London vs Cardiff
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. London leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Cardiff where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so London's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | London | Cardiff |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 58 | 58 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 6 | 2 |
| Climate | 97 | 98 |
| Safety | 77 | 80 |
| Summer °C | 17.7 | 17.2 |
| Winter °C | 4.6 | 5.1 |
| Top disaster risk | flooding | flooding |
London vs Cardiff: the short answer
Cardiff comes out ahead on overall livability (58/100), only marginally above London (58/100). The two cities diverge most on cost of living. On affordability London is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (London 6 vs Cardiff 2, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, London runs warmer in summer (about 17.7°C peak vs 17.2°C in Cardiff), while winter lows sit near 4.6°C in London and 5.1°C in Cardiff. On natural-disaster exposure Cardiff is the safer choice (safety 80/100); the dominant modelled hazard is flooding for London and flooding for Cardiff.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → London — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → London — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Cardiff — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Cardiff — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is London or Cardiff better to live in?
Cardiff scores higher overall — 58 vs 58 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, London or Cardiff?
London has the lower cost of living (cost index 6 vs 2; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, London or Cardiff?
London — summer highs reach about 17.7°C versus 17.2°C in Cardiff.
Which is safer from natural disasters, London or Cardiff?
Cardiff (disaster-safety 80/100). Main hazard: flooding in London, flooding in Cardiff.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in London?
flooding is the dominant modelled hazard for London on our risk index.
How is the London vs Cardiff comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.