Rent vs buy calculator · Wales
Rent vs buy in Cardiff: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £32,619 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,757 a month, against £1,234 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£32,619
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,757
- Mortgage £1,367, of which £413 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,234
- Rent £1,085 plus council tax
- Median price
- £265,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £28,900
- £26,500 deposit + £2,400 LTT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 20.4
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Cardiff by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £165,000 | £908 | +£101 | Buy £48,884 |
| 2 bed | £265,000 | £1,085 | +£523 | Buy £32,619 |
| 3 bed | £310,000 | £1,211 | +£667 | Buy £28,647 |
| 4+ bed | £472,000 | £1,703 | +£1,145 | Buy £17,218 |
Average rent and house prices in Cardiff
The ONS average private rent in Cardiff is £1,177 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 3.5% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £272,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026).
Default scenario: 2-bed home, 7 years stay, 10% deposit, 4.80% fixed mortgage, monthly difference invested in a S&S ISA at 7.5%. Council tax is £1,789 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Cardiff: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Cardiff?
For a 2-bed home in Cardiff, owning costs about £1,757 a month and renting about £1,234, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £32,619 better off after 7 years. This assumes a 2-bed home, 7 years stay, 10% deposit, 4.80% fixed mortgage, monthly difference invested in a S&S ISA at 7.5%.
What is the average rent in Cardiff?
The ONS average private rent in Cardiff is £1,177 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £908 for 1 bed, £1,085 for 2 bed, £1,211 for 3 bed, £1,703 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 3.5% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Cardiff?
The median price paid in Cardiff is £272,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £265,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Cardiff?
A first-time buyer paying £265,000 would pay £2,400 in LTT. With a 10% deposit of £26,500, the cash needed on day one is about £28,900.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Cardiff?
About 20.4: the 2-bed price is 20.4 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Cardiff?
On the default assumptions, a 1-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £48,884 after 7 years.
How many years until buying pays off in Cardiff?
The lead first changes hands in year 2 on the default settings. Staying longer spreads stamp duty and selling costs over more years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Compare with the Wales average or browse every local authority.