Salary Equivalence · Cardiff → Aberdeen · 2026

What does £55,000 in Cardiff
equal in Aberdeen?

Based on cost-of-living indices (Cardiff 64 vs Aberdeen 73, London = 100), £55,000 in Cardiff has the same purchasing power as approximately £62,750 in Aberdeen. Aberdeen is 14% more expensive overall.

Cardiff salary
£55,000
COL index 64
Aberdeen equivalent
£62,750
COL index 73
COL difference
14%
Aberdeen is more expensive
Equivalent purchasing power in Aberdeen
£62,750
= £55,000 in Cardiff after cost-of-living adjustment
based on COL index 64 → 73 (London = 100)

Why £55,000 in Cardiff equals £62,750 in Aberdeen

The equivalent accounts for the real cost of maintaining the same standard of living. Cardiff rent averages £900/month versus £1,050/month in Aberdeen — a +£150/month premium. Beyond rent, Aberdeen is overall 14% more expensive across groceries, transport, restaurants, and utilities (Numbeo COL index 73 vs Cardiff's 64).

To achieve the same disposable income in Aberdeen, you would need to earn £62,750 — calculated using Rightmove Q1 2026 rental data and HMRC 2025/26 tax rates. Any offer below £62,750 in Aberdeen represents a real-terms pay cut.

Cost Comparison — Cardiff vs Aberdeen

Metric Cardiff Aberdeen Difference
COL index 64 73 +9 pts
1-bed rent £900/mo £1,050/mo +£150/mo
Monthly rent premium — — +£150/mo
Annual rent premium — — +£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 Cardiff to Aberdeen costs £150/month more in rent (£900 → £1,050/mo).

+£1,800/yr
annual housing premium

You need £62,750 in Aberdeen to match your Cardiff lifestyle — £7,750 more than your current Cardiff salary.

Other Salary Points — Cardiff → Aberdeen

£50,000 → £57,050 £60,000 → £68,450 £65,000 → £74,150

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Frequently Asked Questions

What salary in Aberdeen matches £55,000 in Cardiff? +
£62,750 in Aberdeen provides the same purchasing power as £55,000 in Cardiff. This is based on Cardiff's COL index of 64 vs Aberdeen's 73 (London = 100, Numbeo 2025). The 14% cost difference translates directly to a 14% higher equivalent salary.
Is Aberdeen significantly cheaper than Cardiff? +
Aberdeen is 14% more expensive overall than Cardiff. The most visible difference is rent: Cardiff averages £900/month for a 1-bed flat vs £1,050/month in Aberdeen — a premium 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: £55,000 × (73 ÷ 64) = £62,750. 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 Cardiff to Aberdeen? +
Moving to Aberdeen requires a higher salary to maintain your standard of living. You need approximately £62,750 — £7,750 more than your current £55,000 in Cardiff. Aberdeen is 14% more expensive overall and rent averages £1,050/month vs £900.

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