
Methodology and context
Numeric measurements appear in this section only after they are sourced from accepted official publishers. The dataset is independently validated at build time; malformed records cannot ship to production.
- Scoring methodology — how indicators across the platform are constructed.
- Data sources registry — the official sources cited by verified datasets.
- Open the Belfast air-quality module
- Browse the clean-air city collection
Quick answers
Quick, evidence-based answers about Belfast drawn from this profile's indexed cost, climate, safety, economy, education, healthcare and nearby-nature data. Figures are deterministic estimates for orientation — verify specifics with official sources.
Quick answers about Belfast
Is Belfast worth visiting?
Yes — excellent quality of life (81/100), with nearby nature such as Mourne Mountains, Cave Hill.
Is Belfast good for families?
Excellent (82/100) on safety, schools and green space.
Is Belfast affordable?
More affordable than average; about £1,390/month for one person (estimate).
When is the best time to visit Belfast?
Late spring to early autumn; warmest in Jul, coldest in Jan.
What are Belfast's main industries?
Mainly tourism, hospitality, technology.
What is the climate in Belfast?
An oceanic climate, averaging about 8.0°C.
Does Belfast have universities?
Higher education is strong (73/100).
What is healthcare like in Belfast?
Healthcare access is strong (73/100).
Is Belfast good for retirement?
Retirement suitability is strong (73/100).
What nature is near Belfast?
Within ~170 km: Mourne Mountains, Cave Hill.
Related comparisons
Pairs that share a city, comparison intent, or region — useful for users planning a wider relocation, remote-work, or business decision.
Explore Belfast modules
City pages link to module and ranking pages so crawlers can move through the topic cluster naturally.
Cost of Living in Belfast
Belfast's cost-of-living profile is a directional indicator pending integration of verified city-level data; structured benchmark context applies.
Air Quality in Belfast
Belfast's air-quality profile is a directional indicator framed against WHO and regional benchmarks; verified city-level measurements appear in the dedicated air-quality dataset section once integrated.
Energy in Belfast
Belfast's energy-readiness profile is a directional indicator that combines national policy framing with city-level adaptation context.
Safety in Belfast
Belfast's safety profile is a directional indicator; verified country-level emergency profiles attach via the country hub where available.
Internet Speed in Belfast
Belfast's connectivity profile is a directional indicator combining national digital-readiness context with widely cited speed-test references.
Climate Risk in Belfast
Belfast's climate-risk profile is a directional indicator combining regional hazard categories with national adaptation capacity.
City rankings
Compare this city against other indexed cities in crawlable ranking tables.
Cost of living in Belfast
Cost of living estimates for Belfast — monthly budgets, rent, food, and transport in the local currency, plus an affordability score for comparison. Planning estimates derived from country baselines, not live prices.
Climate in Belfast
Climate profile for Belfast — Oceanic climate, annual average 8°C, comfort score 58/100. Month-by-month temperatures, rainfall, sunshine, and the best months to visit. Deterministic planning estimates, not a forecast.
Economy and jobs in Belfast
Economy and jobs profile for Belfast — tourism economy, economy score 78/100, key industries including tourism, hospitality, technology. Employment, salary, startup, remote-work, and career indicators. Deterministic planning estimates.
Universities and education in Belfast
Education profile for Belfast — student city, education score 73/100, 5 representative universities, plus research, student life, and international-student indicators. Deterministic dataset, not institutional rankings.
Healthcare and retirement in Belfast
Healthcare and retirement profile for Belfast — regional healthcare center, healthcare score 73/100, retirement score 73/100. Medical access, specialist and emergency care, affordability, and retirement suitability. Deterministic planning estimates.
Arrival planning guide for Belfast
Practical arrival planning context for Belfast — links into transport, public-safety, healthcare, budgeting tools, and methodology. Not an official airport or travel instruction service.
Visual guide to Belfast
Source-attributed visual context for Belfast using verified Wikimedia imagery from the existing media catalog, alongside structured city intelligence and planning links. Not a tourism guide or attractions ranking.
Summer 2026 travel planning guide for Belfast
Summer 2026 travel planning checklist for Belfast — links into arrival planning, visual orientation, budget tools, transport, public safety, and healthcare context. Not a weather forecast, events calendar, hotel-price guide, or tourism ranking.
Weekend trip planning guide for Belfast
Weekend trip planning checklist for Belfast — links into arrival planning, Summer 2026 travel context, visual orientation, budget tools, transport, public safety, and healthcare context. Not an itinerary, events calendar, hotel-price guide, restaurant guide, or tourism ranking.
Nearby weekend places from Belfast
Source-backed nearby place records for local-first weekend planning, with verification status, official source links, Wikidata identity, and visual context.
Estimate a monthly budget for Belfast
Estimate a monthly budget for Belfast using your own housing, food, transport, healthcare, and lifestyle inputs. Planning estimator only — not an official cost-of-living measurement.
Plan a trip budget for Belfast
Plan a trip budget for Belfast using your own accommodation, food, local transport, activities, travel, healthcare buffer, and emergency buffer inputs. Planning estimator only — not an official travel cost estimate.
Nearby cities from Belfast
Where else nearby you could spend a day or a weekend from Belfast. Links are derived from geographic proximity, shared region, shared natural-recreation areas, transport corridors, and country borders — not popularity or tourism rankings.
Dundalk, Ireland
Cross-border · about 73 km from Belfast. Explore Dundalk's city intelligence profile.
Derry, United Kingdom
Mountain cluster · about 101 km from Belfast. Explore Derry's city intelligence profile.
Drogheda, Ireland
Cross-border · about 102 km from Belfast. Explore Drogheda's city intelligence profile.
Letterkenny, Ireland
Cross-border · about 122 km from Belfast. Explore Letterkenny's city intelligence profile.
Swords, Ireland
Cross-border · about 128 km from Belfast. Explore Swords's city intelligence profile.
Dublin, Ireland
Cross-border · about 140 km from Belfast. Explore Dublin's city intelligence profile.
Bray, Ireland
Cross-border · about 156 km from Belfast. Explore Bray's city intelligence profile.
Sligo, Ireland
Cross-border · about 169 km from Belfast. Explore Sligo's city intelligence profile.
Glasgow, United Kingdom
Same region · about 176 km from Belfast. Explore Glasgow's city intelligence profile.
Athlone, Ireland
Cross-border · about 185 km from Belfast. Explore Athlone's city intelligence profile.
Related collections
Regional discovery collections that include Belfast — named natural regions grouping nearby nature, parks, lakes, coasts, and mountains for local-first day and weekend planning.
Ireland–United Kingdom Borderlands
Cross-border region · 21 places across 12 cities.
United Kingdom Mountains
Mountain region · 22 places across 80 cities.
Weekend Escapes near Belfast
Weekend escapes · 6 places across 16 cities.
Themed collections
Theme-first discovery collections that include Belfast — grouped by outdoor interest (mountains, lakes, coasts, forests, national parks) rather than geography.
European Cross-Border Nature Areas
Cross-Border Nature Areas · 50 places across 45 cities.
United Kingdom Hiking Areas
Hiking Areas · 50 places across 80 cities.
United Kingdom Mountain Escapes
Mountain Escapes · 34 places across 80 cities.
United Kingdom Nature Photography Spots
Nature Photography Spots · 50 places across 80 cities.
United Kingdom Weekend Nature Retreats
Weekend Nature Retreats · 50 places across 80 cities.
Belfast FAQ
Common questions about living in, visiting, working in, studying in and retiring to Belfast, answered from the indexed cost-of-living, climate, safety, economy, education, healthcare and nearby-nature data on this profile.
Frequently asked questions about Belfast
Is Belfast worth visiting?
Belfast has a very high quality-of-life estimate (81/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, public transport, green space, cleanliness and infrastructure. Visitors can also reach nature such as Mourne Mountains, Cave Hill and Slieve Croob within weekend range.
What is it like to live in Belfast?
Belfast has a very high quality-of-life estimate (81/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, public transport, green space, cleanliness and infrastructure. It indexes 81/100 for overall quality of life.
How much does it cost to live in Belfast?
A single resident of Belfast spends roughly £1,390 per month, with a one-bedroom rent near £737. Overall the city is more affordable than average for the United Kingdom. These are modelled estimates, not live quotes — verify locally.
What should I know about moving to Belfast?
Plan for below-average living costs and check current rents before relocating. Belfast is high for remote workers (79/100), based on connectivity, affordability, walkability, safety and overall livability and day-to-day amenities.
What is the job market like in Belfast?
Belfast's labour market is strong, with opportunities concentrated in tourism and hospitality, technology and education and research. Belfast has a tourism-driven economy with strengths in tourism, hospitality and technology.
Is Belfast good for digital nomads and remote work?
Belfast offers strong infrastructure and amenities for remote professionals, with a remote-work score of 82/100.
What are the education options in Belfast?
Belfast is a student-oriented city with a mix of universities and research activity in our dataset, spanning fields such as Social Sciences, Engineering and Economics.
Is Belfast a good place to study?
Belfast offers a strong student environment, supported by walkable neighborhoods, relatively affordable living and strong quality of life.
What is healthcare like in Belfast?
Belfast has a regional healthcare center, supported by hospitals, specialist services, and public-health infrastructure, with a healthcare score of 73/100. Residents have strong access to healthcare across primary, specialist, and emergency care.
Is Belfast a good place to retire?
Belfast offers a combination of healthcare access, safety, and amenities that may appeal to retirees, with a retirement score of 73/100. Residents benefit from parks and green space, walkable streets and broad urban amenities and day-to-day services.
What is the climate like in Belfast?
Belfast has an oceanic climate, averaging about 8.0°C annually with roughly 1100 mm of rain. The hottest month is Jul and the coldest Jan. The driest is typically Jun.
Is Belfast a safe place to live?
Belfast is estimated to be a generally safe city (79/100 in our safety index), with solid personal-safety indicators.
How easy is it to get around Belfast?
Belfast indexes a walkability score of 87 and a cycling score of 60 out of 100. Check the local operator for live transit routes and fares.
What nature and outdoor places are near Belfast?
Nature destinations within about 170 km of Belfast include Mourne Mountains, Cave Hill and Slieve Croob. Each is linked with its official source on the profile.
Is Belfast good for families?
Belfast scores very high for family living (82/100), helped by education access, safety, parks and green space and healthcare.
What outdoor activities are there around Belfast?
Belfast rates 49/100 for outdoor lifestyle and 82/100 for green space. Nearby nature such as Mourne Mountains, Cave Hill and Slieve Croob supports day hikes, water activities and weekend trips.
Interpretation
Use the Belfast profile to compare cost framing, transport access, and country-level context against other UK and Irish metros. Its standout dimensions are cost of living (76/100) and air quality (74/100). The area most worth watching is climate risk (70/100), where the model registers practical gaps. Data year 2025; last updated 2026-05-16. Drawn from 4 institutional references.
Country context is available on the United Kingdom country page. Related rankings include Overall Intelligence, Quality of Life, Remote Work. See where Belfast appears in global rankings or read the scoring methodology.
Structured indicators on this page are directional and intended for orientation. Verified datasets are being integrated; official sources should be used for critical decisions.
Sources
4 institutional references inform this view, listed below with reliability notes. Structured indicators on this page are directional and intended for orientation; verified datasets are being integrated and official sources should be used for critical decisions.
- UN-Habitat: World Cities Report 2024
Used as a policy and methodology reference for urban exposure and resilience signals.
- European Environment Agency: Air Quality Status Report
Used where European city comparisons need monitored air-quality context.
- NASA: NASA POWER
Used as an energy-resource and weather-normalization reference.
- IPCC: AR6 WGII Chapter 6: Cities, settlements and key infrastructure
Used to explain urban climate vulnerability and adaptation scoring logic.