UX Designer · City comparison · 2026
Cardiff vs Nottingham
Nottingham wins on purchasing power. Nottingham ux designers have £170/month more disposable income after rent than their Cardiff counterparts.
Cardiff salary
£42,000
£2,813/mo take-home
Nottingham salary
£44,000
£2,933/mo take-home
Nottingham wins by
+£170
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Nottingham
After paying rent, a ux designer in Nottingham retains £170/month more than in Cardiff — that's £2,040/year extra in purchasing power.
+£170
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
Nottingham
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£44,000
Net monthly
£2,933
Rent (1-bed)
£850
Rent-to-income
29% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,083
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 64 for Cardiff and 63 for Nottingham, a salary of £42,000 in Cardiff delivers equivalent purchasing power to £41,350 in Nottingham.
Cardiff £42,000 ≈
£41,350
in Nottingham
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Cardiff
48%
Nottingham
52%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Cardiff
£2.43
Nottingham
£2.39
Transit (single trip)
Cardiff
£1.19
Nottingham
£1.38
Gym membership
Cardiff
£35/mo
Nottingham
£35/mo
Cinema ticket
Cardiff
£10.24
Nottingham
£10.08
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Frequently asked questions
Does a ux designer earn more in Cardiff or Nottingham? +
Cardiff pays a median £42,000 vs £44,000 in Nottingham
— a gross difference of £2,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Nottingham professionals
have £170/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 Nottingham? +
In Cardiff: gross £42,000 → £2,813/month net take-home.
In Nottingham: gross £44,000 → £2,933/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cardiff leaves £1,913/month
vs Nottingham's £2,083/month.
What salary in Nottingham matches Cardiff purchasing power? +
Approximately £41,350 in Nottingham delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£42,000 in Cardiff, based on a cost-of-living index of
64 (Cardiff) vs 63 (Nottingham).
Is Cardiff or Nottingham cheaper to live in? +
Nottingham is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 64 for Cardiff (London = 100).
Rent in Cardiff averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £850/month in Nottingham.
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 Nottingham the equivalent ratio is 29%.