UX Designer · City comparison · 2026

Aberdeen vs Cardiff

Aberdeen wins on purchasing power. Aberdeen ux designers have £201/month more disposable income after rent than their Cardiff counterparts.

Aberdeen salary
£50,000
£3,164/mo take-home
Cardiff salary
£42,000
£2,813/mo take-home
Aberdeen wins by
+£201
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Aberdeen

After paying rent, a ux designer in Aberdeen retains £201/month more than in Cardiff — that's £2,412/year extra in purchasing power.

+£201
per month
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
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £42,000
Net monthly £2,813
Rent (1-bed) £900
Rent-to-income 32% — Comfortable
After rent £1,913

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Aberdeen Cardiff Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,050 £900 -14%
Transport £60 £50 -17%
Council tax £148 £132 -11%
Groceries £285 £255 -11%
Disposable income remaining £1,481 £1,343 -9%

Sources: LinkedIn 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 73 for Aberdeen and 64 for Cardiff, a salary of £50,000 in Aberdeen delivers equivalent purchasing power to £43,850 in Cardiff.

Aberdeen £50,000 ≈
£43,850
in Cardiff

Income retention after all essentials

% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries

Aberdeen 47%
Cardiff 48%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Aberdeen £2.77
Cardiff £2.43
Transit (single trip)
Aberdeen £1.43
Cardiff £1.19
Gym membership
Aberdeen £40/mo
Cardiff £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Aberdeen £11.68
Cardiff £10.24

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Frequently asked questions

Does a ux designer earn more in Aberdeen or Cardiff? +
Aberdeen pays a median £50,000 vs £42,000 in Cardiff — a gross difference of £8,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Aberdeen professionals have £201/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a ux designer in Aberdeen vs Cardiff? +
In Aberdeen: gross £50,000£3,164/month net take-home. In Cardiff: gross £42,000£2,813/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Aberdeen leaves £2,114/month vs Cardiff's £1,913/month.
What salary in Cardiff matches Aberdeen purchasing power? +
Approximately £43,850 in Cardiff delivers equivalent purchasing power to £50,000 in Aberdeen, based on a cost-of-living index of 73 (Aberdeen) vs 64 (Cardiff).
Is Aberdeen or Cardiff cheaper to live in? +
Cardiff is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 64 vs 73 for Aberdeen (London = 100). Rent in Aberdeen averages £1,050/month (1-bed) vs £900/month in Cardiff.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a ux designer in Aberdeen? +
A ux designer in Aberdeen earning £50,000 takes home £3,164/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,050/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 33% (comfortable). In Cardiff the equivalent ratio is 32%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Aberdeen and Cardiff

Afford Aberdeen on £50,000? Afford Cardiff on £40,000? Salary equivalence: Aberdeen → Cardiff Standard of living: UX Designer in Aberdeen Standard of living: UX Designer in Cardiff