Winner on purchasing power
Cardiff
After paying rent, a accountant (qualified) in Cardiff retains
£20/month more than in London —
that's £240/year extra in purchasing power.
Cardiff
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£36,000
Net monthly
£2,453
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
37% — Stretched
After rent
£1,553
London
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£58,000
Net monthly
£3,683
Rent (1-bed)
£2,150
Rent-to-income
58% — High pressure
After rent
£1,533
Cardiff vs London: what the £20/month gap means for a accountant (qualified)
On paper, Cardiff accountant (qualified) roles pay £22,000/year
less than London. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Cardiff workers keep £2,453/month versus
£3,683/month in London.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cardiff rent runs £900/month
versus £2,150/month in London. Once housing costs are factored in,
Cardiff workers have £1,553/month
disposable income versus £1,533/month in London —
that is £240/year in real spending power.
Cardiff's rent-to-income ratio of 37%
compares favourably to London's 58%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Cardiff |
London |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£900 |
£2,150 |
+139% |
| Transport |
£50 |
£185 |
+270% |
| Council tax |
£132 |
£165 |
+25% |
| Groceries |
£255 |
£320 |
+25% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£983 |
£721 |
-27% |
Sources: ONS 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 64 for Cardiff
and 100 for London,
a salary of £36,000 in Cardiff delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £56,250 in London.
Cardiff £36,000 ≈
£56,250
in London
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Cardiff
£2.43
London
£3.80
Transit (single trip)
Cardiff
£1.19
London
£4.40
Gym membership
Cardiff
£35/mo
London
£55/mo
Cinema ticket
Cardiff
£10.24
London
£16.00
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Frequently asked questions
Does a accountant (qualified) earn more in Cardiff or London?
+
Cardiff pays a median £36,000 vs £58,000 in London
— a gross difference of £22,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Cardiff professionals
have £20/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a accountant (qualified) in Cardiff vs London?
+
In Cardiff: gross £36,000 → £2,453/month net take-home.
In London: gross £58,000 → £3,683/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cardiff leaves £1,553/month
vs London's £1,533/month.
What salary in London matches Cardiff purchasing power?
+
Approximately £56,250 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£36,000 in Cardiff, based on a cost-of-living index of
64 (Cardiff) vs 100 (London).
Is Cardiff or London cheaper to live in?
+
Cardiff is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 64 vs 100 for London (London = 100).
Rent in Cardiff averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £2,150/month in London.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a accountant (qualified) in Cardiff?
+
A accountant (qualified) in Cardiff earning £36,000 takes home
£2,453/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 37%
(stretched).
In London the equivalent ratio is 58%.