Compare local authorities · South East and Wales
Southampton and Cardiff
Southampton is higher than Cardiff on 4 of 22 measures per person in the age group, 4 of 22 per resident and 0 of 22 in total.
On 7 of 22 measures, which area is higher depends on whether you count per person or in total. Choose a way of counting below to see each one.
Per person in the age group
Southampton is higher on 4 of 22 measures, and Cardiff on 18. Each row has its own scale from zero. Money is in 2026-27 prices2026-27 prices, using CPI inflationcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.1-11
Southampton Cardiff
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25
£3,944£3,960£3,741Cardiff is higher£4,242£4,260£4,024
Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25
£12,757£12,812£12,101Cardiff is higher£13,010£13,065£12,341
Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25
£2,092£2,101£1,984Cardiff is higher£2,204£2,213£2,090
State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25
£11,351£11,400£10,767Cardiff is higher£11,392£11,441£10,806
Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25
£690£693£655Southampton is higherDepends on how you count£682£685£647
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25
£679£682£645Cardiff is higher£900£904£854
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25
£36£36£34Southampton is higherDepends on how you count£36£36£34
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25
£437£439£415Cardiff is higher£537£539£509
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25
£157£158£149Southampton is higherDepends on how you count£112£113£107
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25
£104£105£99Cardiff is higher£109£109£103
Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25
£1,728£1,736£1,639Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£1,730£1,737£1,641
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25
£256£257£242Cardiff is higher£297£298£281
Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25
£248£249£235Cardiff is higher£351£352£333
Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25
£5.63£5.65£5.34Cardiff is higher£6.56£6.59£6.22
Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25
£5.60£5.62£5.31Cardiff is higher£7.66£7.70£7.27
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25
£4.79£4.81£4.54Cardiff is higher£5.33£5.36£5.06
State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026
1,005.3Cardiff is higher1,021.2
Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026
145.8Southampton is higherDepends on how you count139.9
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026
148.1Cardiff is higher182.4
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 2026
66.1Cardiff is higher75.6
Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026
193.8Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count196.1
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 2026
23.4Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count23.7
Show the numbers
| Measure | Southampton | Cardiff | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| All benefitsper resident, 2024-25 | £3,944£3,960£3,741 | £4,242£4,260£4,024 | Cardiff |
| Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25 | £12,757£12,812£12,101 | £13,010£13,065£12,341 | Cardiff |
| Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25 | £2,092£2,101£1,984 | £2,204£2,213£2,090 | Cardiff |
| State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25 | £11,351£11,400£10,767 | £11,392£11,441£10,806 | Cardiff |
| Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25 | £690£693£655 | £682£685£647 | Southampton |
| Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25 | £679£682£645 | £900£904£854 | Cardiff |
| Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25 | £36£36£34 | £36£36£34 | Southampton |
| Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25 | £437£439£415 | £537£539£509 | Cardiff |
| Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25 | £157£158£149 | £112£113£107 | Southampton |
| Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25 | £104£105£99 | £109£109£103 | Cardiff |
| Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25 | £1,728£1,736£1,639 | £1,730£1,737£1,641 | Cardiff |
| Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25 | £256£257£242 | £297£298£281 | Cardiff |
| Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25 | £248£249£235 | £351£352£333 | Cardiff |
| Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25 | £5.63£5.65£5.34 | £6.56£6.59£6.22 | Cardiff |
| Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25 | £5.60£5.62£5.31 | £7.66£7.70£7.27 | Cardiff |
| Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25 | £4.79£4.81£4.54 | £5.33£5.36£5.06 | Cardiff |
| State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026 | 1,005.3 | 1,021.2 | Cardiff |
| Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026 | 145.8 | 139.9 | Southampton |
| Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026 | 148.1 | 182.4 | Cardiff |
| Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 2026 | 66.1 | 75.6 | Cardiff |
| Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026 | 193.8 | 196.1 | Cardiff |
| Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 2026 | 23.4 | 23.7 | Cardiff |
Per resident
Southampton is higher on 4 of 22 measures, and Cardiff on 18. Each row has its own scale from zero. Money is in 2026-27 prices2026-27 prices, using CPI inflationcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.1-11
Southampton Cardiff
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25
£3,944£3,960£3,741Cardiff is higher£4,242£4,260£4,024
Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25
£1,637£1,644£1,553Cardiff is higher£1,791£1,798£1,698
Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25
£1,451£1,457£1,376Cardiff is higher£1,500£1,507£1,423
State Pensionper resident, 2024-25
£1,457£1,463£1,382Cardiff is higher£1,568£1,575£1,487
Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25
£89£89£84Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£94£94£89
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25
£87£88£83Cardiff is higher£124£124£118
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25
£4.66£4.68£4.42Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£4.92£4.94£4.67
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25
£437£439£415Cardiff is higher£537£539£509
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25
£157£158£149Southampton is higherDepends on how you count£112£113£107
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25
£72£73£69Cardiff is higher£74£74£70
Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25
£1,199£1,204£1,137Southampton is higherDepends on how you count£1,178£1,183£1,117
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25
£256£257£242Cardiff is higher£297£298£281
Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25
£172£173£163Cardiff is higher£239£240£226
Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25
£3.91£3.93£3.71Cardiff is higher£4.47£4.49£4.24
Income Supportper resident, 2024-25
£3.88£3.90£3.68Cardiff is higher£5.22£5.24£4.95
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25
£4.79£4.81£4.54Cardiff is higher£5.33£5.36£5.06
State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026
129.0Cardiff is higher140.5
Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026
18.7Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count19.3
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 2026
19.0Cardiff is higher25.1
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 2026
66.1Cardiff is higher75.6
Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026
134.5Southampton is higherDepends on how you count133.5
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 2026
16.3Southampton is higherDepends on how you count16.2
Show the numbers
| Measure | Southampton | Cardiff | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| All benefitsper resident, 2024-25 | £3,944£3,960£3,741 | £4,242£4,260£4,024 | Cardiff |
| Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25 | £1,637£1,644£1,553 | £1,791£1,798£1,698 | Cardiff |
| Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25 | £1,451£1,457£1,376 | £1,500£1,507£1,423 | Cardiff |
| State Pensionper resident, 2024-25 | £1,457£1,463£1,382 | £1,568£1,575£1,487 | Cardiff |
| Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25 | £89£89£84 | £94£94£89 | Cardiff |
| Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25 | £87£88£83 | £124£124£118 | Cardiff |
| Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25 | £4.66£4.68£4.42 | £4.92£4.94£4.67 | Cardiff |
| Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25 | £437£439£415 | £537£539£509 | Cardiff |
| Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25 | £157£158£149 | £112£113£107 | Southampton |
| Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25 | £72£73£69 | £74£74£70 | Cardiff |
| Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25 | £1,199£1,204£1,137 | £1,178£1,183£1,117 | Southampton |
| Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25 | £256£257£242 | £297£298£281 | Cardiff |
| Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25 | £172£173£163 | £239£240£226 | Cardiff |
| Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25 | £3.91£3.93£3.71 | £4.47£4.49£4.24 | Cardiff |
| Income Supportper resident, 2024-25 | £3.88£3.90£3.68 | £5.22£5.24£4.95 | Cardiff |
| Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25 | £4.79£4.81£4.54 | £5.33£5.36£5.06 | Cardiff |
| State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026 | 129.0 | 140.5 | Cardiff |
| Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026 | 18.7 | 19.3 | Cardiff |
| Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 2026 | 19.0 | 25.1 | Cardiff |
| Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 2026 | 66.1 | 75.6 | Cardiff |
| Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026 | 134.5 | 133.5 | Southampton |
| Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 2026 | 16.3 | 16.2 | Southampton |
Total
Southampton is higher on 0 of 22 measures, and Cardiff on 22. Each row has its own scale from zero. Money is in 2026-27 prices2026-27 prices, using CPI inflationcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.1-11
Southampton Cardiff
All benefitstotal, 2024-25
£1.0bn£1.0bn£974.8mCardiff is higher£1.6bn£1.6bn£1.5bn
Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25
£426.7m£428.6m£404.8mCardiff is higher£684.0m£687.0m£648.8m
Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25
£378.2m£379.8m£358.7mCardiff is higher£573.2m£575.6m£543.7m
State Pensiontotal, 2024-25
£379.7m£381.3m£360.2mCardiff is higher£599.0m£601.5m£568.2m
Pension Credittotal, 2024-25
£23.1m£23.2m£21.9mCardiff is higherDepends on how you count£35.8m£36.0m£34.0m
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25
£22.7m£22.8m£21.6mCardiff is higher£47.3m£47.5m£44.9m
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25
£1.2mCardiff is higherDepends on how you count£1.9m£1.9m£1.8m
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25
£113.9m£114.4m£108.1mCardiff is higher£205.0m£205.9m£194.4m
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25
£41.0m£41.2m£38.9mCardiff is higherDepends on how you count£42.9m£43.1m£40.7m
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25
£18.9m£19.0m£17.9mCardiff is higher£28.3m£28.4m£26.8m
Universal Credittotal, 2024-25
£312.4m£313.8m£296.4mCardiff is higherDepends on how you count£450.0m£451.9m£426.8m
Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25
£66.6m£66.9m£63.2mCardiff is higher£113.3m£113.8m£107.5m
Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25
£44.8m£45.0m£42.5mCardiff is higher£91.2m£91.6m£86.5m
Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25
£1.0m£1.0m£0.97mCardiff is higher£1.7m£1.7m£1.6m
Income Supporttotal, 2024-25
£1.0m£1.0m£0.96mCardiff is higher£2.0m£2.0m£1.9m
Other benefitstotal, 2024-25
£1.2m£1.3m£1.2mCardiff is higher£2.0m£2.0m£1.9m
State Pensiontotal, March 2026
33,626Cardiff is higher53,692
Pension Credittotal, March 2026
4,877Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count7,358
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 2026
4,953Cardiff is higher9,592
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 2026
17,220Cardiff is higher28,870
Universal Credittotal, May 2026
35,041Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count51,000
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 2026
4,235Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count6,171
Show the numbers
| Measure | Southampton | Cardiff | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| All benefitstotal, 2024-25 | £1.0bn£1.0bn£974.8m | £1.6bn£1.6bn£1.5bn | Cardiff |
| Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25 | £426.7m£428.6m£404.8m | £684.0m£687.0m£648.8m | Cardiff |
| Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25 | £378.2m£379.8m£358.7m | £573.2m£575.6m£543.7m | Cardiff |
| State Pensiontotal, 2024-25 | £379.7m£381.3m£360.2m | £599.0m£601.5m£568.2m | Cardiff |
| Pension Credittotal, 2024-25 | £23.1m£23.2m£21.9m | £35.8m£36.0m£34.0m | Cardiff |
| Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25 | £22.7m£22.8m£21.6m | £47.3m£47.5m£44.9m | Cardiff |
| Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25 | £1.2m | £1.9m£1.9m£1.8m | Cardiff |
| Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25 | £113.9m£114.4m£108.1m | £205.0m£205.9m£194.4m | Cardiff |
| Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25 | £41.0m£41.2m£38.9m | £42.9m£43.1m£40.7m | Cardiff |
| Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25 | £18.9m£19.0m£17.9m | £28.3m£28.4m£26.8m | Cardiff |
| Universal Credittotal, 2024-25 | £312.4m£313.8m£296.4m | £450.0m£451.9m£426.8m | Cardiff |
| Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25 | £66.6m£66.9m£63.2m | £113.3m£113.8m£107.5m | Cardiff |
| Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25 | £44.8m£45.0m£42.5m | £91.2m£91.6m£86.5m | Cardiff |
| Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25 | £1.0m£1.0m£0.97m | £1.7m£1.7m£1.6m | Cardiff |
| Income Supporttotal, 2024-25 | £1.0m£1.0m£0.96m | £2.0m£2.0m£1.9m | Cardiff |
| Other benefitstotal, 2024-25 | £1.2m£1.3m£1.2m | £2.0m£2.0m£1.9m | Cardiff |
| State Pensiontotal, March 2026 | 33,626 | 53,692 | Cardiff |
| Pension Credittotal, March 2026 | 4,877 | 7,358 | Cardiff |
| Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 2026 | 4,953 | 9,592 | Cardiff |
| Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 2026 | 17,220 | 28,870 | Cardiff |
| Universal Credittotal, May 2026 | 35,041 | 51,000 | Cardiff |
| Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 2026 | 4,235 | 6,171 | Cardiff |
Sources
Each area's page lists the limits of its figures and where each one comes from.
- 1Department for Work and Pensions. Benefit expenditure by local authority, 2024-25. Published 15 December 2025. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
- 2Department for Work and Pensions. Benefit expenditure by parliamentary constituency, 2024-25. Published 15 December 2025. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
- 3Department for Work and Pensions. Stat-Xplore benefit caseloads and awards. Published 6 October 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
- 4Social Security Scotland. Adult Disability Payment statistics to 31 July 2026. Published 14 September 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
- 5Social Security Scotland. Child Disability Payment statistics to 30 June 2026. Published 17 August 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
- 6Social Security Scotland. Pension Age Disability Payment statistics to 31 July 2026. Published 14 September 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
- 7Social Security Scotland. Carer Support Payment statistics to 30 June 2026. Published 10 August 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
- 8Social Security Scotland. Winter heating benefits statistics for winter 2025/26. Published 18 May 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
- 9Office for National Statistics. Population estimates by local authority (Nomis NM_2002_1). Published 5 October 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
- 10Office for National Statistics. Population estimates by 2024 parliamentary constituency (Nomis NM_2014_1). Published 5 October 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.
- 11National Records of Scotland. Population estimates for other geographies, mid-2011 to mid-2024. Published 31 August 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Data release 2026-10-08.2.