Bristol vs Cardiff
Cost of living, weather and lifestyle comparison.
Cheaper: Cardiff
Better Weather: Bristol
Lifestyle: Bristol
Overall: Cardiff
Cost of Living (2025 data) Cardiff
| Bristol | Cardiff | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | £1,888 | £1,157 |
| Average House Price | £346,796 | £269,319 |
| Average Monthly Energy Bill | £102.30 | £83.30 |
| Average Monthly Food Cost | £68.80 | £62.20 |
| Average Salary | £3,453 | £3,302 |
The cost of living in Cardiff is materially lower than in Bristol across most major categories including rent, food and household bills. For many people, this level of difference would be a significant factor in deciding where to live.
Weather (2025 data) Bristol
| Bristol | Cardiff | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine Hours | 1378 | 1378 |
| Rainfall | 1153mm | 1153mm |
| Average Temperature | 14.78°C | 14.78°C |
Weather-wise, Bristol and Cardiff are cut from much the same cloth. Sunshine hours, rainfall and average temperatures are all closely matched, so you would not notice a significant climate difference moving between the two.
Want to know more about the weather and weather history? Then visit our sister site https://uk-historic-weather.co.uk
Lifestyle & Location Bristol
On balance, Bristol offers a marginally richer lifestyle package. Its advantages include Major Airport Nearby, Access to Nature, Vibrant Nightlife. That said, the gap is narrow enough that individual priorities could easily swing the verdict the other way.
Bristol
- Within close distance of a major airport (transport)
- Close to parks, countryside or national parks (environment)
- Active nightlife and entertainment scene (lifestyle)
- Population 494,399
Cardiff
- City is located on the coast (location)
- Smaller, easier to navigate city (size)
- Population 383,919
Nearest Premier League Football Clubs
Bristol
No nearby club found.
Cardiff
No nearby club found.
Location
Bristol
Cardiff
Who Should Choose Each?
Choose Bristol if:
- Major Airport Nearby
- Access to Nature
- Vibrant Nightlife
Choose Cardiff if:
- More affordable overall (salary-adjusted)
- Lower rent costs
- More affordable house prices
- Coastal Location
- Compact City
Overall Score
Bristol
Cardiff
Final Verdict
Cardiff comes out ahead overall.
The verdict goes to Cardiff, driven primarily by its edge in affordability with lifestyle providing additional support. It is a meaningful gap, though not a chasm — Bristol still has genuine strengths and would suit people whose priorities lean towards what it does best.