Cost of Living Comparison Between Cardiff and Chester Cost of Living Comparison Between Cardiff and Chester

🙂 Solo nomad: Cardiff is 6.3% cheaper than Chester without rent, and 1% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Cardiff is 5.7% more expensive than Chester without rent, and 0.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cardiff
Chester
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.26 £14.91
$20.71 £15.24
-2.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.8 £65.4
$96.6 £71.1
-8.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.74 £7.9
$9.78 £7.2
9.82%
Cappuccino
$4.83 £3.55
$4.74 £3.49
1.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 £1.85
$2.33 £1.72
7.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 £1.27
$2 £1.47
-14.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.75 £4.97
$6.6 £4.86
2.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.17 £4.54
$6.24 £4.59
-1.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cardiff
Chester
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 £1.42
$1.61 £1.18
19.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 £1.3
$1.59 £1.17
11.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.1 £2.28
$2.16 £1.59
43.52%
Eggs
$4.45 £3.28
$3.89 £2.87
14.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.44 £7.69
$8.24 £6.07
26.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.08 £6.68
$8.98 £6.61
1.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.57 £7.04
$8.24 £6.07
16.14%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 £2.02
$2.87 £2.11
-4.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 £1.21
$1.54 £1.14
6.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.29 £2.42
$3.99 £2.94
-17.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.74 £4.22
$2.3 £1.69
149.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.71 £1.26
$1.34 £0.99
27.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.52 £1.12
$1.33 £0.98
14.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.2 £0.88
$1.23 £0.91
-2.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 £1.23
$1.33 £0.98
25.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.83 £14.59
$20.58 £15.14
-3.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.17 £6.75
$11.03 £8.12
-16.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.16 £2.33
$3.14 £2.31
0.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.5 £2.57
$2.87 £2.11
21.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Cardiff
Chester
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.16 £2.33
$4.01 £2.95
-21.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.6 £57.8
$48.09 £35.39
63.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4 £2.94
$4.1 £3.02
-2.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.47 £1.82
$0.8 £0.59
208.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.26 £14.91
$16.52 £12.16
22.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.96 £1.44
$1.96 £1.45
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9K £28.6K
$38.2K £28.1K
1.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$56.2K £41.3K
$37.1K £27.3K
51.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cardiff
Chester
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$285 £210
$315 £232
-9.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.42 £15.02
$23.55 £17.33
-13.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.1 £32.45
$41.55 £30.58
6.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cardiff
Chester
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.58 £28.39
$38.77 £28.53
-0.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.29 £6.1
$13.61 £10.02
-39.09%
Cinema Ticket
$8.02 £5.9
$13.43 £9.88
-40.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cardiff
Chester
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,017 £1,484
$1,643 £1,209
22.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$32.6K £24K
$13.4K £9,887
142.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cardiff
Chester
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.4 £51.8
$89.9 £66.1
-21.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.74 £27.03
$49.91 £36.73
-26.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.4 £54
$125 £92.2
-41.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66 £48.59
$127 £93.6
-48.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cardiff
Chester
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,305 £961
$1,346 £990
-3.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,128 £830
$1,068 £786
5.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,530 £1,862
$2,146 £1,579
17.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,672 £1,231
$1,761 £1,296
-5.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,739 £4,223
$2,937 £2,161
95.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,558 £2,618
$2,867 £2,110
24.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cardiff
Chester
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,942 £2,165
$4,016 £2,955
-26.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
5.6
7.14%

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

Last update for Cardiff: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chester: October 29, 2025

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