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Council taxes are giving families a new financial worry as the yearly bills arrive with one of the largest increases in two decades.
“It’s more than our utilities now,” former teacher Sylvia Stevenson said of her April statement in Swansea, where the average council tax is up 5.9% for 2025-26.
The 7.2% average uplift for all councils is the second largest since 2003, with the 10% rise in Conwy county called “diabolical” by one resident.
The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) said even with increased taxes, “intense financial pressures” mean councils are cutting spending.
“We knew it would go up but at the same time we thought, ‘gosh, that has gone up more than what we thought it would’,” said Sylvia’s husband Ian.
She said despite paying more, there are still potholes on roads and no wheelie bins for rubbish and recycling.
But the pressures on councils, Ian said, made things “difficult to balance”.
Gwenda Murray from Penmaenmawr, in Conwy county, said it was “diabolical how much they charge in council tax already”.
“I wouldn’t say we’re getting value for money,” she added.
“The roads are a mess, full of potholes and the bin collections aren’t great.”
Ed Lye, also from Penmaenmawr, said he was unhappy because it was the third year in a row he saw a large increase.
“I realise why it’s happening – councils have limited ways to raise money and their financial situation gets worse every year.”
Small business owner Josh Davies from Swansea said he’s now paying an extra £20 a month in council tax for the second year in a row.
“It’s just an added cost of top of everything else,” he said.
His wife Georgina added: “We’re a lot more aware of every single bill that’s coming out of the house than we ever were in the past five or six years.”
They both said the council could be doing better, with their priorities being more free parking in the city centre and better rubbish clean up around the city and its beaches.
A WLGA spokesperson said: “Councils across Wales are continuing to face intense financial pressures.
“Despite raising council tax this year, many are still having to make difficult decisions to balance their budgets and protect vital services.”
Growing demand and economic uncertainly has the WLGA forecasting more than £450m in additional pressures for 2026-27.
“Largely driven by pay, inflation and demand in schools and social care, the current path is simply unsustainable without fairer, long-term funding,” they added.
“Council tax alone cannot cover the funding gap.”
How much is my council tax increasing?
The average band D home in Wales will see its council tax increase by 7.2% for 2025-26 rising from £2,024 per year to £2,170.
Counties in mid, west and north Wales have generally been hit by the largest percentage increases.
Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire are all seeing rises of 9% or more.
Flintshire is the only county in north Wales with a rise of less than 8%.
No counties in south-east Wales have an increase of 8% or more.
The lowest percentage increase in the country is in Bridgend, where bills are going up by 5%.
In pure pounds and pence, rather than percentages, the average bill is increasing between £99 per year and £192, depending on where you live.
Cardiff is the only county where council tax is increasing by less than £100 per year, with Rhondda Cynon Taf and Torfaen the next lowest increases on £108.
Although Pembrokeshire has the highest percentage increase, it is only seeing the eighth-largest increase of £174 per year.
Ceredigion’s bump of £192 is the largest, with Conwy, Flintshire, Carmarthenshire, Powys, Gwynedd and Wrexham the next highest.
How much will my bill be?
Cardiff will also have the lowest average bill for band D properties at £1,926 per year.
Caerphilly and Newport are the next lowest, and the only counties with average bills of less than £2,000 per year.
Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot and Blaenau Gwent have the highest average band D bill, all more than £2,400 per year.
Despite having the smallest percentage increase, bills in Bridgend will go up by £2,358 – the fifth-highest amount in Wales.
Gwynedd’s increase of £2,340 is the largest rise in north Wales.
Actual increases for each property depend on which band the dwelling sits in, with A being the lowest and I the highest.
So counties with more homes in lower bands and fewer in the higher values will pay less council tax per dwelling.
Caerphilly’s average council tax per dwelling will be £419 less than the Welsh average for 2025-26 and Monmouthshire’s will be £590 more.
How is council tax calculated?
Council tax is determined by Welsh government property valuations from 1 April 2003.
So band D properties were worth between £91,001 and £123,000 in 2003, rather than their 2025 values.
You usually have to pay council tax if you own or rent a home and are over the age of 18, however there are reductions for people living alone, disabled people and carers.
Students are exempt from council tax if they live alone, in a halls of residence or solely with other students.
