Salary Equivalence · Bristol → Cardiff · 2026

What does £80,000 in Bristol
equal in Cardiff?

Based on cost-of-living indices (Bristol 75 vs Cardiff 64, London = 100), £80,000 in Bristol has the same purchasing power as approximately £68,250 in Cardiff. Cardiff is 15% cheaper overall.

Bristol salary
£80,000
COL index 75
Cardiff equivalent
£68,250
COL index 64
COL difference
15%
Cardiff is cheaper
Equivalent purchasing power in Cardiff
£68,250
= £80,000 in Bristol after cost-of-living adjustment
based on COL index 75 → 64 (London = 100)

Why £80,000 in Bristol equals £68,250 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 £68,250 — calculated using Rightmove Q1 2026 rental data and HMRC 2025/26 tax rates. Any offer above £68,250 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 £68,250 in Cardiff is a real-terms pay rise.

Other Salary Points — Bristol → Cardiff

£75,000 → £64,000 £90,000 → £76,800 £100,000 → £85,350

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Frequently Asked Questions

What salary in Cardiff matches £80,000 in Bristol? +
£68,250 in Cardiff provides the same purchasing power as £80,000 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: £80,000 × (64 ÷ 75) = £68,250. 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 £68,250 in Cardiff is a real-terms pay rise compared to your Bristol salary of £80,000. You'd also save £450/month on rent alone, giving you more disposable income despite a lower nominal salary.

Related Pages

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