How UK City Compare collects, processes and presents its data.
UK City Compare is a data-driven project that brings together information from multiple sources to allow consistent comparisons between cities across the United Kingdom. This page outlines how data is sourced, how metrics are calculated, and how rankings are produced.
The site uses a combination of publicly available datasets and derived indicators. These may include:
Weather data is sourced and processed separately using regularly updated datasets from the UK Met Office, typically published on a monthly basis.
Raw data from different sources is standardised to allow meaningful comparisons between cities. This may include averaging values, aligning time periods, and normalising metrics so that they can be compared on a like-for-like basis.
Where exact data is not available for a specific location, estimates or approximations may be used to maintain consistency across the dataset.
Cities are ranked using a combination of factors including cost of living, weather conditions and selected lifestyle attributes. Each factor is converted into a comparable score, allowing different metrics to be combined into an overall ranking.
Depending on the page, rankings may prioritise different factors. For example, some rankings focus primarily on affordability, while others emphasise climate or lifestyle characteristics.
Weightings are applied to balance these factors, and may be adjusted over time as the model evolves.
While every effort is made to ensure consistency and accuracy, the data presented is intended for general comparison purposes only. Differences in data sources, update frequency and methodology mean that figures should be viewed as indicative rather than definitive.
Data is reviewed and updated periodically. Weather data is typically refreshed monthly in line with published updates, while other datasets may be updated as new information becomes available.