Compare My Move has gathered data from 2024 to report on which Welsh destinations were the most popular among movers in the past year. The report will explore what has changed in moving habits among Welsh cities and towns over the past two years, and what this will mean for movers in 2025.
| Rank | Destination | % Movers 2023 | % Movers 2024 | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 = | Cardiff | 11.45% | 14.87% | 3.43% |
| 2 = | Swansea | 5.21% | 5.89% | 0.68% |
| 3 = | Newport | 4.51% | 4.51% | 0.00% |
| 4 = | Bridgend | 2.27% | 2.89% | 0.63% |
| 5 ↑ | Barry | 1.14% | 1.68% | 0.54% |
15% of all people moving to Wales in 2024 chose Cardiff, making it the most popular place to relocate in the country. This marks a significant rise of 3.4% compared to 2023, highlighting growing interest in the capital.
While the top four moving destinations in Wales stayed the same as the previous year, Cardiff stands out for its growing momentum. In contrast, other popular Welsh hotspots saw little to no change in popularity.
The only change we’ve seen in the top 5 is Barry sneaking into 5th with a 0.54% increase in movers, replacing last year's 5th, Pontypridd, which fell to 10th, falling behind Caerphilly, Wrexham, Neath, and Llanelli. The percentage of movers choosing Newport stayed almost exactly the same, but still falls behind Swansea.
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What’s In Store For 2025?
Dave Sayce, co-founder and managing director of Compare My Move has commented on these findings, and if we are likely to see these trends continuing in 2025.
“When we look at where people are moving from, Cardiff’s growing appeal becomes clearer. In 2024, 31% of all people who moved to Cardiff from outside Wales came from London. This shift from the English capital to the Welsh capital along the M4 appears to be a popular trend, and cost is likely a major factor.
The average house price in London is just over £680,000, compared to just under £300,000 in Cardiff. That means buyers from London are paying less than half of what they would if they stayed put.
Transport connections also make Cardiff an attractive option. Driving via the M4 takes around three hours, while trains can get you to London in under two. For people working remotely or in hybrid roles based in London, this makes it entirely possible to keep their job while enjoying a lower cost of living. Plus, staying in touch with friends and family back in London is still easy and convenient.
Because of the large gap in house prices between London and Cardiff, Londoners moving to Cardiff often have much greater buying power. This gives them more options in the local property market than they would have back in London.
However, this trend is also driving up house prices in Cardiff. In fact, prices are now 2% higher than the peak seen in 2022. While that’s good news for the market, it raises concerns that local residents, who don’t have the same financial leverage, could be priced out of their own city.”
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