Winner on purchasing power
Glasgow
After paying rent, a marketing manager in Glasgow retains
£110/month more than in Cardiff —
that's £1,320/year extra in purchasing power.
Cardiff
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£38,000
Net monthly
£2,573
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
35% — Stretched
After rent
£1,673
Glasgow
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£40,000
Net monthly
£2,683
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
34% — Stretched
After rent
£1,783
Cardiff vs Glasgow: what the £110/month gap means for a marketing manager
On paper, Cardiff marketing manager roles pay £2,000/year
less than Glasgow. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Cardiff workers keep £2,573/month versus
£2,683/month in Glasgow.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cardiff rent runs £900/month
versus £900/month in Glasgow. Once housing costs are factored in,
Glasgow workers have £1,783/month
disposable income versus £1,673/month in Cardiff —
that is £1,320/year in real spending power.
Glasgow's rent-to-income ratio of 34%
compares favourably to Cardiff's 35%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Cardiff |
Glasgow |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£900 |
£900 |
0% |
| Transport |
£50 |
£55 |
+10% |
| Council tax |
£132 |
£148 |
+12% |
| Groceries |
£255 |
£265 |
+4% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,103 |
£1,185 |
+7% |
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 62 for Glasgow,
a salary of £38,000 in Cardiff delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £36,800 in Glasgow.
Cardiff £38,000 ≈
£36,800
in Glasgow
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
Glasgow
£2.36
Transit (single trip)
Cardiff
£1.19
Glasgow
£1.31
Gym membership
Cardiff
£35/mo
Glasgow
£34/mo
Cinema ticket
Cardiff
£10.24
Glasgow
£9.92
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Frequently asked questions
Does a marketing manager earn more in Cardiff or Glasgow?
+
Cardiff pays a median £38,000 vs £40,000 in Glasgow
— a gross difference of £2,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Glasgow professionals
have £110/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a marketing manager in Cardiff vs Glasgow?
+
In Cardiff: gross £38,000 → £2,573/month net take-home.
In Glasgow: gross £40,000 → £2,683/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cardiff leaves £1,673/month
vs Glasgow's £1,783/month.
What salary in Glasgow matches Cardiff purchasing power?
+
Approximately £36,800 in Glasgow delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£38,000 in Cardiff, based on a cost-of-living index of
64 (Cardiff) vs 62 (Glasgow).
Is Cardiff or Glasgow cheaper to live in?
+
Glasgow is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 64 for Cardiff (London = 100).
Rent in Cardiff averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £900/month in Glasgow.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a marketing manager in Cardiff?
+
A marketing manager in Cardiff earning £38,000 takes home
£2,573/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 35%
(stretched).
In Glasgow the equivalent ratio is 34%.