Winner on purchasing power
Leeds
After paying rent, a marketing manager in Leeds retains
£180/month more than in Cardiff —
that's £2,160/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
Leeds
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£41,000
Net monthly
£2,753
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
33% — Comfortable
After rent
£1,853
Cardiff vs Leeds: what the £180/month gap means for a marketing manager
On paper, Cardiff marketing manager roles pay £3,000/year
less than Leeds. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Cardiff workers keep £2,573/month versus
£2,753/month in Leeds.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cardiff rent runs £900/month
versus £900/month in Leeds. Once housing costs are factored in,
Leeds workers have £1,853/month
disposable income versus £1,673/month in Cardiff —
that is £2,160/year in real spending power.
Leeds's rent-to-income ratio of 33%
compares favourably to Cardiff's 35%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Cardiff |
Leeds |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£900 |
£900 |
0% |
| Transport |
£50 |
£65 |
+30% |
| Council tax |
£132 |
£112 |
-15% |
| Groceries |
£255 |
£270 |
+6% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,103 |
£1,271 |
+15% |
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 66 for Leeds,
a salary of £38,000 in Cardiff delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £39,200 in Leeds.
Cardiff £38,000 ≈
£39,200
in Leeds
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
Leeds
£2.51
Transit (single trip)
Cardiff
£1.19
Leeds
£1.55
Gym membership
Cardiff
£35/mo
Leeds
£36/mo
Cinema ticket
Cardiff
£10.24
Leeds
£10.56
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Frequently asked questions
Does a marketing manager earn more in Cardiff or Leeds?
+
Cardiff pays a median £38,000 vs £41,000 in Leeds
— a gross difference of £3,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leeds professionals
have £180/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 Leeds?
+
In Cardiff: gross £38,000 → £2,573/month net take-home.
In Leeds: gross £41,000 → £2,753/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cardiff leaves £1,673/month
vs Leeds's £1,853/month.
What salary in Leeds matches Cardiff purchasing power?
+
Approximately £39,200 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£38,000 in Cardiff, based on a cost-of-living index of
64 (Cardiff) vs 66 (Leeds).
Is Cardiff or Leeds cheaper to live in?
+
Cardiff is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 64 vs 66 for Leeds (London = 100).
Rent in Cardiff averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £900/month in Leeds.
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 Leeds the equivalent ratio is 33%.