UX Designer · City comparison · 2026
Cardiff vs London
Cardiff wins on purchasing power. Cardiff ux designers have £87/month more disposable income after rent than their London counterparts.
Cardiff salary
£42,000
£2,813/mo take-home
London salary
£62,000
£3,876/mo take-home
Cardiff wins by
+£87
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Cardiff
After paying rent, a ux designer in Cardiff retains £87/month more than in London — that's £1,044/year extra in purchasing power.
+£87
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
London
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£62,000
Net monthly
£3,876
Rent (1-bed)
£2,050
Rent-to-income
53% — High pressure
After rent
£1,826
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 64 for Cardiff and 100 for London, a salary of £42,000 in Cardiff delivers equivalent purchasing power to £65,650 in London.
Cardiff £42,000 ≈
£65,650
in London
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Cardiff
48%
London
26%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Cardiff
£2.43
London
£3.80
Transit (single trip)
Cardiff
£1.19
London
£4.40
Gym membership
Cardiff
£35/mo
London
£55/mo
Cinema ticket
Cardiff
£10.24
London
£16.00
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Frequently asked questions
Does a ux designer earn more in Cardiff or London? +
Cardiff pays a median £42,000 vs £62,000 in London
— a gross difference of £20,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Cardiff professionals
have £87/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 London? +
In Cardiff: gross £42,000 → £2,813/month net take-home.
In London: gross £62,000 → £3,876/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cardiff leaves £1,913/month
vs London's £1,826/month.
What salary in London matches Cardiff purchasing power? +
Approximately £65,650 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£42,000 in Cardiff, based on a cost-of-living index of
64 (Cardiff) vs 100 (London).
Is Cardiff or London cheaper to live in? +
Cardiff is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 64 vs 100 for London (London = 100).
Rent in Cardiff averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £2,050/month in London.
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 London the equivalent ratio is 53%.