Cardiff Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Cardiff is £2,013.18 for 2026/27, up 4.5% (£87.00) on last year. That is £269.90 below the Wales average of £2,283.08 — the 1st lowest of 22 councils. Most homes here are in Band D (22%), so the average bill per home is about £2,238.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Welsh principal council · Official Wales government statistics
Cardiff council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (2003) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £44,000 | £1,342.12 | £134.21 | £111.84 | £1,006.59 | 5,320 |
| B | £44,001 to £65,000 | £1,565.81 | £156.58 | £130.48 | £1,174.36 | 20,540 |
| C | £65,001 to £91,000 | £1,789.49 | £178.95 | £149.12 | £1,342.12 | 35,080 |
| D | £91,001 to £123,000 | £2,013.18 | £201.32 | £167.77 | £1,509.89 | 37,830 |
| E | £123,001 to £162,000 | £2,460.55 | £246.06 | £205.05 | £1,845.42 | 31,900 |
| F | £162,001 to £223,000 | £2,907.93 | £290.79 | £242.33 | £2,180.95 | 22,420 |
| G | £223,001 to £324,000 | £3,355.30 | £335.53 | £279.61 | £2,516.48 | 10,700 |
| H | £324,001 to £424,000 | £4,026.36 | £402.64 | £335.53 | £3,019.77 | 2,880 |
| I | More than £424,000 | £4,697.42 | £469.74 | £391.45 | £3,523.07 | 1,490 |
- Cardiff
- Wales average
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Where your Cardiff council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Cardiff but shared between 3 bodies. Of the £2,013.18 Band D charge, £1,603.72 (80%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county/county borough council, police and crime commissioner, community council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| County/county borough council | £1,603.72 | 79.7% | £1,603.72 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £405.14 | 20.1% | £405.14 |
| Community council (average) | £4.32 | 0.2% | £4.32 |
- County/county borough council £1,604 79.7%
- Police and crime commissioner £405 20.1%
- Community council (average) £4 0.2%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Cardiff; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Cardiff council tax history
Band D in Cardiff has risen from £1,270.23 in 2016/17 to £2,013.18 in 2026/27 — 58% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.8%, the 19th biggest increase of 22 councils in Wales.
- Cardiff Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,013.18 | +4.5% | £2,013.18 |
| 2025/26 | £1,926.18 | +5.4% | £1,926.18 |
| 2024/25 | £1,827.15 | +6.5% | £1,827.15 |
| 2023/24 | £1,715.54 | +4.6% | £1,715.54 |
| 2022/23 | £1,640.18 | +2.5% | £1,640.18 |
| 2021/22 | £1,600.68 | +3.9% | £1,600.68 |
| 2020/21 | £1,541.32 | +4.8% | £1,541.32 |
| 2019/20 | £1,471.32 | +5.8% | £1,471.32 |
| 2018/19 | £1,390.58 | +5.4% | £1,390.58 |
| 2017/18 | £1,319.92 | +3.9% | £1,319.92 |
| 2016/17 | £1,270.23 | – | £1,270.23 |
Homes by council tax band in Cardiff
Cardiff has 168,160 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 15% are in Bands A or B, fewer than in most areas — homes here are concentrated in the middle and upper bands. The most common band is D, which costs £2,013.18 a year (£201.32 a month over 10 instalments).
Cardiff compared with Wales
Cardiff is the 1st cheapest of 22 councils in Wales, where the average Band D across councils is £2,326.14 (£312.96 more than here). Cheapest: Cardiff (£2,013.18); most expensive: Merthyr Tydfil (£2,593.60).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiff | £2,013.18 | +4.5% |
| Caerphilly | £2,082.88 | +6.5% |
| Newport | £2,088.48 | +5.3% |
| Torfaen | £2,155.68 | +4.7% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band D bill in Cardiff drops from £2,013.18 to £1,509.89.
- Council Tax Reduction: Cardiff runs its own scheme for people on low incomes or benefits under the national Welsh scheme.
- Disregards and exemptions: full-time students, student halls, some carers and people with a severe mental impairment are not counted; all-student homes pay nothing.
- Disabled Band Reduction: if your home has been adapted for a disabled person you may be billed one band lower (Band A homes get a reduction of 1/9 of Band D).
Cardiff's 4.5% rise compares with a Wales average of 5.2%. Welsh councils have no referendum cap; rises are set locally each February.
Cardiff's premiums on empty and second homes
Cardiff charges a 100% premium on second homes, so they pay double: £4,026.36 at the average Band D. The Welsh Government's 2026/27 returns show 3,332 chargeable second homes in Cardiff, the third-highest number in Wales after Gwynedd and Pembrokeshire. Of those, 1,747 pay the premium and 1,585 pay the standard charge, for example because an exception applies.
Long-term empty homes in Cardiff pay a premium that rises in steps. The same returns list 400 empty homes on a 100% premium, 125 on 200% and 208 on 300%, the highest Welsh tier. A further 802 chargeable empty homes pay no premium and 99 get a 50% discount. At the average Band D the three premium tiers mean bills of £4,026.36, £6,039.54 and £8,052.72.
| Premium tier | Cardiff homes 2026/27 | Bill at average Band D |
|---|---|---|
| Second homes, 100% | 1,747 | £4,026.36 |
| Empty homes, 100% | 400 | £4,026.36 |
| Empty homes, 200% | 125 | £6,039.54 |
| Empty homes, 300% | 208 | £8,052.72 |
Students and the Cardiff tax base
Students have a big effect on Cardiff's council tax. In 2026/27, 9.4% of Cardiff's dwellings are fully exempt, the highest share of any Welsh council and more than double the Welsh rate of 4.3%. Across Wales, homes occupied only by students are the largest exempt category. Cardiff's share of homes getting the 25% single-person discount is 34.7%, below the Welsh average of 36.2%.
The Welsh Government also notes that the jump in Welsh empty-home numbers this year is mainly because Cardiff misstated its count for 2025-26, so year-on-year comparisons of Cardiff's empty homes should be treated with care. For 2026/27 Cardiff reports 1,634 chargeable empty homes and assumes it will collect 98.5% of the tax due.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Cardiff?
£2,013.18 a year in 2026/27, or £201.32 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Cardiff?
Band D: 37,830 of 168,160 homes (22%). A Band D bill is £2,013.18 in 2026/27.
How much has Cardiff council tax gone up?
4.5% this year, from £1,926.18 to £2,013.18 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 58%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Cardiff?
County/county borough council £1,603.72; Police and crime commissioner £405.14; Community council (average) £4.32 (Band D, 2026/27).
How do I find my council tax band?
Search your postcode on GOV.UK “Check your Council Tax band”, run by the Valuation Office Agency. You can challenge your band if you think it is wrong.
What is the highest council tax premium in Cardiff?
A 300% premium on homes that have been empty longest, so the bill is four times the standard charge: about £8,052.72 at the average Band D in 2026/27.
Does Cardiff charge a premium on second homes?
Yes, 100%. Second homes and furnished homes that are nobody's main residence pay 200% of the standard charge unless an exception applies.
Why are so many Cardiff homes exempt from council tax?
Mainly students. 9.4% of Cardiff dwellings are fully exempt in 2026/27, the highest share in Wales, and student-only homes are the largest exempt category nationally.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- Welsh Government: Council tax levels April 2026 to March 2027
- Welsh Government: Council tax levels 2026-27 data tables (XLSX)
- VOA / GOV.UK: Understand how Council Tax bands are assessed
- GOV.UK: Council Tax – who has to pay (single person discount)
- Welsh Government: Council Tax reform
- VOA: Council Tax stock of properties 2026, Table CTSOP1.0 (properties by band at 31 March 2026, England and Wales)
- Welsh Government / StatsWales: Composition of average band D council tax by billing authority
- Welsh Government: Council tax levels, April 2026 to March 2027
- Welsh Government: Council Tax dwellings, April 2026 to March 2027