The Cardiff property market in 2025/26
Cardiff is the most expensive Welsh city but offers good value compared to English cities of similar size. Wales uses Land Transaction Tax (LTT) instead of SDLT.
With an average house price of £246,000 against an average local wage of £34,650,Cardiff’s affordability ratio currently sits at 7.1× earnings. UK lenders typically cap mortgage offers at 4-4.5× income, which gives you a useful sense of how much of the local market your salary can realistically reach.
How to use this Cardiff mortgage calculator
- The calculator above is pre-filled with Cardiff’s average house price (£246,000) and a 15% deposit assumption. Adjust to match your own budget.
- Set your interest rate. UK mortgage rates in 2025/26 are typically in the 4.0-5.5% range for 5-year fixed deals — use the rate offered by your lender.
- Pick a mortgage term. 25 years is the UK standard, but 35-40 year terms are increasingly common for first-time buyers in higher-priced cities like Cardiff.
- Read off your monthly payment and the total interest paid over the term. The calculator also shows you the amortisation schedule.
What deposit do you need in Cardiff?
Most UK mortgages require a minimum 5% deposit, though 10-15% deposits unlock noticeably better rates. On a Cardiff first-time-buyer property of £215,000, that translates to:
- 5% deposit: £10,750 (95% LTV mortgage — narrower lender choice, higher rates)
- 10% deposit: £21,500 (90% LTV — solid middle ground)
- 15% deposit: £32,250 (85% LTV — most competitive rates start here)
- 25% deposit: £53,750 (75% LTV — best widely-available rates)
Stamp Duty differences in Wales
Important: Wales does not use Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) like England. Wales uses Land Transaction Tax (LTT), administered by the Welsh Revenue Authority. Factor this into your total purchase budget separately from the mortgage itself.
Related calculators
Most Cardiff buyers will want to model the full purchase, not just the mortgage. The following VideoQuill calculators cover the next steps:
- UK Stamp Duty calculator — exact SDLT/LBTT/LTT due on your purchase price
- UK take-home pay calculator — work out the monthly net income that will cover your payment
- Savings goal calculator — plan how long it takes to reach your Cardiff deposit
- Buy-to-let calculator — yields and cash flow if you’re investing rather than living there