Cost of Living in Cardiff - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $987 (excluding rent), and $2,369 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,505 (excluding rent), and $4,355 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.76 £15.34

$13.84 £10.23

$27.67 £20.45

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$87.4 £64.6

$67.2 £49.67

$161 £119

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.80 £7.98

$9.45 £6.98

$10.80 £7.98

Cappuccino

$4.72 £3.49

$4.07 £3.01

$6.10 £4.50

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 £1.90

$1.73 £1.28

$4.42 £3.27

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 £1.27

$1.07 £0.79

$2.68 £1.98

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.75 £4.99

$5.40 £3.99

$8.10 £5.99

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.96 £4.40

$4.64 £3.43

$8.61 £6.36

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 £1.48

$0.97 £0.71

$2.80 £2.07

White Bread (500g)

$1.68 £1.24

$1.08 £0.79

$5.71 £4.22

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.10 £2.29

$2.07 £1.53

$6.88 £5.08

Eggs

$4.65 £3.43

$1.63 £1.20

$6.37 £4.71

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.41 £7.69

$9.28 £6.86

$13.81 £10.21

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.78 £6.49

$6.74 £4.98

$10.13 £7.49

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.78 £7.22

$6.28 £4.64

$30.70 £22.69

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 £2.06

$1.34 £0.99

$5.16 £3.82

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 £1.18

$1.33 £0.98

$2.26 £1.67

Oranges (1kg)

$3.33 £2.46

$1.37 £1.01

$8.22 £6.07

Tomato (1kg)

$5.56 £4.11

$2.66 £1.96

$7.97 £5.89

Potato (1kg)

$1.72 £1.27

$0.67 £0.50

$2.68 £1.98

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 £1.14

$0.90 £0.66

$2.77 £2.05

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 £0.85

$0.60 £0.44

$2.00 £1.48

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 £1.23

$1.07 £0.79

$2.78 £2.05

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$20.02 £14.79

$17.25 £12.75

$20.71 £15.30

Wine (Bottle)

$11.26 £8.32

$9.47 £7.00

$13.53 £10.00

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 £2.32

$2.11 £1.56

$3.97 £2.94

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 £2.58

$1.33 £0.98

$6.64 £4.91

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.09 £2.29

$2.70 £1.99

$4.04 £2.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 £59.1

$74.4 £55.0

$207 £153

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.15 £3.07

$6.91 £5.11

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.57 £1.90

$2.23 £1.65

$3.21 £2.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.25 £14.96

$32.40 £23.94

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.90 £1.40

$1.82 £1.35

$2.65 £1.96

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$39.1K £28.9K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$55.7K £41.2K

$41.7K £30.8K

$55.7K £41.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$292 £216

$158 £116

$437 £323

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.11 £14.86

$9.49 £7.02

$61.0 £45.10

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.14 £31.88

$33.57 £24.81

$56.4 £41.68

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.77 £28.65

$24.36 £18.00

$61.0 £45.04

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.65 £6.39

$6.97 £5.15

$11.16 £8.25

Cinema Ticket

$7.66 £5.66

$6.66 £4.93

$16.00 £11.82

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,946 £1,438

$1,602 £1,184

$2,781 £2,055

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.9K £25.1K

$33.2K £24.5K

$34.6K £25.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 £51.2

$24.00 £17.73

$133 £98.5

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.60 £26.31

$20.03 £14.80

$46.73 £34.53

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.3 £53.4

$59.8 £44.16

$119 £88.0

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.4 £48.31

$40.02 £29.58

$144 £106

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,296 £957

$1,001 £740

$1,601 £1,183

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,110 £820

$871 £643

$1,339 £990

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 £1,904

$2,004 £1,481

$3,456 £2,554

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,685 £1,245

$1,513 £1,118

$1,926 £1,423

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,497 £4,062

$4,837 £3,575

$5,826 £4,306

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,524 £2,604

$3,278 £2,423

$3,646 £2,695

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,120 £2,305

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.9

6.5

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: April 12, 2026

Cardiff Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🇪🇺 Europe

Cost of Living in Cardiff - Frequently Asked Questions

Cardiff offers a favorable balance of value and city life for travelers, expats, and digital nomads. You will find affordable daily costs compared with London or Manchester, plus a compact center, walkable neighborhoods, and reliable public transit. Housing tends to be more approachable outside the core, with modern flats near universities or waterfront areas offering good value and easy access to workspaces or cafés. Food options range from markets to casual bistros, helping you keep budgets sensible without sacrificing variety. Cost of Living in Cardiff, United Kingdom provides a practical frame for planning your stay and budgeting across essentials. Tip: Build a simple monthly budget that tracks rent, transit, and groceries, then adjust as you explore neighborhoods.

In Cardiff, your housing hunt typically starts near student corridors (Cathays, Roath) or waterfront developments (Cardiff Bay). Expect a mix of purpose-built flats, shared houses, and older terraces; prices vary by proximity to the center and university campuses. Food options include markets, bakeries, and affordable chains, with plenty of independent venues that cater to casual budgets. For transport, a compact city with frequent bus routes and a light rail link makes commuting simple; cycling is popular too. Cardiff, United Kingdom living cost can help you calibrate what you can afford in different areas. Tip: Set up short, flexible leases or month-to-month options when you test a neighborhood.

Quality of life in Cardiff comes from a mix of culture, parks, and compact, walkable streets. Use a simple budgeting framework: divide essentials (housing, utilities, transit) from discretionary spending (food, social activities) and build in a small buffer for seasonal shifts. Neighborhood vibes vary: Pontcanna offers leafy streets and cafés, Grangetown gives river access with more affordable options, and the city center prioritizes nightlife and quick transit. Seasonal embarkations, especially spring markets and autumn events, bring free or low-cost experiences. Tip: Leverage libraries, coworking passes, and community hubs to stretch your budget while staying connected.