UX Designer · City comparison · 2026
Bristol vs Cardiff
Bristol wins on purchasing power. Bristol ux designers have £30/month more disposable income after rent than their Cardiff counterparts.
Bristol salary
£50,000
£3,293/mo take-home
Cardiff salary
£42,000
£2,813/mo take-home
Bristol wins by
+£30
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Bristol
After paying rent, a ux designer in Bristol retains £30/month more than in Cardiff — that's £360/year extra in purchasing power.
+£30
per month
Bristol
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£50,000
Net monthly
£3,293
Rent (1-bed)
£1,350
Rent-to-income
41% — Stretched
After rent
£1,943
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
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 75 for Bristol and 64 for Cardiff, a salary of £50,000 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £42,650 in Cardiff.
Bristol £50,000 ≈
£42,650
in Cardiff
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Bristol
39%
Cardiff
48%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Bristol
£2.85
Cardiff
£2.43
Transit (single trip)
Bristol
£1.90
Cardiff
£1.19
Gym membership
Bristol
£41/mo
Cardiff
£35/mo
Cinema ticket
Bristol
£12.00
Cardiff
£10.24
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Frequently asked questions
Does a ux designer earn more in Bristol or Cardiff? +
Bristol pays a median £50,000 vs £42,000 in Cardiff
— a gross difference of £8,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Bristol professionals
have £30/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a ux designer in Bristol vs Cardiff? +
In Bristol: gross £50,000 → £3,293/month net take-home.
In Cardiff: gross £42,000 → £2,813/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Bristol leaves £1,943/month
vs Cardiff's £1,913/month.
What salary in Cardiff matches Bristol purchasing power? +
Approximately £42,650 in Cardiff delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£50,000 in Bristol, based on a cost-of-living index of
75 (Bristol) vs 64 (Cardiff).
Is Bristol or Cardiff cheaper to live in? +
Cardiff is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 64 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100).
Rent in Bristol averages £1,350/month (1-bed)
vs £900/month in Cardiff.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a ux designer in Bristol? +
A ux designer in Bristol earning £50,000 takes home
£3,293/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,350/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 41%
(stretched).
In Cardiff the equivalent ratio is 32%.