# Where your council tax goes in Cardiff url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/wales/cardiff/where-it-goes/ updated: 29 September 2026 licence: Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Figures: each source's own licence, listed under Sources. publisher: [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk) # Where your council tax goes in Cardiff Last updated 29 September 2026. Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/). A Band D council tax bill in **Cardiff** is **£2,013.18** for 2026-27, split between Cardiff £1,603.72, South Wales Police £405.14, Community and town councils (average for the area) £4.32. Shared out in proportion to what each body spends, the largest single line is education at Cardiff: **£708.92** of the bill. Council tax pays for 11% of the council's own spending; the rest is government grant, business rates and fees. Figures for the 2026–27 financial year. Source: [Welsh Government](https://www.gov.wales/council-tax-levels). ## Key figures - £2,013.18Band D bill, 2026-27 As of 6 April 2026 - £1,603.72Goes to Cardiff itself (80%) As of 6 April 2026 - £708.92Largest line: education As of 16 October 2025 - 10.7%Of the council's money that comes from council tax, 2024-25 As of 16 October 2025 Source: [Welsh Government](https://www.gov.wales/council-tax-levels). ## Who gets your bill Your council tax band A B C D E F G H I Figures are for a **Band D** home. Bands A to I pay a fixed fraction of this, set in law. 1603.72 405.14 4.32 Cardiff 80%South Wales Police 20%Community and town councils (average for the area) 0% Fire and rescue in Wales is paid for by a levy on each council, so it is inside the council part of the bill rather than a separate precept. ## And where does that bit go? Choose any part of the bill to see how it divides, then keep going as far as the published returns allow. Every level has its own link you can share. ### Where the rest comes from **Council tax pays for 10.7%** of the money Cardiff had to spend in 2024-25. ********** - Council tax 10.7% £194.9m - Business rates 7.4% £134.5m - General government grant 53.5% £977.3m - Government grants for specific services 18.7% £341.2m - Fees, charges and other income 9.7% £177.7m It also put £10.4m into its reserves that year. Council tax is pooled with the council's other money, not ring-fenced for any service. The split on this page shares your bill out in proportion to what each body spends; it does not say what any one pound paid for. - Your bill ### Your bill: £2,013.18 - [Cardiff](#d-council) £1,603.72 ** Your council · 79.7% of the bill - [South Wales Police](#d-police) £405.14 ** Police · 20.1% of the bill - Community and town councils (average for the area) £4.32 ** Parish or town council · 0.2% of the bill. Parish, town and community councils do not file spending returns with the government, so there is no national breakdown. Each publishes its own annual accounts. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Cardiff ### Cardiff £1,603.72 of your bill goes to Cardiff. It is shared out below in proportion to how Cardiff spent its money in 2024-25, its latest published return. - [Education](#d-council~education) £708.92 ** 44.2% of this part · £469.0m in 2024-25 · £1,229 per resident; similar councils £1,254 · up 10.2% on 2023-24 - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) £268.27 ** 16.7% of this part · £177.5m in 2024-25 · £465 per resident; similar councils £589 · up 8.9% on 2023-24 - [Housing (not council homes)](#d-council~housing) £222.97 ** 13.9% of this part · £147.5m in 2024-25 · £387 per resident; similar councils £291 · down 0.7% on 2023-24 Not council homes: [see the note](#d-council~housing). - [Children's social care](#d-council~childrens-social-care) £208.33 ** 13.0% of this part · £137.8m in 2024-25 · £361 per resident; similar councils £346 · down 4.3% on 2023-24 - [Environment and regulation](#d-council~environment) £78.91 ** 4.9% of this part · £52.2m in 2024-25 · £137 per resident; similar councils £161 · down 11.6% on 2023-24 - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) £39.55 ** 2.5% of this part · £26.2m in 2024-25 · £69 per resident; similar councils £101 · up 0.9% on 2023-24 - [Running the council](#d-council~central) £38.68 ** 2.4% of this part · £25.6m in 2024-25 · £67 per resident; similar councils £90 · up 7.0% on 2023-24 - [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-council~culture-leisure) £29.12 ** 1.8% of this part · £19.3m in 2024-25 · £51 per resident; similar councils £78 · down 14.9% on 2023-24 - [Planning and development](#d-council~planning-development) £8.96 ** 0.6% of this part · £5.9m in 2024-25 · £16 per resident; similar councils £63 · down 11.1% on 2023-24 **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 Welsh councils closest in population: Swansea, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Carmarthenshire, Caerphilly, Newport, Flintshire, Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot, Wrexham, Vale of Glamorgan. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Cardiff](#d-council) - Education ### Education £708.92 of your bill goes to education at Cardiff. Here is how its £469.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Schools £693.84 ** 97.9% of this · £459.1m in 2024-25 · £1,203 per resident; similar councils £1,219 · up 10.1% on 2023-24 - Other education £15.08 ** 2.1% of this · £10.0m in 2024-25 · £26 per resident; similar councils £26 · up 14.0% on 2023-24 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Cardiff](#d-council) - Adult social care ### Adult social care £268.27 of your bill goes to adult social care at Cardiff. Here is how its £177.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Older people (65 and over)](#d-council~adult-social-care.older-people) £125.00 ** 46.6% of this · £82.7m in 2024-25 · £217 per resident; similar councils £288 · up 9.5% on 2023-24 - [Learning disability support](#d-council~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £86.89 ** 32.4% of this · £57.5m in 2024-25 · £151 per resident; similar councils £198 · up 6.0% on 2023-24 - [Physical support](#d-council~adult-social-care.physical) £28.72 ** 10.7% of this · £19.0m in 2024-25 · £50 per resident; similar councils £52 · up 15.0% on 2023-24 - Other adult services £15.52 ** 5.8% of this · £10.3m in 2024-25 · £27 per resident; similar councils £19 · up 8.4% on 2023-24 - [Mental health support](#d-council~adult-social-care.mental-health) £12.14 ** 4.5% of this · £8.0m in 2024-25 · £21 per resident; similar councils £43 · up 11.7% on 2023-24 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Cardiff](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Older people (65 and over) ### Older people (65 and over) £125.00 of your bill goes to older people (65 and over) at Cardiff. Here is how its £82.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Home care £50.30 ** 40.2% of this · £33.3m in 2024-25 · £87 per resident; similar councils £82 · up 16.8% on 2023-24 - Nursing home placements £26.12 ** 20.9% of this · £17.3m in 2024-25 · £45 per resident; similar councils £47 · up 2.1% on 2023-24 - Residential care home placements £21.77 ** 17.4% of this · £14.4m in 2024-25 · £38 per resident; similar councils £82 · up 6.4% on 2023-24 - Other services £9.11 ** 7.3% of this · £6.0m in 2024-25 · £16 per resident; similar councils £7.76 · down 1.0% on 2023-24 - Direct payments £7.37 ** 5.9% of this · £4.9m in 2024-25 · £13 per resident; similar councils £9.29 · up 25.0% on 2023-24 - Assessment and care management £6.53 ** 5.2% of this · £4.3m in 2024-25 · £11 per resident; similar councils £36 · up 21.8% on 2023-24 - Equipment and adaptations £1.72 ** 1.4% of this · £1.1m in 2024-25 · £2.98 per resident; similar councils £2.21 · up 42.1% on 2023-24 - Supported and other accommodation £1.40 ** 1.1% of this · £924k in 2024-25 · £2.42 per resident; similar councils £5.17 · down 28.1% on 2023-24 - Day care £0.49 ** 0.4% of this · £324k in 2024-25 · £0.85 per resident; similar councils £3.65 · down 58.0% on 2023-24 - Meals £0.20 ** 0.2% of this · £135k in 2024-25 · £0.35 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 35.4% on 2023-24 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Cardiff](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £86.89 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Cardiff. Here is how its £57.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Home care £46.85 ** 53.9% of this · £31.0m in 2024-25 · £81 per resident; similar councils £1.90 · up 4.7% on 2023-24 - Residential care home placements £13.86 ** 15.9% of this · £9.2m in 2024-25 · £24 per resident; similar councils £37 · up 18.8% on 2023-24 - Day care £10.20 ** 11.7% of this · £6.7m in 2024-25 · £18 per resident; similar councils £28 · up 8.6% on 2023-24 - Other services £6.60 ** 7.6% of this · £4.4m in 2024-25 · £11 per resident; similar councils £1.89 · down 12.7% on 2023-24 - Direct payments £4.13 ** 4.7% of this · £2.7m in 2024-25 · £7.16 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 14.8% on 2023-24 - Assessment and care management £3.12 ** 3.6% of this · £2.1m in 2024-25 · £5.41 per resident; similar councils £6.80 · up 11.0% on 2023-24 - Nursing home placements £1.43 ** 1.6% of this · £944k in 2024-25 · £2.47 per resident; similar councils £2.95 · down 22.6% on 2023-24 - Supported and other accommodation £0.68 ** 0.8% of this · £449k in 2024-25 · £1.18 per resident; similar councils £97 · up 91.1% on 2023-24 - Equipment and adaptations £0.03 ** under 0.1% of this · £19k in 2024-25 · £0.05 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 72.7% on 2023-24 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Cardiff](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £28.72 of your bill goes to physical support at Cardiff. Here is how its £19.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Home care £13.29 ** 46.3% of this · £8.8m in 2024-25 · £23 per resident; similar councils £12 · up 16.3% on 2023-24 - Direct payments £7.67 ** 26.7% of this · £5.1m in 2024-25 · £13 per resident; similar councils £10 · up 37.8% on 2023-24 - Nursing home placements £1.96 ** 6.8% of this · £1.3m in 2024-25 · £3.40 per resident; similar councils £3.32 · up 9.6% on 2023-24 - Residential care home placements £1.87 ** 6.5% of this · £1.2m in 2024-25 · £3.24 per resident; similar councils £9.82 · down 1.4% on 2023-24 - Other services £1.16 ** 4.0% of this · £765k in 2024-25 · £2.01 per resident; similar councils £0.85 · down 34.8% on 2023-24 - Equipment and adaptations £1.02 ** 3.6% of this · £678k in 2024-25 · £1.78 per resident; similar councils £2.92 · up 26.3% on 2023-24 - Day care £0.97 ** 3.4% of this · £639k in 2024-25 · £1.67 per resident; similar councils £0.62 · up 4.6% on 2023-24 - Assessment and care management £0.79 ** 2.7% of this · £521k in 2024-25 · £1.37 per resident; similar councils £5.55 · down 1.3% on 2023-24 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Cardiff](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £12.14 of your bill goes to mental health support at Cardiff. Here is how its £8.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Assessment and care management £3.62 ** 29.8% of this · £2.4m in 2024-25 · £6.27 per resident; similar councils £7.58 · up 19.9% on 2023-24 - Residential care home placements £2.66 ** 21.9% of this · £1.8m in 2024-25 · £4.61 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 4.3% on 2023-24 - Home care £1.98 ** 16.3% of this · £1.3m in 2024-25 · £3.43 per resident; similar councils £1.83 · up 34.4% on 2023-24 - Other services £1.82 ** 15.0% of this · £1.2m in 2024-25 · £3.16 per resident; similar councils £1.57 · down 11.1% on 2023-24 - Nursing home placements £1.04 ** 8.6% of this · £690k in 2024-25 · £1.81 per resident; similar councils £2.17 · up 23.9% on 2023-24 - Day care £1.00 ** 8.3% of this · £663k in 2024-25 · £1.74 per resident; similar councils £2.13 · up 7.6% on 2023-24 - Equipment and adaptations £0.01 ** 0.1% of this · £9k in 2024-25 · £0.02 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 80.0% on 2023-24 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Cardiff](#d-council) - Housing (not council homes) ### Housing (not council homes) £222.97 of your bill goes to housing (not council homes) at Cardiff. Here is how its £147.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Housing benefit, homelessness and housing services £176.17 ** 79.0% of this · £116.6m in 2024-25 · £306 per resident; similar councils £253 · down 2.9% on 2023-24 - Other General Fund housing £46.80 ** 21.0% of this · £31.0m in 2024-25 · £81 per resident; similar councils £50 · up 8.7% on 2023-24 **Council homes are not in this.** Council housing is paid for through the Housing Revenue Account, from tenants' rents, and the law keeps it separate from the General Fund that council tax goes into. Cardiff reported no Housing Revenue Account for 2024-25: it has no council homes of its own, or they were transferred to a housing association. [What council tax does and doesn't pay for](/what-council-tax-pays-for/#ring-fence). - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Cardiff](#d-council) - Children's social care ### Children's social care £208.33 of your bill goes to children's social care at Cardiff. Here is how its £137.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Children looked after £131.22 ** 63.0% of this · £86.8m in 2024-25 · £228 per resident; similar councils £173 · down 0.1% on 2023-24 - Safeguarding and social work £30.87 ** 14.8% of this · £20.4m in 2024-25 · £54 per resident; similar councils £55 · up 6.4% on 2023-24 - Children's centres and early years £21.76 ** 10.4% of this · £14.4m in 2024-25 · £38 per resident; similar councils £53 · down 3.3% on 2023-24 - Family support £16.54 ** 7.9% of this · £10.9m in 2024-25 · £29 per resident; similar councils £29 · down 39.6% on 2023-24 - Youth justice £4.18 ** 2.0% of this · £2.8m in 2024-25 · £7.25 per resident; similar councils £6.93 · up 13.3% on 2023-24 - Asylum-seeking children £3.46 ** 1.7% of this · £2.3m in 2024-25 · £5.99 per resident; similar councils £3.58 · up 2.0% on 2023-24 - Other children's and families' services £0.30 ** 0.1% of this · £198k in 2024-25 · £0.52 per resident; similar councils £1.95 · down 13.9% on 2023-24 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Cardiff](#d-council) - Environment and regulation ### Environment and regulation £78.91 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at Cardiff. Here is how its £52.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Waste collection, disposal and recycling £52.07 ** 66.0% of this · £34.6m in 2024-25 · £91 per resident; similar councils £106 · up 0.9% on 2023-24 - Street cleaning £15.81 ** 20.0% of this · £10.5m in 2024-25 · £28 per resident; similar councils £19 · up 1.4% on 2023-24 - Environmental health, food safety, pest control and licensing £7.11 ** 9.0% of this · £4.7m in 2024-25 · £12 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 1.3% on 2023-24 - Community safety and CCTV £3.82 ** 4.8% of this · £2.5m in 2024-25 · £6.66 per resident; similar councils £4.98 · down 73.0% on 2023-24 - Flood defence, land drainage and coast protection £0.10 ** 0.1% of this · £65k in 2024-25 · £0.17 per resident; similar councils £3.70 · up 170.8% on 2023-24 - Trading standards £0.00 ** under 0.1% of this · £2k in 2024-25 · £0.01 per resident; similar councils £4.55 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Cardiff](#d-council) - Roads and transport ### Roads and transport £39.55 of your bill goes to roads and transport at Cardiff. Here is how its £26.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Concessionary bus fares £11.71 ** 29.6% of this · £9.9m in 2024-25 · £26 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 13.6% on 2023-24 - [Road and bridge maintenance](#d-council~highways-transport.maintenance) £7.62 ** 19.3% of this · £6.5m in 2024-25 · £17 per resident; similar councils £36 · down 6.5% on 2023-24 - Other transport (airports, harbours, tolls) £7.30 ** 18.5% of this · £6.2m in 2024-25 · £16 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 2.6% on 2023-24 - Support for bus, rail and other public transport £4.74 ** 12.0% of this · £4.0m in 2024-25 · £11 per resident; similar councils £21 · up 187.4% on 2023-24 - Street lighting (including energy) £4.44 ** 11.2% of this · £3.8m in 2024-25 · £9.87 per resident; similar councils £12 · down 10.1% on 2023-24 - Transport planning and policy £3.05 ** 7.7% of this · £2.6m in 2024-25 · £6.78 per resident; similar councils £3.29 · down 3.0% on 2023-24 - Winter service (gritting) £0.70 ** 1.8% of this · £593k in 2024-25 · £1.55 per resident; similar councils £4.07 · up 8.0% on 2023-24 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Cardiff](#d-council) - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) - Road and bridge maintenance ### Road and bridge maintenance £7.62 of your bill goes to road and bridge maintenance at Cardiff. Here is how its £6.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges) £4.20 ** 55.1% of this · £3.6m in 2024-25 · £9.33 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 10.7% on 2023-24 - Environmental, safety and routine maintenance £3.42 ** 44.9% of this · £2.9m in 2024-25 · £7.60 per resident; similar councils £23 · down 21.4% on 2023-24 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Cardiff](#d-council) - Running the council ### Running the council £38.68 of your bill goes to running the council at Cardiff. Here is how its £25.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Collecting council tax and business rates £20.73 ** 53.6% of this · £13.7m in 2024-25 · £36 per resident; similar councils £8.08 · up 19.3% on 2023-24 - Corporate and democratic core £13.61 ** 35.2% of this · £9.0m in 2024-25 · £24 per resident; similar councils £31 · up 31.8% on 2023-24 - Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets) £2.10 ** 5.4% of this · £1.4m in 2024-25 · £3.64 per resident; similar councils £12 · up 34.3% on 2023-24 - Coroners' and other courts £1.74 ** 4.5% of this · £1.1m in 2024-25 · £3.01 per resident; similar councils £2.83 · up 9.3% on 2023-24 - Other central services £0.50 ** 1.3% of this · £332k in 2024-25 · £0.87 per resident; similar councils £11 · down 90.5% on 2023-24 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Cardiff](#d-council) - Parks, leisure, libraries and culture ### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture £29.12 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at Cardiff. Here is how its £19.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Parks and open spaces (including play areas) £12.58 ** 43.2% of this · £8.3m in 2024-25 · £22 per resident; similar councils £24 · up 2.1% on 2023-24 - Libraries £7.65 ** 26.3% of this · £5.1m in 2024-25 · £13 per resident; similar councils £14 · down 3.4% on 2023-24 - Sport and leisure £5.53 ** 19.0% of this · £3.7m in 2024-25 · £9.59 per resident; similar councils £28 · down 6.9% on 2023-24 - Museums, arts, heritage and archives £2.25 ** 7.7% of this · £1.5m in 2024-25 · £3.91 per resident; similar councils £12 · down 65.3% on 2023-24 - Tourism £1.10 ** 3.8% of this · £731k in 2024-25 · £1.92 per resident; similar councils £2.49 · down 28.3% on 2023-24 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Cardiff](#d-council) - Planning and development ### Planning and development £8.96 of your bill goes to planning and development at Cardiff. Here is how its £5.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Community development £3.83 ** 42.7% of this · £2.5m in 2024-25 · £6.64 per resident; similar councils £7.40 · down 37.0% on 2023-24 - Planning policy £2.43 ** 27.1% of this · £1.6m in 2024-25 · £4.21 per resident; similar councils £4.13 · down 35.5% on 2023-24 - Planning applications (development management) £1.43 ** 15.9% of this · £943k in 2024-25 · £2.47 per resident; similar councils £4.30 - Economic development and business support £1.11 ** 12.4% of this · £734k in 2024-25 · £1.92 per resident; similar councils £37 · up 110.3% on 2023-24 - Building control £0.17 ** 1.9% of this · £111k in 2024-25 · £0.29 per resident; similar councils £1.42 · up 88.1% on 2023-24 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - South Wales Police ### South Wales Police £405.14 of your bill is this year's adult social care precept, which councils may raise on top of the usual limit for adult social care. It is shown against how South Wales Police's adult social care spending of £433.1m divided in 2024-25. MHCLG publishes only this year's increase; the running total since 2016-17 printed on your bill is in the council part above. ## Parks, street cleaning and roads here What Cardiff spent, net of income, on the lines readers ask about most. Roads and street cleaning are also shown per mile of road the council looks after, where it is the highway authority. Gully cleaning and verge cutting are inside routine maintenance; no return splits them out. | Line | Net spending | Per resident | Similar councils, per resident | Per mile of road | Change | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Parks and open spaces (including play areas)Details | £8.3m | £22 | £24 | — | up 2.1% on 2023-24 | | Per resident£22Similar councils, per resident£24Per mile of road—Changeup 2.1% on 2023-24 | | | | | | | Street cleaningDetails | £10.5m | £28 | £19 | £15,449 (similar: £5,361) | up 1.4% on 2023-24 | | Per resident£28Similar councils, per resident£19Per mile of road£15,449 (similar: £5,361)Changeup 1.4% on 2023-24 | | | | | | | Road and bridge maintenanceDetails | £6.5m | £17 | £36 | £9,499 (similar: £10,012) | down 6.5% on 2023-24 | | Per resident£17Similar councils, per resident£36Per mile of road£9,499 (similar: £10,012)Changedown 6.5% on 2023-24 | | | | | | | Environmental, safety and routine maintenanceDetails | £2.9m | £7.60 | £23 | £4,265 (similar: £4,060) | down 21.4% on 2023-24 | | Per resident£7.60Similar councils, per resident£23Per mile of road£4,265 (similar: £4,060)Changedown 21.4% on 2023-24 | | | | | | | Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges)Details | £3.6m | £9.33 | £14 | £5,234 (similar: £2,561) | up 10.7% on 2023-24 | | Per resident£9.33Similar councils, per resident£14Per mile of road£5,234 (similar: £2,561)Changeup 10.7% on 2023-24 | | | | | | | Winter service (gritting)Details | £593k | £1.55 | £4.07 | £872 (similar: £1,156) | up 8.0% on 2023-24 | | Per resident£1.55Similar councils, per resident£4.07Per mile of road£872 (similar: £1,156)Changeup 8.0% on 2023-24 | | | | | | | Street lighting (including energy)Details | £3.8m | £9.87 | £12 | £5,535 (similar: £3,081) | down 10.1% on 2023-24 | | Per resident£9.87Similar councils, per resident£12Per mile of road£5,535 (similar: £3,081)Changedown 10.1% on 2023-24 | | | | | | Miles of road: Department for Transport road lengths, 2025; locally managed major roads and all minor roads. More on [what council tax does and doesn't pay for](/what-council-tax-pays-for/#local-environment). ## What it adds up to | Service | Per resident | Median | | --- | --- | --- | | EducationDetails | £1,229 | £1,247 | | Median£1,247 | | | | Adult social careDetails | £465 | £623 | | Median£623 | | | | Housing (not council homes)Details | £387 | £319 | | Median£319 | | | | Children's social careDetails | £361 | £347 | | Median£347 | | | | Environment and regulationDetails | £137 | £169 | | Median£169 | | | | Roads and transportDetails | £69 | £105 | | Median£105 | | | | Running the councilDetails | £67 | £92 | | Median£92 | | | | Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £51 | £80 | | Median£80 | | | | Planning and developmentDetails | £16 | £67 | | Median£67 | | | - Staff costs are not published by service for Cardiff, so its split between its own staff and everything else cannot be shown. ## What this data does and doesn't show - These are each body's own figures, as reported to government in its revenue outturn return. Net spending is after the fees, charges and grants a service brings in. - Your bill is for 2026-27; it is shared out using the latest published return, which covers an earlier year. The mix of spending changes little from one year to the next, but it does change. - Council tax is not ring-fenced: this shows your bill in proportion to spending, not what your money bought. Where a precept is set aside for adult social care, it is shown against adult social care. - No council publishes spending at street or property level, so nothing here says what was spent near you. - Sub-service lines are the ones the national returns itemise. Councils describe their own budgets differently; their budget books and statements of accounts have more detail. ## Sources - Welsh Government, [Composition of average band D council tax by billing authority (StatsWales)](https://api.stats.gov.wales/v1/3ca971eb-7d9b-4b79-89fa-6d7f77431aad/download/csv), published 24 March 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. - Welsh Government, [Local authority revenue outturn expenditure and financing (StatsWales)](https://api.stats.gov.wales/v1/b483d2c5-e60e-4dfb-b03a-49df9e1931a0/download/csv), published 16 October 2025. Open Government Licence v3.0. How the split is worked out, and how the three nations' returns are matched to one list of services, is on the [methodology page](/methodology/#council-spending). The dataset is on the [data page](/data/#council-spending). See also [council tax in Cardiff](/council-tax/wales/cardiff/) and [everything else about Cardiff](/your-area/cardiff/). ## Common questions What does council tax pay for in Cardiff? A Band D bill of £2,013.18 is split between Cardiff, South Wales Police, Community and town councils (average for the area). In proportion to spending, the largest line is education, £708.92.Is council tax ring-fenced for particular services? No. Council tax is pooled with grants, business rates and fees. The adult social care precept is the exception: councils raise it for adult social care. ## Sources for this page | Source | Publisher | Figures as of | Updated | Licence | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Council Tax levels](https://www.gov.wales/council-tax-levels) | Welsh Government | the 2026–27 financial year | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) | | [Local authority revenue outturn expenditure and financing (StatsWales)](https://api.stats.gov.wales/v1/b483d2c5-e60e-4dfb-b03a-49df9e1931a0/download/csv) | Welsh Government | 16 October 2025 | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) | Each source's figures are used under the licence shown. Our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Related pages - [Next in this section: Parking income in Cardiff](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/parking/cardiff/) - [Back to Cardiff: your area](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/your-area/cardiff/) - [How much is council tax and what does it pay for?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/) - [Who is my MP, and what does their office cost?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/mps/) - [Where does my tax money actually go?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/for-every-100-pounds-of-tax/) ## More from this publisher - [UK tax calculators](https://howlongisit.co.uk) Published by [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). The figures belong to the publishers listed under Sources and are used under their licences. Figures last updated 29 September 2026.