Accountant (Qualified) · City comparison · 2026

Cardiff vs Newcastle

Newcastle wins on purchasing power. Newcastle accountant (qualified)s have £302/month more disposable income after rent than their Cardiff counterparts.

Cardiff salary
£36,000
£2,453/mo take-home
Newcastle salary
£38,535
£2,605/mo take-home
Newcastle wins by
+£302
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Newcastle

After paying rent, a accountant (qualified) in Newcastle retains £302/month more than in Cardiff — that's £3,624/year extra in purchasing power.

+£302
per month
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
Newcastle
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £38,535
Net monthly £2,605
Rent (1-bed) £750
Rent-to-income 29% — Comfortable
After rent £1,855

Cardiff vs Newcastle: what the £302/month gap means for a accountant (qualified)

On paper, Cardiff accountant (qualified) roles pay £2,535/year less than Newcastle. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Cardiff workers keep £2,453/month versus £2,605/month in Newcastle.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cardiff rent runs £900/month versus £750/month in Newcastle. Once housing costs are factored in, Newcastle workers have £1,855/month disposable income versus £1,553/month in Cardiff — that is £3,624/year in real spending power.

Newcastle's rent-to-income ratio of 29% compares favourably to Cardiff's 37%.

For accountant (qualified)s prioritising financial freedom, Newcastle delivers significantly more disposable income despite comparable gross pay.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Cardiff Newcastle Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £900 £750 -17%
Transport £50 £75 +50%
Council tax £132 £112 -15%
Groceries £255 £255 0%
Disposable income remaining £983 £1,281 +30%

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 61 for Newcastle, a salary of £36,000 in Cardiff delivers equivalent purchasing power to £34,300 in Newcastle.

Cardiff £36,000 ≈
£34,300
in Newcastle

Income retention after all essentials

% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries

Cardiff 40%
Newcastle 49%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Cardiff £2.43
Newcastle £2.32
Transit (single trip)
Cardiff £1.19
Newcastle £1.79
Gym membership
Cardiff £35/mo
Newcastle £34/mo
Cinema ticket
Cardiff £10.24
Newcastle £9.76

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Frequently asked questions

Does a accountant (qualified) earn more in Cardiff or Newcastle? +
Cardiff pays a median £36,000 vs £38,535 in Newcastle — a gross difference of £2,535. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Newcastle professionals have £302/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 Newcastle? +
In Cardiff: gross £36,000£2,453/month net take-home. In Newcastle: gross £38,535£2,605/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Cardiff leaves £1,553/month vs Newcastle's £1,855/month.
What salary in Newcastle matches Cardiff purchasing power? +
Approximately £34,300 in Newcastle delivers equivalent purchasing power to £36,000 in Cardiff, based on a cost-of-living index of 64 (Cardiff) vs 61 (Newcastle).
Is Cardiff or Newcastle cheaper to live in? +
Newcastle is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 61 vs 64 for Cardiff (London = 100). Rent in Cardiff averages £900/month (1-bed) vs £750/month in Newcastle.
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 Newcastle the equivalent ratio is 29%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Cardiff and Newcastle

Afford Cardiff on £35,000? Afford Newcastle on £40,000? Salary equivalence: Cardiff → Newcastle Standard of living: Accountant (Qualified) in Cardiff Standard of living: Accountant (Qualified) in Newcastle

Data sources & methodology

ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2025 · Rightmove Rental Trends Tracker Q1 2026 · Numbeo Cost of Living 2026

Analysis by the SalaryDex data team · May 2026 · Corrections: [email protected] · Full methodology · Data transparency pledge