UX Designer · City comparison · 2026

Cardiff vs Sheffield

Sheffield wins on purchasing power. Sheffield ux designers have £255/month more disposable income after rent than their Cardiff counterparts.

Cardiff salary
£42,000
£2,813/mo take-home
Sheffield salary
£45,000
£2,993/mo take-home
Sheffield wins by
+£255
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Sheffield

After paying rent, a ux designer in Sheffield retains £255/month more than in Cardiff — that's £3,060/year extra in purchasing power.

+£255
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
Sheffield
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £45,000
Net monthly £2,993
Rent (1-bed) £825
Rent-to-income 28% — Comfortable
After rent £2,168

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Cardiff Sheffield Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £900 £825 -8%
Transport £50 £65 +30%
Council tax £132 £126 -5%
Groceries £255 £265 +4%
Disposable income remaining £1,343 £1,578 +17%

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 63 for Sheffield, a salary of £42,000 in Cardiff delivers equivalent purchasing power to £41,350 in Sheffield.

Cardiff £42,000 ≈
£41,350
in Sheffield

Income retention after all essentials

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

Cardiff 48%
Sheffield 53%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Cardiff £2.43
Sheffield £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Cardiff £1.19
Sheffield £1.55
Gym membership
Cardiff £35/mo
Sheffield £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Cardiff £10.24
Sheffield £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a ux designer earn more in Cardiff or Sheffield? +
Cardiff pays a median £42,000 vs £45,000 in Sheffield — a gross difference of £3,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Sheffield professionals have £255/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 Sheffield? +
In Cardiff: gross £42,000£2,813/month net take-home. In Sheffield: gross £45,000£2,993/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Cardiff leaves £1,913/month vs Sheffield's £2,168/month.
What salary in Sheffield matches Cardiff purchasing power? +
Approximately £41,350 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to £42,000 in Cardiff, based on a cost-of-living index of 64 (Cardiff) vs 63 (Sheffield).
Is Cardiff or Sheffield cheaper to live in? +
Sheffield 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 £825/month in Sheffield.
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 Sheffield the equivalent ratio is 28%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Cardiff and Sheffield

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