Compare local authorities · Scotland and Wales
City of Edinburgh and Cardiff
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.
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
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25
£3,704£3,720£3,514Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£4,242£4,260£4,024
Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25
£12,400£12,453£11,762Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£13,010£13,065£12,341
Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25
£1,426£1,432£1,352Cardiff is higher£2,204£2,213£2,090
State Pensionper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25
£11,392£11,441£10,806No difference to show£11,392£11,441£10,806
Pension Creditper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25
£427£429£406Cardiff is higher£682£685£647
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25
£557£559£528Cardiff is higher£900£904£854
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25
£23£23£22Cardiff is higher£36£36£34
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25
£395£397£375Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£537£539£509
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25
£108£108£102Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£112£113£107
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25
£64£64£61Cardiff is higher£109£109£103
Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25
£1,018£1,023£966Cardiff is higher£1,730£1,737£1,641
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25
£332£334£315City of Edinburgh is higher£297£298£281
Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25
£331£333£314Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£351£352£333
Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25
£6.78£6.81£6.43City of Edinburgh is higher£6.56£6.59£6.22
Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25
£5.39£5.41£5.11Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£7.66£7.70£7.27
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25
£5.00£5.02£4.74Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£5.33£5.36£5.06
State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026
1,002.9Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count1,021.2
Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026
97.4Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count139.9
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026
129.8Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count182.4
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 2026
62.9Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count75.6
Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026
137.4Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count196.1
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 2026
13.5Cardiff is higher23.7
Show the numbers
| Measure | City of Edinburgh | Cardiff | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| All benefitsper resident, 2024-25 | £3,704£3,720£3,514Estimated | £4,242£4,260£4,024 | Cardiff |
| Pensioner benefitsper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25 | £12,400£12,453£11,762Estimated | £13,010£13,065£12,341 | Cardiff |
| Working-age benefitsper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25 | £1,426£1,432£1,352Estimated | £2,204£2,213£2,090 | Cardiff |
| 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£647 | Cardiff |
| Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25 | £557£559£528Estimated | £900£904£854 | Cardiff |
| Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper person aged 66 and over, 2024-25 | £23£23£22Estimated | £36£36£34 | Cardiff |
| Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25 | £395£397£375Estimated | £537£539£509 | Cardiff |
| Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25 | £108£108£102Estimated | £112£113£107 | Cardiff |
| Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25 | £64£64£61Estimated | £109£109£103 | Cardiff |
| Universal Creditper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25 | £1,018£1,023£966 | £1,730£1,737£1,641 | Cardiff |
| Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25 | £332£334£315 | £297£298£281 | City of Edinburgh |
| Employment and Support Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25 | £331£333£314 | £351£352£333 | Cardiff |
| Jobseeker's Allowanceper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25 | £6.78£6.81£6.43 | £6.56£6.59£6.22 | City of Edinburgh |
| Income Supportper person aged 16 to 64, 2024-25 | £5.39£5.41£5.11 | £7.66£7.70£7.27 | Cardiff |
| Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25 | £5.00£5.02£4.74Estimated | £5.33£5.36£5.06 | Cardiff |
| State Pensionper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026 | 1,002.9 | 1,021.2 | Cardiff |
| Pension Creditper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026 | 97.4 | 139.9 | Cardiff |
| Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 people aged 66 and over, March 2026 | 129.8 | 182.4 | Cardiff |
| Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 2026 | 62.9 | 75.6 | Cardiff |
| Universal Creditper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, May 2026 | 137.4 | 196.1 | Cardiff |
| Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 people aged 16 to 64, March 2026 | 13.5Estimated | 23.7 | Cardiff |
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
All benefitsper resident, 2024-25
£3,704£3,720£3,514Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£4,242£4,260£4,024
Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25
£1,869£1,877£1,773City of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count£1,791£1,798£1,698
Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25
£996£1,000£944Cardiff is higher£1,500£1,507£1,423
State Pensionper resident, 2024-25
£1,717£1,724£1,629City of Edinburgh is higher£1,568£1,575£1,487
Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25
£64£65£61Cardiff is higher£94£94£89
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25
£84£84£80Cardiff is higher£124£124£118
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25
£3.52£3.54£3.34Cardiff is higher£4.92£4.94£4.67
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25
£395£397£375Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£537£539£509
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25
£108£108£102Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£112£113£107
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25
£45£45£42Cardiff is higher£74£74£70
Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25
£711£714£675Cardiff is higher£1,178£1,183£1,117
Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25
£332£334£315City of Edinburgh is higher£297£298£281
Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25
£231£232£219Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£239£240£226
Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25
£4.73£4.75£4.49City of Edinburgh is higher£4.47£4.49£4.24
Income Supportper resident, 2024-25
£3.76£3.78£3.57Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£5.22£5.24£4.95
Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25
£5.00£5.02£4.74Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count£5.33£5.36£5.06
State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026
151.1City of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count140.5
Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026
14.7Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count19.3
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 2026
19.6Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count25.1
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 2026
62.9Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count75.6
Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026
95.9Cardiff is higherDepends on how you count133.5
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 2026
9.4Cardiff is higher16.2
Show the numbers
| Measure | City of Edinburgh | Cardiff | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| All benefitsper resident, 2024-25 | £3,704£3,720£3,514Estimated | £4,242£4,260£4,024 | Cardiff |
| Pensioner benefitsper resident, 2024-25 | £1,869£1,877£1,773Estimated | £1,791£1,798£1,698 | City of Edinburgh |
| Working-age benefitsper resident, 2024-25 | £996£1,000£944Estimated | £1,500£1,507£1,423 | Cardiff |
| State Pensionper resident, 2024-25 | £1,717£1,724£1,629 | £1,568£1,575£1,487 | City of Edinburgh |
| Pension Creditper resident, 2024-25 | £64£65£61 | £94£94£89 | Cardiff |
| Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25 | £84£84£80Estimated | £124£124£118 | Cardiff |
| Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymentper resident, 2024-25 | £3.52£3.54£3.34Estimated | £4.92£4.94£4.67 | Cardiff |
| Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25 | £395£397£375Estimated | £537£539£509 | Cardiff |
| Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymentper resident, 2024-25 | £108£108£102Estimated | £112£113£107 | Cardiff |
| Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper resident, 2024-25 | £45£45£42Estimated | £74£74£70 | Cardiff |
| Universal Creditper resident, 2024-25 | £711£714£675 | £1,178£1,183£1,117 | Cardiff |
| Housing Benefitper resident, 2024-25 | £332£334£315 | £297£298£281 | City of Edinburgh |
| Employment and Support Allowanceper resident, 2024-25 | £231£232£219 | £239£240£226 | Cardiff |
| Jobseeker's Allowanceper resident, 2024-25 | £4.73£4.75£4.49 | £4.47£4.49£4.24 | City of Edinburgh |
| Income Supportper resident, 2024-25 | £3.76£3.78£3.57 | £5.22£5.24£4.95 | Cardiff |
| Other benefitsper resident, 2024-25 | £5.00£5.02£4.74Estimated | £5.33£5.36£5.06 | Cardiff |
| State Pensionper 1,000 residents, March 2026 | 151.1 | 140.5 | City of Edinburgh |
| Pension Creditper 1,000 residents, March 2026 | 14.7 | 19.3 | Cardiff |
| Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 2026 | 19.6 | 25.1 | Cardiff |
| Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymentper 1,000 residents, July 2026 | 62.9 | 75.6 | Cardiff |
| Universal Creditper 1,000 residents, May 2026 | 95.9 | 133.5 | Cardiff |
| Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymentper 1,000 residents, March 2026 | 9.4Estimated | 16.2 | Cardiff |
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
All benefitstotal, 2024-25
£2.0bn£2.0bn£1.9bnCity of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count£1.6bn£1.6bn£1.5bn
Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25
£994.3m£998.5m£943.1mCity of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count£684.0m£687.0m£648.8m
Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25
£529.7m£531.9m£502.4mCardiff is higher£573.2m£575.6m£543.7m
State Pensiontotal, 2024-25
£913.5m£917.4m£866.5mCity of Edinburgh is higher£599.0m£601.5m£568.2m
Pension Credittotal, 2024-25
£34.3m£34.4m£32.5mCardiff is higher£35.8m£36.0m£34.0m
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25
£44.6m£44.8m£42.3mCardiff is higher£47.3m£47.5m£44.9m
Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25
£1.9m£1.9m£1.8mCardiff is higher£1.9m£1.9m£1.8m
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25
£210.2m£211.1m£199.4mCity of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count£205.0m£205.9m£194.4m
Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25
£57.5m£57.7m£54.5mCity of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count£42.9m£43.1m£40.7m
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25
£23.8m£23.9m£22.6mCardiff is higher£28.3m£28.4m£26.8m
Universal Credittotal, 2024-25
£378.3m£380.0m£358.9mCardiff is higher£450.0m£451.9m£426.8m
Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25
£176.7m£177.5m£167.6mCity of Edinburgh is higher£113.3m£113.8m£107.5m
Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25
£123.0m£123.5m£116.7mCity of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count£91.2m£91.6m£86.5m
Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25
£2.5m£2.5m£2.4mCity of Edinburgh is higher£1.7m£1.7m£1.6m
Income Supporttotal, 2024-25
£2.0m£2.0m£1.9mCity of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count£2.0m£2.0m£1.9m
Other benefitstotal, 2024-25
£2.7m£2.7m£2.5mCity of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count£2.0m£2.0m£1.9m
State Pensiontotal, March 2026
80,416City of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count53,692
Pension Credittotal, March 2026
7,812City of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count7,358
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 2026
10,410City of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count9,592
Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 2026
33,440City of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count28,870
Universal Credittotal, May 2026
51,033City of Edinburgh is higherDepends on how you count51,000
Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 2026
5,022Cardiff is higher6,171
Show the numbers
| Measure | City of Edinburgh | Cardiff | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| All benefitstotal, 2024-25 | £2.0bn£2.0bn£1.9bnEstimated | £1.6bn£1.6bn£1.5bn | City of Edinburgh |
| Pensioner benefitstotal, 2024-25 | £994.3m£998.5m£943.1mEstimated | £684.0m£687.0m£648.8m | City of Edinburgh |
| Working-age benefitstotal, 2024-25 | £529.7m£531.9m£502.4mEstimated | £573.2m£575.6m£543.7m | Cardiff |
| State Pensiontotal, 2024-25 | £913.5m£917.4m£866.5m | £599.0m£601.5m£568.2m | City of Edinburgh |
| Pension Credittotal, 2024-25 | £34.3m£34.4m£32.5m | £35.8m£36.0m£34.0m | Cardiff |
| Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25 | £44.6m£44.8m£42.3mEstimated | £47.3m£47.5m£44.9m | Cardiff |
| Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Paymenttotal, 2024-25 | £1.9m£1.9m£1.8mEstimated | £1.9m£1.9m£1.8m | Cardiff |
| Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25 | £210.2m£211.1m£199.4mEstimated | £205.0m£205.9m£194.4m | City of Edinburgh |
| Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Paymenttotal, 2024-25 | £57.5m£57.7m£54.5mEstimated | £42.9m£43.1m£40.7m | City of Edinburgh |
| Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, 2024-25 | £23.8m£23.9m£22.6mEstimated | £28.3m£28.4m£26.8m | Cardiff |
| Universal Credittotal, 2024-25 | £378.3m£380.0m£358.9m | £450.0m£451.9m£426.8m | Cardiff |
| Housing Benefittotal, 2024-25 | £176.7m£177.5m£167.6m | £113.3m£113.8m£107.5m | City of Edinburgh |
| Employment and Support Allowancetotal, 2024-25 | £123.0m£123.5m£116.7m | £91.2m£91.6m£86.5m | City of Edinburgh |
| Jobseeker's Allowancetotal, 2024-25 | £2.5m£2.5m£2.4m | £1.7m£1.7m£1.6m | City of Edinburgh |
| Income Supporttotal, 2024-25 | £2.0m£2.0m£1.9m | £2.0m£2.0m£1.9m | City of Edinburgh |
| Other benefitstotal, 2024-25 | £2.7m£2.7m£2.5mEstimated | £2.0m£2.0m£1.9m | City of Edinburgh |
| State Pensiontotal, March 2026 | 80,416 | 53,692 | City of Edinburgh |
| Pension Credittotal, March 2026 | 7,812 | 7,358 | City of Edinburgh |
| Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Paymenttotal, March 2026 | 10,410 | 9,592 | City of Edinburgh |
| Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Paymenttotal, July 2026 | 33,440 | 28,870 | City of Edinburgh |
| Universal Credittotal, May 2026 | 51,033 | 51,000 | City of Edinburgh |
| Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Paymenttotal, March 2026 | 5,022Estimated | 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.