Compare local authorities · Scotland and Wales

City of Edinburgh and Cardiff

532,070 and 382,028 residents (mid-2024).

City of Edinburgh is higher than Cardiff on 2 of 21 measures per person in the age group, 5 of 22 per resident and 15 of 22 in total.

On 12 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.

City of Edinburgh and Cardiff on a map of the local authorities of Great Britain
How to count
Prices

Money in 2026-27 prices, adjusted for inflation so that years can be compared2026-27 prices, using CPI inflation, adjusted for inflation so that years can be comparedcash terms, not adjusted for inflation.

Per person in the age group

City of Edinburgh is higher on 2 of 21 measures, and Cardiff on 19. 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

City of Edinburgh Cardiff

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: City of Edinburgh £3,704, Cardiff £4,242Cardiff: £4,242City of Edinburgh: £3,704Cardiff: £4,260City of Edinburgh: £3,720Cardiff: £4,024City of Edinburgh: £3,514

    £3,704£3,720£3,514Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£4,242£4,260£4,024

  2. Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, per person aged 66 and over: City of Edinburgh £12,400, Cardiff £13,010Cardiff: £13,010City of Edinburgh: £12,400Cardiff: £13,065City of Edinburgh: £12,453Cardiff: £12,341City of Edinburgh: £11,762

    £12,400£12,453£11,762Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£13,010£13,065£12,341

  3. Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, per person aged 16 to 64: City of Edinburgh £1,426, Cardiff £2,204Cardiff: £2,204City of Edinburgh: £1,426Cardiff: £2,213City of Edinburgh: £1,432Cardiff: £2,090City of Edinburgh: £1,352

    £1,426£1,432£1,352Cardiff is higher£2,204£2,213£2,090

  4. State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25

    State Pension, per person aged 66 and over: City of Edinburgh £11,392, Cardiff £11,392Cardiff: £11,392City of Edinburgh: £11,392Cardiff: £11,441City of Edinburgh: £11,441Cardiff: £10,806City of Edinburgh: £10,806

    £11,392£11,441£10,806No difference to show£11,392£11,441£10,806

  5. Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, per person aged 66 and over: City of Edinburgh £427, Cardiff £682Cardiff: £682City of Edinburgh: £427Cardiff: £685City of Edinburgh: £429Cardiff: £647City of Edinburgh: £406

    £427£429£406Cardiff is higher£682£685£647

  6. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per person aged 66 and over: City of Edinburgh £557, Cardiff £900Cardiff: £900City of Edinburgh: £557Cardiff: £904City of Edinburgh: £559Cardiff: £854City of Edinburgh: £528

    £557£559£528Cardiff is higher£900£904£854

  7. Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25

    Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, per person aged 66 and over: City of Edinburgh £23, Cardiff £36Cardiff: £36City of Edinburgh: £23Cardiff: £36City of Edinburgh: £23Cardiff: £34City of Edinburgh: £22

    £23£23£22Cardiff is higher£36£36£34

  8. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: City of Edinburgh £395, Cardiff £537Cardiff: £537City of Edinburgh: £395Cardiff: £539City of Edinburgh: £397Cardiff: £509City of Edinburgh: £375

    £395£397£375Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£537£539£509

  9. Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: City of Edinburgh £108, Cardiff £112Cardiff: £112City of Edinburgh: £108Cardiff: £113City of Edinburgh: £108Cardiff: £107City of Edinburgh: £102

    £108£108£102Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£112£113£107

  10. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per person aged 16 to 64: City of Edinburgh £64, Cardiff £109Cardiff: £109City of Edinburgh: £64Cardiff: £109City of Edinburgh: £64Cardiff: £103City of Edinburgh: £61

    £64£64£61Cardiff is higher£109£109£103

  11. Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, per person aged 16 to 64: City of Edinburgh £1,018, Cardiff £1,730Cardiff: £1,730City of Edinburgh: £1,018Cardiff: £1,737City of Edinburgh: £1,023Cardiff: £1,641City of Edinburgh: £966

    £1,018£1,023£966Cardiff is higher£1,730£1,737£1,641

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: City of Edinburgh £332, Cardiff £297Cardiff: £297City of Edinburgh: £332Cardiff: £298City of Edinburgh: £334Cardiff: £281City of Edinburgh: £315

    £332£334£315City of Edinburgh is higher£297£298£281

  13. Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: City of Edinburgh £331, Cardiff £351Cardiff: £351City of Edinburgh: £331Cardiff: £352City of Edinburgh: £333Cardiff: £333City of Edinburgh: £314

    £331£333£314Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£351£352£333

  14. Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per person aged 16 to 64: City of Edinburgh £6.78, Cardiff £6.56Cardiff: £6.56City of Edinburgh: £6.78Cardiff: £6.59City of Edinburgh: £6.81Cardiff: £6.22City of Edinburgh: £6.43

    £6.78£6.81£6.43City of Edinburgh is higher£6.56£6.59£6.22

  15. Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25

    Income Support, per person aged 16 to 64: City of Edinburgh £5.39, Cardiff £7.66Cardiff: £7.66City of Edinburgh: £5.39Cardiff: £7.70City of Edinburgh: £5.41Cardiff: £7.27City of Edinburgh: £5.11

    £5.39£5.41£5.11Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£7.66£7.70£7.27

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: City of Edinburgh £5.00, Cardiff £5.33Cardiff: £5.33City of Edinburgh: £5.00Cardiff: £5.36City of Edinburgh: £5.02Cardiff: £5.06City of Edinburgh: £4.74

    £5.00£5.02£4.74Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£5.33£5.36£5.06

  17. State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026

    State Pension, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: City of Edinburgh 1,002.9, Cardiff 1,021.2Cardiff: 1,021.2City of Edinburgh: 1,002.9

    1,002.9Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count1,021.2

  18. Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: City of Edinburgh 97.4, Cardiff 139.9Cardiff: 139.9City of Edinburgh: 97.4

    97.4Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count139.9

  19. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per 1,000 people aged 66 and over: City of Edinburgh 129.8, Cardiff 182.4Cardiff: 182.4City of Edinburgh: 129.8

    129.8Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count182.4

  20. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 2026

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: City of Edinburgh 62.9, Cardiff 75.6Cardiff: 75.6City of Edinburgh: 62.9

    62.9Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count75.6

  21. Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 people aged 16 to 64: City of Edinburgh 137.4, Cardiff 196.1Cardiff: 196.1City of Edinburgh: 137.4

    137.4Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count196.1

  22. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 2026

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per 1,000 people aged 16 to 64: City of Edinburgh 13.5, Cardiff 23.7Cardiff: 23.7City of Edinburgh: 13.5

    13.5Cardiff is higher23.7

Show the numbers
City of Edinburgh and Cardiff, per person in the age group
MeasureCity of EdinburghCardiffHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3,704£3,720£3,514Estimated£4,242£4,260£4,024Cardiff
Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£12,400£12,453£11,762Estimated£13,010£13,065£12,341Cardiff
Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,426£1,432£1,352Estimated£2,204£2,213£2,090Cardiff
State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£11,392£11,441£10,806£11,392£11,441£10,806
Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£427£429£406£682£685£647Cardiff
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£557£559£528Estimated£900£904£854Cardiff
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25£23£23£22Estimated£36£36£34Cardiff
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£395£397£375Estimated£537£539£509Cardiff
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£108£108£102Estimated£112£113£107Cardiff
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£64£64£61Estimated£109£109£103Cardiff
Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£1,018£1,023£966£1,730£1,737£1,641Cardiff
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£332£334£315£297£298£281City of Edinburgh
Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£331£333£314£351£352£333Cardiff
Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£6.78£6.81£6.43£6.56£6.59£6.22City of Edinburgh
Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25£5.39£5.41£5.11£7.66£7.70£7.27Cardiff
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£5.00£5.02£4.74Estimated£5.33£5.36£5.06Cardiff
State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 20261,002.91,021.2Cardiff
Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 202697.4139.9Cardiff
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026129.8182.4Cardiff
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202662.975.6Cardiff
Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026137.4196.1Cardiff
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 202613.5Estimated23.7Cardiff

Per resident

City of Edinburgh is higher on 5 of 22 measures, and Cardiff on 17. 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

City of Edinburgh Cardiff

  1. All benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    All benefits, per resident: City of Edinburgh £3,704, Cardiff £4,242Cardiff: £4,242City of Edinburgh: £3,704Cardiff: £4,260City of Edinburgh: £3,720Cardiff: £4,024City of Edinburgh: £3,514

    £3,704£3,720£3,514Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£4,242£4,260£4,024

  2. Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, per resident: City of Edinburgh £1,869, Cardiff £1,791Cardiff: £1,791City of Edinburgh: £1,869Cardiff: £1,798City of Edinburgh: £1,877Cardiff: £1,698City of Edinburgh: £1,773

    £1,869£1,877£1,773City of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count£1,791£1,798£1,698

  3. Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, per resident: City of Edinburgh £996, Cardiff £1,500Cardiff: £1,500City of Edinburgh: £996Cardiff: £1,507City of Edinburgh: £1,000Cardiff: £1,423City of Edinburgh: £944

    £996£1,000£944Cardiff is higher£1,500£1,507£1,423

  4. State Pensionper resident, 2024-25

    State Pension, per resident: City of Edinburgh £1,717, Cardiff £1,568Cardiff: £1,568City of Edinburgh: £1,717Cardiff: £1,575City of Edinburgh: £1,724Cardiff: £1,487City of Edinburgh: £1,629

    £1,717£1,724£1,629City of Edinburgh is higher£1,568£1,575£1,487

  5. Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, per resident: City of Edinburgh £64, Cardiff £94Cardiff: £94City of Edinburgh: £64Cardiff: £94City of Edinburgh: £65Cardiff: £89City of Edinburgh: £61

    £64£65£61Cardiff is higher£94£94£89

  6. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per resident: City of Edinburgh £84, Cardiff £124Cardiff: £124City of Edinburgh: £84Cardiff: £124City of Edinburgh: £84Cardiff: £118City of Edinburgh: £80

    £84£84£80Cardiff is higher£124£124£118

  7. Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, per resident: City of Edinburgh £3.52, Cardiff £4.92Cardiff: £4.92City of Edinburgh: £3.52Cardiff: £4.94City of Edinburgh: £3.54Cardiff: £4.67City of Edinburgh: £3.34

    £3.52£3.54£3.34Cardiff is higher£4.92£4.94£4.67

  8. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per resident: City of Edinburgh £395, Cardiff £537Cardiff: £537City of Edinburgh: £395Cardiff: £539City of Edinburgh: £397Cardiff: £509City of Edinburgh: £375

    £395£397£375Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£537£539£509

  9. Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, per resident: City of Edinburgh £108, Cardiff £112Cardiff: £112City of Edinburgh: £108Cardiff: £113City of Edinburgh: £108Cardiff: £107City of Edinburgh: £102

    £108£108£102Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£112£113£107

  10. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per resident: City of Edinburgh £45, Cardiff £74Cardiff: £74City of Edinburgh: £45Cardiff: £74City of Edinburgh: £45Cardiff: £70City of Edinburgh: £42

    £45£45£42Cardiff is higher£74£74£70

  11. Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, per resident: City of Edinburgh £711, Cardiff £1,178Cardiff: £1,178City of Edinburgh: £711Cardiff: £1,183City of Edinburgh: £714Cardiff: £1,117City of Edinburgh: £675

    £711£714£675Cardiff is higher£1,178£1,183£1,117

  12. Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, per resident: City of Edinburgh £332, Cardiff £297Cardiff: £297City of Edinburgh: £332Cardiff: £298City of Edinburgh: £334Cardiff: £281City of Edinburgh: £315

    £332£334£315City of Edinburgh is higher£297£298£281

  13. Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, per resident: City of Edinburgh £231, Cardiff £239Cardiff: £239City of Edinburgh: £231Cardiff: £240City of Edinburgh: £232Cardiff: £226City of Edinburgh: £219

    £231£232£219Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£239£240£226

  14. Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, per resident: City of Edinburgh £4.73, Cardiff £4.47Cardiff: £4.47City of Edinburgh: £4.73Cardiff: £4.49City of Edinburgh: £4.75Cardiff: £4.24City of Edinburgh: £4.49

    £4.73£4.75£4.49City of Edinburgh is higher£4.47£4.49£4.24

  15. Income Supportper resident, 2024-25

    Income Support, per resident: City of Edinburgh £3.76, Cardiff £5.22Cardiff: £5.22City of Edinburgh: £3.76Cardiff: £5.24City of Edinburgh: £3.78Cardiff: £4.95City of Edinburgh: £3.57

    £3.76£3.78£3.57Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£5.22£5.24£4.95

  16. Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25

    Other benefits, per resident: City of Edinburgh £5.00, Cardiff £5.33Cardiff: £5.33City of Edinburgh: £5.00Cardiff: £5.36City of Edinburgh: £5.02Cardiff: £5.06City of Edinburgh: £4.74

    £5.00£5.02£4.74Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£5.33£5.36£5.06

  17. State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    State Pension, per 1,000 residents: City of Edinburgh 151.1, Cardiff 140.5Cardiff: 140.5City of Edinburgh: 151.1

    151.1City of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count140.5

  18. Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Pension Credit, per 1,000 residents: City of Edinburgh 14.7, Cardiff 19.3Cardiff: 19.3City of Edinburgh: 14.7

    14.7Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count19.3

  19. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: City of Edinburgh 19.6, Cardiff 25.1Cardiff: 25.1City of Edinburgh: 19.6

    19.6Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count25.1

  20. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 2026

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, per 1,000 residents: City of Edinburgh 62.9, Cardiff 75.6Cardiff: 75.6City of Edinburgh: 62.9

    62.9Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count75.6

  21. Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026

    Universal Credit, per 1,000 residents: City of Edinburgh 95.9, Cardiff 133.5Cardiff: 133.5City of Edinburgh: 95.9

    95.9Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count133.5

  22. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 2026

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, per 1,000 residents: City of Edinburgh 9.4, Cardiff 16.2Cardiff: 16.2City of Edinburgh: 9.4

    9.4Cardiff is higher16.2

Show the numbers
City of Edinburgh and Cardiff, per resident
MeasureCity of EdinburghCardiffHigher
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25£3,704£3,720£3,514Estimated£4,242£4,260£4,024Cardiff
Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25£1,869£1,877£1,773Estimated£1,791£1,798£1,698City of Edinburgh
Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25£996£1,000£944Estimated£1,500£1,507£1,423Cardiff
State Pensionper resident, 2024-25£1,717£1,724£1,629£1,568£1,575£1,487City of Edinburgh
Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25£64£65£61£94£94£89Cardiff
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£84£84£80Estimated£124£124£118Cardiff
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25£3.52£3.54£3.34Estimated£4.92£4.94£4.67Cardiff
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£395£397£375Estimated£537£539£509Cardiff
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25£108£108£102Estimated£112£113£107Cardiff
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25£45£45£42Estimated£74£74£70Cardiff
Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25£711£714£675£1,178£1,183£1,117Cardiff
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25£332£334£315£297£298£281City of Edinburgh
Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£231£232£219£239£240£226Cardiff
Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25£4.73£4.75£4.49£4.47£4.49£4.24City of Edinburgh
Income Supportper resident, 2024-25£3.76£3.78£3.57£5.22£5.24£4.95Cardiff
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25£5.00£5.02£4.74Estimated£5.33£5.36£5.06Cardiff
State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026151.1140.5City of Edinburgh
Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 202614.719.3Cardiff
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 202619.625.1Cardiff
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 202662.975.6Cardiff
Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 202695.9133.5Cardiff
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 20269.4Estimated16.2Cardiff

Total

City of Edinburgh is higher on 15 of 22 measures, and Cardiff on 7. 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

City of Edinburgh Cardiff

  1. All benefitstotal, 2024-25

    All benefits, total: City of Edinburgh £2.0bn, Cardiff £1.6bnCardiff: £1.6bnCity of Edinburgh: £2.0bnCardiff: £1.6bnCity of Edinburgh: £2.0bnCardiff: £1.5bnCity of Edinburgh: £1.9bn

    £2.0bn£2.0bn£1.9bnCity of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count£1.6bn£1.6bn£1.5bn

  2. Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Pensioner benefits, total: City of Edinburgh £994.3m, Cardiff £684.0mCardiff: £684.0mCity of Edinburgh: £994.3mCardiff: £687.0mCity of Edinburgh: £998.5mCardiff: £648.8mCity of Edinburgh: £943.1m

    £994.3m£998.5m£943.1mCity of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count£684.0m£687.0m£648.8m

  3. Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Working-age benefits, total: City of Edinburgh £529.7m, Cardiff £573.2mCardiff: £573.2mCity of Edinburgh: £529.7mCardiff: £575.6mCity of Edinburgh: £531.9mCardiff: £543.7mCity of Edinburgh: £502.4m

    £529.7m£531.9m£502.4mCardiff is higher£573.2m£575.6m£543.7m

  4. State Pensiontotal, 2024-25

    State Pension, total: City of Edinburgh £913.5m, Cardiff £599.0mCardiff: £599.0mCity of Edinburgh: £913.5mCardiff: £601.5mCity of Edinburgh: £917.4mCardiff: £568.2mCity of Edinburgh: £866.5m

    £913.5m£917.4m£866.5mCity of Edinburgh is higher£599.0m£601.5m£568.2m

  5. Pension Credittotal, 2024-25

    Pension Credit, total: City of Edinburgh £34.3m, Cardiff £35.8mCardiff: £35.8mCity of Edinburgh: £34.3mCardiff: £36.0mCity of Edinburgh: £34.4mCardiff: £34.0mCity of Edinburgh: £32.5m

    £34.3m£34.4m£32.5mCardiff is higher£35.8m£36.0m£34.0m

  6. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: City of Edinburgh £44.6m, Cardiff £47.3mCardiff: £47.3mCity of Edinburgh: £44.6mCardiff: £47.5mCity of Edinburgh: £44.8mCardiff: £44.9mCity of Edinburgh: £42.3m

    £44.6m£44.8m£42.3mCardiff is higher£47.3m£47.5m£44.9m

  7. Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25

    Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, total: City of Edinburgh £1.9m, Cardiff £1.9mCardiff: £1.9mCity of Edinburgh: £1.9mCardiff: £1.9mCity of Edinburgh: £1.9mCardiff: £1.8mCity of Edinburgh: £1.8m

    £1.9m£1.9m£1.8mCardiff is higher£1.9m£1.9m£1.8m

  8. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: City of Edinburgh £210.2m, Cardiff £205.0mCardiff: £205.0mCity of Edinburgh: £210.2mCardiff: £205.9mCity of Edinburgh: £211.1mCardiff: £194.4mCity of Edinburgh: £199.4m

    £210.2m£211.1m£199.4mCity of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count£205.0m£205.9m£194.4m

  9. Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25

    Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment, total: City of Edinburgh £57.5m, Cardiff £42.9mCardiff: £42.9mCity of Edinburgh: £57.5mCardiff: £43.1mCity of Edinburgh: £57.7mCardiff: £40.7mCity of Edinburgh: £54.5m

    £57.5m£57.7m£54.5mCity of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count£42.9m£43.1m£40.7m

  10. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: City of Edinburgh £23.8m, Cardiff £28.3mCardiff: £28.3mCity of Edinburgh: £23.8mCardiff: £28.4mCity of Edinburgh: £23.9mCardiff: £26.8mCity of Edinburgh: £22.6m

    £23.8m£23.9m£22.6mCardiff is higher£28.3m£28.4m£26.8m

  11. Universal Credittotal, 2024-25

    Universal Credit, total: City of Edinburgh £378.3m, Cardiff £450.0mCardiff: £450.0mCity of Edinburgh: £378.3mCardiff: £451.9mCity of Edinburgh: £380.0mCardiff: £426.8mCity of Edinburgh: £358.9m

    £378.3m£380.0m£358.9mCardiff is higher£450.0m£451.9m£426.8m

  12. Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25

    Housing Benefit, total: City of Edinburgh £176.7m, Cardiff £113.3mCardiff: £113.3mCity of Edinburgh: £176.7mCardiff: £113.8mCity of Edinburgh: £177.5mCardiff: £107.5mCity of Edinburgh: £167.6m

    £176.7m£177.5m£167.6mCity of Edinburgh is higher£113.3m£113.8m£107.5m

  13. Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Employment and Support Allowance, total: City of Edinburgh £123.0m, Cardiff £91.2mCardiff: £91.2mCity of Edinburgh: £123.0mCardiff: £91.6mCity of Edinburgh: £123.5mCardiff: £86.5mCity of Edinburgh: £116.7m

    £123.0m£123.5m£116.7mCity of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count£91.2m£91.6m£86.5m

  14. Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25

    Jobseeker's Allowance, total: City of Edinburgh £2.5m, Cardiff £1.7mCardiff: £1.7mCity of Edinburgh: £2.5mCardiff: £1.7mCity of Edinburgh: £2.5mCardiff: £1.6mCity of Edinburgh: £2.4m

    £2.5m£2.5m£2.4mCity of Edinburgh is higher£1.7m£1.7m£1.6m

  15. Income Supporttotal, 2024-25

    Income Support, total: City of Edinburgh £2.0m, Cardiff £2.0mCardiff: £2.0mCity of Edinburgh: £2.0mCardiff: £2.0mCity of Edinburgh: £2.0mCardiff: £1.9mCity of Edinburgh: £1.9m

    £2.0m£2.0m£1.9mCity of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count£2.0m£2.0m£1.9m

  16. Other benefitstotal, 2024-25

    Other benefits, total: City of Edinburgh £2.7m, Cardiff £2.0mCardiff: £2.0mCity of Edinburgh: £2.7mCardiff: £2.0mCity of Edinburgh: £2.7mCardiff: £1.9mCity of Edinburgh: £2.5m

    £2.7m£2.7m£2.5mCity of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count£2.0m£2.0m£1.9m

  17. State Pensiontotal, March 2026

    State Pension, total: City of Edinburgh 80,416, Cardiff 53,692Cardiff: 53,692City of Edinburgh: 80,416

    80,416City of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count53,692

  18. Pension Credittotal, March 2026

    Pension Credit, total: City of Edinburgh 7,812, Cardiff 7,358Cardiff: 7,358City of Edinburgh: 7,812

    7,812City of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count7,358

  19. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 2026

    Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment, total: City of Edinburgh 10,410, Cardiff 9,592Cardiff: 9,592City of Edinburgh: 10,410

    10,410City of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count9,592

  20. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 2026

    Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment, total: City of Edinburgh 33,440, Cardiff 28,870Cardiff: 28,870City of Edinburgh: 33,440

    33,440City of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count28,870

  21. Universal Credittotal, May 2026

    Universal Credit, total: City of Edinburgh 51,033, Cardiff 51,000Cardiff: 51,000City of Edinburgh: 51,033

    51,033City of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count51,000

  22. Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 2026

    Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment, total: City of Edinburgh 5,022, Cardiff 6,171Cardiff: 6,171City of Edinburgh: 5,022

    5,022Cardiff is higher6,171

Show the numbers
City of Edinburgh and Cardiff, total
MeasureCity of EdinburghCardiffHigher
All benefitstotal, 2024-25£2.0bn£2.0bn£1.9bnEstimated£1.6bn£1.6bn£1.5bnCity of Edinburgh
Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25£994.3m£998.5m£943.1mEstimated£684.0m£687.0m£648.8mCity of Edinburgh
Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25£529.7m£531.9m£502.4mEstimated£573.2m£575.6m£543.7mCardiff
State Pensiontotal, 2024-25£913.5m£917.4m£866.5m£599.0m£601.5m£568.2mCity of Edinburgh
Pension Credittotal, 2024-25£34.3m£34.4m£32.5m£35.8m£36.0m£34.0mCardiff
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£44.6m£44.8m£42.3mEstimated£47.3m£47.5m£44.9mCardiff
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25£1.9m£1.9m£1.8mEstimated£1.9m£1.9m£1.8mCardiff
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£210.2m£211.1m£199.4mEstimated£205.0m£205.9m£194.4mCity of Edinburgh
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25£57.5m£57.7m£54.5mEstimated£42.9m£43.1m£40.7mCity of Edinburgh
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25£23.8m£23.9m£22.6mEstimated£28.3m£28.4m£26.8mCardiff
Universal Credittotal, 2024-25£378.3m£380.0m£358.9m£450.0m£451.9m£426.8mCardiff
Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25£176.7m£177.5m£167.6m£113.3m£113.8m£107.5mCity of Edinburgh
Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25£123.0m£123.5m£116.7m£91.2m£91.6m£86.5mCity of Edinburgh
Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25£2.5m£2.5m£2.4m£1.7m£1.7m£1.6mCity of Edinburgh
Income Supporttotal, 2024-25£2.0m£2.0m£1.9m£2.0m£2.0m£1.9mCity of Edinburgh
Other benefitstotal, 2024-25£2.7m£2.7m£2.5mEstimated£2.0m£2.0m£1.9mCity of Edinburgh
State Pensiontotal, March 202680,41653,692City of Edinburgh
Pension Credittotal, March 20267,8127,358City of Edinburgh
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 202610,4109,592City of Edinburgh
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 202633,44028,870City of Edinburgh
Universal Credittotal, May 202651,03351,000City of Edinburgh
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 20265,022Estimated6,171Cardiff

Sources

Each area's page lists the limits of its figures and where each one comes from.

  1. 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.
  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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.