Salary Equivalence · Cardiff → Bristol · 2026

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

Based on cost-of-living indices (Cardiff 64 vs Bristol 75, London = 100), £55,000 in Cardiff has the same purchasing power as approximately £64,450 in Bristol. Bristol is 17% more expensive overall.

Cardiff salary
£55,000
COL index 64
Bristol equivalent
£64,450
COL index 75
COL difference
17%
Bristol is more expensive
Equivalent purchasing power in Bristol
£64,450
= £55,000 in Cardiff after cost-of-living adjustment
based on COL index 64 → 75 (London = 100)

Why £55,000 in Cardiff equals £64,450 in Bristol

The equivalent accounts for the real cost of maintaining the same standard of living. Cardiff rent averages £900/month versus £1,350/month in Bristol — a +£450/month premium. Beyond rent, Bristol is overall 17% more expensive across groceries, transport, restaurants, and utilities (Numbeo COL index 75 vs Cardiff's 64).

To achieve the same disposable income in Bristol, you would need to earn £64,450 — calculated using Rightmove Q1 2026 rental data and HMRC 2025/26 tax rates. Any offer below £64,450 in Bristol represents a real-terms pay cut.

Cost Comparison — Cardiff vs Bristol

Metric Cardiff Bristol Difference
COL index 64 75 +11 pts
1-bed rent £900/mo £1,350/mo +£450/mo
Monthly rent premium — — +£450/mo
Annual rent premium — — +£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 Cardiff to Bristol costs £450/month more in rent (£900 → £1,350/mo).

+£5,400/yr
annual housing premium

You need £64,450 in Bristol to match your Cardiff lifestyle — £9,450 more than your current Cardiff salary.

Other Salary Points — Cardiff → Bristol

£50,000 → £58,600 £60,000 → £70,300 £65,000 → £76,150

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Frequently Asked Questions

What salary in Bristol matches £55,000 in Cardiff? +
£64,450 in Bristol provides the same purchasing power as £55,000 in Cardiff. This is based on Cardiff's COL index of 64 vs Bristol's 75 (London = 100, Numbeo 2025). The 17% cost difference translates directly to a 17% higher equivalent salary.
Is Bristol significantly cheaper than Cardiff? +
Bristol is 17% more expensive overall than Cardiff. The most visible difference is rent: Cardiff averages £900/month for a 1-bed flat vs £1,350/month in Bristol — a premium 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: £55,000 × (75 ÷ 64) = £64,450. 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 Bristol? +
Moving to Bristol requires a higher salary to maintain your standard of living. You need approximately £64,450 — £9,450 more than your current £55,000 in Cardiff. Bristol is 17% more expensive overall and rent averages £1,350/month vs £900.

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