UX Designer · City comparison · 2026

Cardiff vs Liverpool

Liverpool wins on purchasing power. Liverpool ux designers have £340/month more disposable income after rent than their Cardiff counterparts.

Cardiff salary
£42,000
£2,813/mo take-home
Liverpool salary
£46,000
£3,053/mo take-home
Liverpool wins by
+£340
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Liverpool

After paying rent, a ux designer in Liverpool retains £340/month more than in Cardiff — that's £4,080/year extra in purchasing power.

+£340
per month
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
Liverpool
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £46,000
Net monthly £3,053
Rent (1-bed) £800
Rent-to-income 26% — Comfortable
After rent £2,253

Cardiff vs Liverpool: what the £340/month gap means for a ux designer

On paper, Cardiff ux designer roles pay £4,000/year less than Liverpool. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Cardiff workers keep £2,813/month versus £3,053/month in Liverpool.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cardiff rent runs £900/month versus £800/month in Liverpool. Once housing costs are factored in, Liverpool workers have £2,253/month disposable income versus £1,913/month in Cardiff — that is £4,080/year in real spending power.

Liverpool's rent-to-income ratio of 26% compares favourably to Cardiff's 32%.

For ux designers prioritising financial freedom, Liverpool delivers significantly more disposable income despite comparable gross pay.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Cardiff Liverpool Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £900 £800 -11%
Transport £50 £70 +40%
Council tax £132 £115 -13%
Groceries £255 £260 +2%
Disposable income remaining £1,343 £1,675 +25%

Sources: LinkedIn 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 62 for Liverpool, a salary of £42,000 in Cardiff delivers equivalent purchasing power to £40,700 in Liverpool.

Cardiff £42,000 ≈
£40,700
in Liverpool

Income retention after all essentials

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

Cardiff 48%
Liverpool 55%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Cardiff £2.43
Liverpool £2.36
Transit (single trip)
Cardiff £1.19
Liverpool £1.67
Gym membership
Cardiff £35/mo
Liverpool £34/mo
Cinema ticket
Cardiff £10.24
Liverpool £9.92

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Frequently asked questions

Does a ux designer earn more in Cardiff or Liverpool? +
Cardiff pays a median £42,000 vs £46,000 in Liverpool — a gross difference of £4,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Liverpool professionals have £340/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a ux designer in Cardiff vs Liverpool? +
In Cardiff: gross £42,000£2,813/month net take-home. In Liverpool: gross £46,000£3,053/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Cardiff leaves £1,913/month vs Liverpool's £2,253/month.
What salary in Liverpool matches Cardiff purchasing power? +
Approximately £40,700 in Liverpool delivers equivalent purchasing power to £42,000 in Cardiff, based on a cost-of-living index of 64 (Cardiff) vs 62 (Liverpool).
Is Cardiff or Liverpool cheaper to live in? +
Liverpool is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 64 for Cardiff (London = 100). Rent in Cardiff averages £900/month (1-bed) vs £800/month in Liverpool.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a ux designer in Cardiff? +
A ux designer in Cardiff earning £42,000 takes home £2,813/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 32% (comfortable). In Liverpool the equivalent ratio is 26%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Cardiff and Liverpool

Afford Cardiff on £40,000? Afford Liverpool on £45,000? Standard of living: UX Designer in Cardiff Standard of living: UX Designer in Liverpool

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