Winner on purchasing power
Newcastle
After paying rent, a marketing manager in Newcastle retains
£90/month more than in Cardiff —
that's £1,080/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
Newcastle
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£37,000
Net monthly
£2,513
Rent (1-bed)
£750
Rent-to-income
30% — Comfortable
After rent
£1,763
Cardiff vs Newcastle: what the £90/month gap means for a marketing manager
On paper, Cardiff marketing manager roles pay £1,000/year
more than Newcastle. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Cardiff workers keep £2,573/month versus
£2,513/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 £1,763/month
disposable income versus £1,673/month in Cardiff —
that is £1,080/year in real spending power.
Newcastle's rent-to-income ratio of 30%
compares favourably to Cardiff's 35%.
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 |
£1,103 |
£1,189 |
+8% |
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 £38,000 in Cardiff delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £36,200 in Newcastle.
Cardiff £38,000 ≈
£36,200
in Newcastle
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
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
Financial tools
Popular products for UK earners
Best match
Amex Gold
Earn points on everyday spending
Annual fee: £140
Apply Now
Travel rewards
Barclaycard Avios
Collect Avios on every purchase
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now
Cashback
Chase UK Cashback
1% cashback, no annual fee
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now
Frequently asked questions
Does a marketing manager earn more in Cardiff or Newcastle?
+
Cardiff pays a median £38,000 vs £37,000 in Newcastle
— a gross difference of £1,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Newcastle professionals
have £90/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 Newcastle?
+
In Cardiff: gross £38,000 → £2,573/month net take-home.
In Newcastle: gross £37,000 → £2,513/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cardiff leaves £1,673/month
vs Newcastle's £1,763/month.
What salary in Newcastle matches Cardiff purchasing power?
+
Approximately £36,200 in Newcastle delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£38,000 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 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 Newcastle the equivalent ratio is 30%.