Salary Equivalence · Bristol → Cardiff · 2026

What does £60,000 in Bristol
equal in Cardiff?

Based on cost-of-living indices (Bristol 75 vs Cardiff 64, London = 100), £60,000 in Bristol has the same purchasing power as approximately £51,200 in Cardiff. Cardiff is 15% cheaper overall.

Bristol salary
£60,000
COL index 75
Cardiff equivalent
£51,200
COL index 64
COL difference
15%
Cardiff is cheaper
Equivalent purchasing power in Cardiff
£51,200
= £60,000 in Bristol after cost-of-living adjustment
based on COL index 75 → 64 (London = 100)

Why £60,000 in Bristol equals £51,200 in Cardiff

The equivalent accounts for the real cost of maintaining the same standard of living. Bristol rent averages £1,350/month versus £900/month in Cardiff — a £450/month saving. Beyond rent, Cardiff is overall 15% cheaper across groceries, transport, restaurants, and utilities (Numbeo COL index 64 vs Bristol's 75).

To achieve the same disposable income in Cardiff, you would need to earn £51,200 — calculated using Rightmove Q1 2026 rental data and HMRC 2025/26 tax rates. Any offer above £51,200 in Cardiff is a real-terms pay rise.

Cost Comparison — Bristol vs Cardiff

Metric Bristol Cardiff Difference
COL index 75 64 −11 pts
1-bed rent £1,350/mo £900/mo −£450/mo
Monthly rent saving — — £450/mo
Annual rent saving — — £5,400/yr

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

Relocation Financial Impact

Moving from Bristol to Cardiff saves £450/month on rent alone (£1,350 → £900/mo).

£5,400/yr
annual housing saving

You can accept up to 15% salary reduction and maintain your lifestyle. Any offer above £51,200 in Cardiff is a real-terms pay rise.

Other Salary Points — Bristol → Cardiff

£55,000 → £46,950 £65,000 → £55,450 £70,000 → £59,750

Tools for Relocating

Recommended
Amex Gold
Earn Membership Rewards on moving costs and everyday spending.
Apply Now
Popular
Barclaycard Avios
Collect Avios on purchases. Great for frequent travel between cities during a relocation.
Apply Now
Fee-free
Chase Cashback
1% cashback on all debit card spending. No annual fee — handy while settling into a new city.
Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions

What salary in Cardiff matches £60,000 in Bristol? +
£51,200 in Cardiff provides the same purchasing power as £60,000 in Bristol. This is based on Bristol's COL index of 75 vs Cardiff's 64 (London = 100, Numbeo 2025). The 15% cost difference translates directly to a 15% lower equivalent salary.
Is Cardiff significantly cheaper than Bristol? +
Cardiff is 15% cheaper overall than Bristol. The most visible difference is rent: Bristol averages £1,350/month for a 1-bed flat vs £900/month in Cardiff — a saving of £450/month (£5,400/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: £60,000 × (64 ÷ 75) = £51,200. 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 Bristol to Cardiff? +
Financially, yes — up to 15% less. Any offer above £51,200 in Cardiff is a real-terms pay rise compared to your Bristol salary of £60,000. You'd also save £450/month on rent alone, giving you more disposable income despite a lower nominal salary.

Related Pages

Compare Bristol vs Cardiff Afford Cardiff on £50,000? Afford Bristol on £60,000? Reverse: £51,200 in Cardiff → Bristol Software Engineer salary in Bristol Software Engineer salary in Cardiff