Property investment stats for Cardiff, Wales

• Cardiff offers strong rental yields, with an average of 6.7% and a top-performing district achieving yields of 9.1%.
• The city’s large student and young professional population drives consistent demand for rental properties, especially in the private sector, which is in the 79th percentile nationally.
• Recent capital growth has been steady, with a 1-year growth of 0.8% and a 3-year growth of 11.2%, supporting medium-term investment strategies.

• The unemployment rate sits in the 85th percentile nationally, suggesting some economic vulnerability that could affect tenant stability or demand.
• Owner-occupied housing is relatively low for the UK, in the 27th percentile, which may limit the pool of future buyers for resale.
• Families and couples make up a smaller proportion of households, which could constrain demand for larger homes relative to other locations.

Cardiff’s outlook remains positive for investors who value rental income and liquidity. The average days on market at 47 days and the annual sales volume of 4,042 suggest that properties are moving at a healthy pace, making it easier to enter or exit positions. The affordability metrics, including a price-to-income ratio of 5.3, keep the market accessible to a broad base of buyers and renters.

Given the steady annualised growth of 3.6% over three years and the ongoing demand from the city’s large student and young professional base, Cardiff is likely to continue offering stable returns. Investors should remain mindful of the higher unemployment percentile, but the city’s strong rental yields and competitive pricing should underpin resilience in the coming year.