Financial Analyst · City comparison · 2026
Cardiff vs Manchester
Manchester wins on purchasing power. Manchester financial analysts have £310/month more disposable income after rent than their Cardiff counterparts.
Cardiff salary
£44,000
£2,933/mo take-home
Manchester salary
£52,000
£3,393/mo take-home
Manchester wins by
+£310
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Manchester
After paying rent, a financial analyst in Manchester retains £310/month more than in Cardiff — that's £3,720/year extra in purchasing power.
+£310
per month
Cardiff
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£44,000
Net monthly
£2,933
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
31% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,033
Manchester
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£52,000
Net monthly
£3,393
Rent (1-bed)
£1,050
Rent-to-income
31% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,343
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 64 for Cardiff and 68 for Manchester, a salary of £44,000 in Cardiff delivers equivalent purchasing power to £46,750 in Manchester.
Cardiff £44,000 ≈
£46,750
in Manchester
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Cardiff
50%
Manchester
51%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Cardiff
£2.43
Manchester
£2.58
Transit (single trip)
Cardiff
£1.19
Manchester
£1.79
Gym membership
Cardiff
£35/mo
Manchester
£37/mo
Cinema ticket
Cardiff
£10.24
Manchester
£10.88
Financial tools
Popular products for UK earners
Frequently asked questions
Does a financial analyst earn more in Cardiff or Manchester? +
Cardiff pays a median £44,000 vs £52,000 in Manchester
— a gross difference of £8,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Manchester professionals
have £310/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a financial analyst in Cardiff vs Manchester? +
In Cardiff: gross £44,000 → £2,933/month net take-home.
In Manchester: gross £52,000 → £3,393/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cardiff leaves £2,033/month
vs Manchester's £2,343/month.
What salary in Manchester matches Cardiff purchasing power? +
Approximately £46,750 in Manchester delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£44,000 in Cardiff, based on a cost-of-living index of
64 (Cardiff) vs 68 (Manchester).
Is Cardiff or Manchester cheaper to live in? +
Cardiff is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 64 vs 68 for Manchester (London = 100).
Rent in Cardiff averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £1,050/month in Manchester.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a financial analyst in Cardiff? +
A financial analyst in Cardiff earning £44,000 takes home
£2,933/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 31%
(comfortable).
In Manchester the equivalent ratio is 31%.