UX Designer · City comparison · 2026

Brighton vs Cardiff

Brighton wins on purchasing power. Brighton ux designers have £80/month more disposable income after rent than their Cardiff counterparts.

Brighton salary
£52,000
£3,393/mo take-home
Cardiff salary
£42,000
£2,813/mo take-home
Brighton wins by
+£80
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Brighton

After paying rent, a ux designer in Brighton retains £80/month more than in Cardiff — that's £960/year extra in purchasing power.

+£80
per month
Brighton
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £52,000
Net monthly £3,393
Rent (1-bed) £1,400
Rent-to-income 41% — Stretched
After rent £1,993
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

Brighton vs Cardiff: what the £80/month gap means for a ux designer

On paper, Brighton ux designer roles pay £10,000/year more than Cardiff. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Brighton workers keep £3,393/month versus £2,813/month in Cardiff.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Brighton rent runs £1,400/month versus £900/month in Cardiff. Once housing costs are factored in, Brighton workers have £1,993/month disposable income versus £1,913/month in Cardiff — that is £960/year in real spending power.

Brighton's rent-to-income ratio of 41% compares favourably to Cardiff's 32%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Brighton Cardiff Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,400 £900 -36%
Transport £80 £50 -37%
Council tax £155 £132 -15%
Groceries £295 £255 -14%
Disposable income remaining £1,323 £1,343 +2%

Sources: ONS ASHE 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 82 for Brighton and 64 for Cardiff, a salary of £52,000 in Brighton delivers equivalent purchasing power to £40,600 in Cardiff.

Brighton £52,000 ≈
£40,600
in Cardiff

Income retention after all essentials

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

Brighton 39%
Cardiff 48%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Brighton £3.12
Cardiff £2.43
Transit (single trip)
Brighton £1.90
Cardiff £1.19
Gym membership
Brighton £45/mo
Cardiff £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Brighton £13.12
Cardiff £10.24

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Frequently asked questions

Does a ux designer earn more in Brighton or Cardiff? +
Brighton pays a median £52,000 vs £42,000 in Cardiff — a gross difference of £10,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Brighton professionals have £80/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a ux designer in Brighton vs Cardiff? +
In Brighton: gross £52,000£3,393/month net take-home. In Cardiff: gross £42,000£2,813/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Brighton leaves £1,993/month vs Cardiff's £1,913/month.
What salary in Cardiff matches Brighton purchasing power? +
Approximately £40,600 in Cardiff delivers equivalent purchasing power to £52,000 in Brighton, based on a cost-of-living index of 82 (Brighton) vs 64 (Cardiff).
Is Brighton or Cardiff cheaper to live in? +
Cardiff is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 64 vs 82 for Brighton (London = 100). Rent in Brighton averages £1,400/month (1-bed) vs £900/month in Cardiff.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a ux designer in Brighton? +
A ux designer in Brighton earning £52,000 takes home £3,393/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,400/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 41% (stretched). In Cardiff the equivalent ratio is 32%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Brighton and Cardiff

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

Data sources & methodology

ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2025 · Rightmove Rental Trends Tracker Q1 2026 · Numbeo Cost of Living 2026

Analysis by the SalaryDex data team · May 2026 · Corrections: [email protected] · Full methodology · Data transparency pledge