Winner on purchasing power
Cardiff
After paying rent, a software engineer in Cardiff retains
£39/month more than in Aberdeen —
that's £468/year extra in purchasing power.
Cardiff
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£46,000
Net monthly
£3,053
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
29% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,153
Aberdeen
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£50,000
Net monthly
£3,164
Rent (1-bed)
£1,050
Rent-to-income
33% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,114
Cardiff vs Aberdeen: what the £39/month gap means for a software engineer
On paper, Cardiff software engineer roles pay £4,000/year
less than Aberdeen. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Cardiff workers keep £3,053/month versus
£3,164/month in Aberdeen.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cardiff rent runs £900/month
versus £1,050/month in Aberdeen. Once housing costs are factored in,
Cardiff workers have £2,153/month
disposable income versus £2,114/month in Aberdeen —
that is £468/year in real spending power.
Cardiff's rent-to-income ratio of 29%
compares favourably to Aberdeen's 33%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Cardiff |
Aberdeen |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£900 |
£1,050 |
+17% |
| Transport |
£50 |
£60 |
+20% |
| Council tax |
£132 |
£148 |
+12% |
| Groceries |
£255 |
£285 |
+12% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,583 |
£1,481 |
-6% |
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 73 for Aberdeen,
a salary of £46,000 in Cardiff delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £52,450 in Aberdeen.
Cardiff £46,000 ≈
£52,450
in Aberdeen
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
Aberdeen
£2.77
Transit (single trip)
Cardiff
£1.19
Aberdeen
£1.43
Gym membership
Cardiff
£35/mo
Aberdeen
£40/mo
Cinema ticket
Cardiff
£10.24
Aberdeen
£11.68
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Frequently asked questions
Does a software engineer earn more in Cardiff or Aberdeen?
+
Cardiff pays a median £46,000 vs £50,000 in Aberdeen
— a gross difference of £4,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Cardiff professionals
have £39/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a software engineer in Cardiff vs Aberdeen?
+
In Cardiff: gross £46,000 → £3,053/month net take-home.
In Aberdeen: gross £50,000 → £3,164/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cardiff leaves £2,153/month
vs Aberdeen's £2,114/month.
What salary in Aberdeen matches Cardiff purchasing power?
+
Approximately £52,450 in Aberdeen delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£46,000 in Cardiff, based on a cost-of-living index of
64 (Cardiff) vs 73 (Aberdeen).
Is Cardiff or Aberdeen cheaper to live in?
+
Cardiff is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 64 vs 73 for Aberdeen (London = 100).
Rent in Cardiff averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £1,050/month in Aberdeen.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a software engineer in Cardiff?
+
A software engineer in Cardiff earning £46,000 takes home
£3,053/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 29%
(comfortable).
In Aberdeen the equivalent ratio is 33%.