Salary Equivalence · Aberdeen → Cardiff · 2026

What does £30,000 in Aberdeen
equal in Cardiff?

Based on cost-of-living indices (Aberdeen 73 vs Cardiff 64, London = 100), £30,000 in Aberdeen has the same purchasing power as approximately £26,300 in Cardiff. Cardiff is 12% cheaper overall.

Aberdeen salary
£30,000
COL index 73
Cardiff equivalent
£26,300
COL index 64
COL difference
12%
Cardiff is cheaper
Equivalent purchasing power in Cardiff
£26,300
= £30,000 in Aberdeen after cost-of-living adjustment
based on COL index 73 → 64 (London = 100)

Why £30,000 in Aberdeen equals £26,300 in Cardiff

The equivalent accounts for the real cost of maintaining the same standard of living. Aberdeen rent averages £1,050/month versus £900/month in Cardiff — a £150/month saving. Beyond rent, Cardiff is overall 12% cheaper across groceries, transport, restaurants, and utilities (Numbeo COL index 64 vs Aberdeen's 73).

To achieve the same disposable income in Cardiff, you would need to earn £26,300 — calculated using Rightmove Q1 2026 rental data and HMRC 2025/26 tax rates. Any offer above £26,300 in Cardiff is a real-terms pay rise.

Cost Comparison — Aberdeen vs Cardiff

Metric Aberdeen Cardiff Difference
COL index 73 64 −9 pts
1-bed rent £1,050/mo £900/mo −£150/mo
Monthly rent saving — — £150/mo
Annual rent saving — — £1,800/yr

COL indices from Numbeo 2025 (London = 100). Rent = Rightmove Q4 2025 median for a 1-bed flat.

Relocation Financial Impact

Moving from Aberdeen to Cardiff saves £150/month on rent alone (£1,050 → £900/mo).

£1,800/yr
annual housing saving

You can accept up to 12% salary reduction and maintain your lifestyle. Any offer above £26,300 in Cardiff is a real-terms pay rise.

Other Salary Points — Aberdeen → Cardiff

£25,000 → £21,900 £35,000 → £30,700 £40,000 → £35,050

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Frequently Asked Questions

What salary in Cardiff matches £30,000 in Aberdeen? +
£26,300 in Cardiff provides the same purchasing power as £30,000 in Aberdeen. This is based on Aberdeen's COL index of 73 vs Cardiff's 64 (London = 100, Numbeo 2025). The 12% cost difference translates directly to a 12% lower equivalent salary.
Is Cardiff significantly cheaper than Aberdeen? +
Cardiff is 12% cheaper overall than Aberdeen. The most visible difference is rent: Aberdeen averages £1,050/month for a 1-bed flat vs £900/month in Cardiff — a saving of £150/month (£1,800/year).
How is the salary equivalence calculated? +
SalaryDex uses city-level cost-of-living indices from Numbeo 2025, normalised so London = 100. The formula is: equivalent = salary × (cityB COL ÷ cityA COL). For this page: £30,000 × (64 ÷ 73) = £26,300. The index captures overall cost differences including rent, food, transport, utilities and services. It does not account for individual tax positions or lifestyle choices.
Should I accept a lower salary to move from Aberdeen to Cardiff? +
Financially, yes — up to 12% less. Any offer above £26,300 in Cardiff is a real-terms pay rise compared to your Aberdeen salary of £30,000. You'd also save £150/month on rent alone, giving you more disposable income despite a lower nominal salary.

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