Rental Investing in Cardiff, Wales

2026 Market Data & Investment Analysis

Gross Yield

5.4%

Annual rent / price

Median Home Price

£235,000

As of 2026-Q1

Median Monthly Rent

£1,050

Per month

Population

362,000

+0.8% / yr (5y avg)

Calculate Your Return in Cardiff

Pre-filled with Cardiff's median values. Adjust to match your specific property.

Property Details

£

Total acquisition cost before taxes

£
£

HOA, insurance, property management

%

% of time the property is empty

%

% of purchase price (e.g. 2% = 2)

% of price

Rule of thumb: 1% of purchase price/yr

Results

Gross Rental Yield

5.36%

Net Rental Yield

3.07%

Cap Rate

3.07%

Monthly Cash Flow

£601.67

Annual Cash Flow

£7,220.00

> 6% — Excellent4–6% — Good< 4% — Low

Market Overview

Median Home Price — 5-Year Trend

2021
£200,000
2022
£255,000
2023
£242,000
2024
£238,000
2025
£235,000

Median Monthly Rent — 5-Year Trend

2021
£880
2022
£1,005
2023
£1,033
2024
£1,043
2025
£1,050

Cardiff provides solid rental yields of 5.4%, in line with healthy investment market benchmarks.

Modest population growth of 0.8% per year indicates a stable but slowly growing rental market.

The vacancy rate of 2.9% is healthy, indicating strong rental demand and limited downtime between tenants.

Investment Profile

Challenging Market

Cardiff presents challenges with both modest rental yields and limited population growth. Investors need to carefully analyze specific neighborhoods and property types to find opportunities that outperform the market average.

Strengths

  • Lower entry prices may reduce downside risk
  • Select neighborhoods and value-add properties can outperform the average

! Risks

  • Below-average gross yield of 5.4% limits income potential
  • Limited population growth reduces long-term rental demand
  • Higher due diligence required to identify strong-performing assets

Key Metrics

Gross Yield5.4%
Median Home Price£235,000
Median Monthly Rent£1,050
Population Growth+0.8% / yr
Vacancy Rate2.9%

How Cardiff Compares

Cardiff vs Bristol: 0.4 percentage point difference in gross yield.

CityMedian PriceMedian RentGross YieldPop. Growth
Bristol, England£350,000£1,4505%+0.6%
Bournemouth, England£310,000£1,2504.8%+0.5%
Birmingham, England£215,000£9805.5%+0.8%
Southampton, England£280,000£1,2005.1%+0.3%
Plymouth, England£220,000£9505.2%+0.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is rental investing profitable in Cardiff?
Cardiff offers a gross rental yield of 5.4%, which is in line with the national average. With a median home price of £235,000 and median monthly rent of £1,050, profitability is achievable but depends heavily on financing terms and whether you can source properties below the median price.
What is the average rental yield in Cardiff?
The average gross rental yield in Cardiff is approximately 5.4%, based on a median home price of £235,000 and median monthly rent of £1,050 (as of 2026-Q1). Net yield, which accounts for vacancy, expenses, and maintenance, is typically 2–3 percentage points lower.
How does Cardiff compare to Bristol for investors?
Cardiff has a gross yield of 5.4% compared to 5% in Bristol, a difference of 0.4 percentage points. Cardiff offers higher current income potential, making it more attractive for cash flow-focused investors.

Ready to Analyse a Specific Property in Cardiff?

Use our free rental yield calculator to model any property — not just the median.

Data source: UK Land Registry / ONS. Last updated: 2026-Q1. This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.