Global CityIntelligence

United Kingdom / Western Europe

Cardiff, United Kingdom City Intelligence

Cardiff is Wales' capital metro, with a compact urban core, public-sector and media employment, and active waterfront regeneration. Cardiff is a western europe city of about ~0.49M metro in United Kingdom. On the composite city-intelligence score, Cardiff sits around the indexed median (74/100).

Last updated
2026-05-16
Data year
2025
Population
~0.49M metro
View of Cardiff, United Kingdom

Image credit: Image: MichiganCharms / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Composite profile

Overall score

74/100

Use the Cardiff profile to compare cost framing, transport access, and country-level context alongside Bristol and other UK mid-size cities.

Overall74/100
Affordability74/100
Air quality76/100
Energy72/100

Overall city intelligence

Good

74/100

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.

Cardiff data table

The table is part of the initial server-rendered HTML and mirrors the key city score cards.

Cardiff city intelligence data table
MetricValueContext
Overall score74/100Composite score across major city intelligence modules.
Cost of Living74/100Cardiff's cost-of-living profile is a directional indicator pending integration of verified city-level data; structured benchmark context applies.
Air Quality76/100Cardiff'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.
Energy72/100Cardiff's energy-readiness profile is a directional indicator that combines national policy framing with city-level adaptation context.
Safety73/100Cardiff's safety profile is a directional indicator; verified country-level emergency profiles attach via the country hub where available.
Internet Speed73/100Cardiff's connectivity profile is a directional indicator combining national digital-readiness context with widely cited speed-test references.
Climate Risk72/100Cardiff's climate-risk profile is a directional indicator combining regional hazard categories with national adaptation capacity.
Resilience72/100Climate 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 safety80/100
Low crime83/100
Personal safety81/100
Night safety76/100
Road safety77/100

Cardiff ranks in the upper tier of our safety index (80/100), with strong personal-safety and low night-time 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 space74/100
Cleanliness87/100
Infrastructure89/100
Mobility71/100

Cardiff has a very high quality-of-life estimate (81/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, green space, cleanliness and infrastructure.

Family Friendliness

How the city scores for raising a family, with the indicators that drive it.

Family Friendliness

Family friendliness81/100
Education86/100
Green space74/100
Overall safety80/100

Cardiff scores very high for family living (81/100), 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
Walkability86/100
Cycling69/100
Infrastructure89/100

Cardiff 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
Cleanliness87/100
Outdoor lifestyle40/100

Cardiff is high for retirement (79/100), appealing for healthcare access, affordability and a clean environment.

Emergency and public safety in Cardiff

Local public safety guidance for Cardiff, with the country-level emergency contacts that apply when calling for police, fire, or ambulance.

Verified
United Kingdom emergency contacts
ServiceNumberNotes
Universal emergency99924/7999 is the primary UK emergency number; 112 also connects to the same service from any phone.

For the universal emergency contacts that apply in Cardiff, 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.

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 Cardiff

Healthcare context for Cardiff, 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.

Verified

For the national healthcare and public-health context that applies in Cardiff, see the United Kingdom healthcare profile.

Official hospital registry

Find a hospital — NHS

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.

Last verified: 2026-05-16

Related sections: emergency and public safety, scoring methodology, and data sources.

Transport and mobility in Cardiff

Local mobility context for Cardiff, with national-level context from United Kingdom where city-specific data is not yet verified. This is informational only.

Verified

For national transport authorities and operators that apply in Cardiff, 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.

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 Cardiff. Verified measurements are surfaced when published from accepted official datasets; transparent fallback is shown otherwise.

Air quality dataset for Cardiff

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 Cardiff 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.

Cardiff air-quality dataset coverage
MetricValueData yearStatus
Air qualityVerified air-quality measurements are not yet published for this location.

Data provenance

Source attribution

  • Global 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).

Quick answers

Quick, evidence-based answers about Cardiff 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 Cardiff

Is Cardiff worth visiting?

Yes — excellent quality of life (81/100), with nearby nature such as Brecon Beacons National Park, Caerphilly Mountain.

Is Cardiff good for families?

Excellent (81/100) on safety, schools and green space.

Is Cardiff affordable?

More affordable than average; about £1,410/month for one person (estimate).

When is the best time to visit Cardiff?

Late spring to early autumn; warmest in Jul, coldest in Jan.

What are Cardiff's main industries?

Mainly tourism, hospitality, technology.

What is the climate in Cardiff?

An oceanic climate, averaging about 10.2°C.

Does Cardiff have universities?

Higher education is strong (73/100).

What is healthcare like in Cardiff?

Healthcare access is strong (72/100).

Is Cardiff good for retirement?

Retirement suitability is strong (72/100).

What nature is near Cardiff?

Within ~170 km: Brecon Beacons National Park, Caerphilly Mountain.

Related comparisons

Pairs that share a city, comparison intent, or region — useful for users planning a wider relocation, remote-work, or business decision.

Explore Cardiff modules

City pages link to module and ranking pages so crawlers can move through the topic cluster naturally.

Cost of Living in Cardiff

Cardiff's cost-of-living profile is a directional indicator pending integration of verified city-level data; structured benchmark context applies.

Air Quality in Cardiff

Cardiff'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 Cardiff

Cardiff's energy-readiness profile is a directional indicator that combines national policy framing with city-level adaptation context.

Safety in Cardiff

Cardiff's safety profile is a directional indicator; verified country-level emergency profiles attach via the country hub where available.

Internet Speed in Cardiff

Cardiff's connectivity profile is a directional indicator combining national digital-readiness context with widely cited speed-test references.

Climate Risk in Cardiff

Cardiff'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 Cardiff

Cost of living estimates for Cardiff — 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 Cardiff

Climate profile for Cardiff — Oceanic climate, annual average 10.2°C, comfort score 64/100. Month-by-month temperatures, rainfall, sunshine, and the best months to visit. Deterministic planning estimates, not a forecast.

Economy and jobs in Cardiff

Economy and jobs profile for Cardiff — tourism economy, economy score 77/100, key industries including tourism, hospitality, technology. Employment, salary, startup, remote-work, and career indicators. Deterministic planning estimates.

Universities and education in Cardiff

Education profile for Cardiff — student city, education score 72/100, 5 representative universities, plus research, student life, and international-student indicators. Deterministic dataset, not institutional rankings.

Healthcare and retirement in Cardiff

Healthcare and retirement profile for Cardiff — regional healthcare center, healthcare score 72/100, retirement score 72/100. Medical access, specialist and emergency care, affordability, and retirement suitability. Deterministic planning estimates.

Arrival planning guide for Cardiff

Practical arrival planning context for Cardiff — links into transport, public-safety, healthcare, budgeting tools, and methodology. Not an official airport or travel instruction service.

Visual guide to Cardiff

Source-attributed visual context for Cardiff 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 Cardiff

Summer 2026 travel planning checklist for Cardiff — 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 Cardiff

Weekend trip planning checklist for Cardiff — 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 Cardiff

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 Cardiff

Estimate a monthly budget for Cardiff 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 Cardiff

Plan a trip budget for Cardiff 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 Cardiff

Where else nearby you could spend a day or a weekend from Cardiff. Links are derived from geographic proximity, shared region, shared natural-recreation areas, transport corridors, and country borders — not popularity or tourism rankings.

Bath, United Kingdom

Nearby city · about 58 km from Cardiff. Explore Bath's city intelligence profile.

Related collections

Regional discovery collections that include Cardiff — named natural regions grouping nearby nature, parks, lakes, coasts, and mountains for local-first day and weekend planning.

Themed collections

Theme-first discovery collections that include Cardiff — grouped by outdoor interest (mountains, lakes, coasts, forests, national parks) rather than geography.

Cardiff FAQ

Common questions about living in, visiting, working in, studying in and retiring to Cardiff, answered from the indexed cost-of-living, climate, safety, economy, education, healthcare and nearby-nature data on this profile.

Frequently asked questions about Cardiff

Is Cardiff worth visiting?

Cardiff has a very high quality-of-life estimate (81/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, green space, cleanliness and infrastructure. Visitors can also reach nature such as Brecon Beacons National Park, Caerphilly Mountain and Garth Mountain within weekend range.

What is it like to live in Cardiff?

Cardiff has a very high quality-of-life estimate (81/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, green space, cleanliness and infrastructure. It indexes 81/100 for overall quality of life.

How much does it cost to live in Cardiff?

A single resident of Cardiff spends roughly £1,410 per month, with a one-bedroom rent near £747. 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 Cardiff?

Plan for below-average living costs and check current rents before relocating. Cardiff 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 Cardiff?

Cardiff's labour market is strong, with opportunities concentrated in tourism and hospitality, technology and education and research. Cardiff has a tourism-driven economy with strengths in tourism, hospitality and technology.

Is Cardiff good for digital nomads and remote work?

Cardiff offers strong infrastructure and amenities for remote professionals, with a remote-work score of 82/100.

What are the education options in Cardiff?

Cardiff is a student-oriented city with a mix of universities and research activity in our dataset, spanning fields such as Law, Social Sciences and Physics.

Is Cardiff a good place to study?

Cardiff offers a strong student environment, supported by walkable neighborhoods, relatively affordable living and strong quality of life.

What is healthcare like in Cardiff?

Cardiff has a regional healthcare center, supported by hospitals, specialist services, and public-health infrastructure, with a healthcare score of 72/100. Residents have strong access to healthcare across primary, specialist, and emergency care.

Is Cardiff a good place to retire?

Cardiff offers a combination of healthcare access, safety, and amenities that may appeal to retirees, with a retirement score of 72/100. Residents benefit from parks and green space, walkable streets and broad urban amenities and day-to-day services.

What is the climate like in Cardiff?

Cardiff has an oceanic climate, averaging about 10.2°C annually with roughly 1100 mm of rain. The hottest month is Jul and the coldest Jan. The driest is typically Jun.

Is Cardiff a safe place to live?

Cardiff ranks in the upper tier of our safety index (80/100), with strong personal-safety and low night-time indicators.

How easy is it to get around Cardiff?

Cardiff indexes a walkability score of 86 and a cycling score of 69 out of 100. Check the local operator for live transit routes and fares.

What nature and outdoor places are near Cardiff?

Nature destinations within about 170 km of Cardiff include Brecon Beacons National Park, Caerphilly Mountain and Garth Mountain. Each is linked with its official source on the profile.

Is Cardiff good for families?

Cardiff scores very high for family living (81/100), helped by education access, safety, parks and green space and healthcare.

What outdoor activities are there around Cardiff?

Cardiff rates 40/100 for outdoor lifestyle and 74/100 for green space. Nearby nature such as Brecon Beacons National Park, Caerphilly Mountain and Garth Mountain supports day hikes, water activities and weekend trips.

Interpretation

Use the Cardiff profile to compare cost framing, transport access, and country-level context alongside Bristol and other UK mid-size cities. Its standout dimensions are air quality (76/100) and cost of living (74/100). The area most worth watching is climate risk (72/100), 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 Cardiff 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.