Salary Equivalence · Cardiff → Edinburgh · 2026

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

Based on cost-of-living indices (Cardiff 64 vs Edinburgh 72, London = 100), £30,000 in Cardiff has the same purchasing power as approximately £33,750 in Edinburgh. Edinburgh is 13% more expensive overall.

Cardiff salary
£30,000
COL index 64
Edinburgh equivalent
£33,750
COL index 72
COL difference
13%
Edinburgh is more expensive
Equivalent purchasing power in Edinburgh
£33,750
= £30,000 in Cardiff after cost-of-living adjustment
based on COL index 64 → 72 (London = 100)

Why £30,000 in Cardiff equals £33,750 in Edinburgh

The equivalent accounts for the real cost of maintaining the same standard of living. Cardiff rent averages £900/month versus £1,100/month in Edinburgh — a +£200/month premium. Beyond rent, Edinburgh is overall 13% more expensive across groceries, transport, restaurants, and utilities (Numbeo COL index 72 vs Cardiff's 64).

To achieve the same disposable income in Edinburgh, you would need to earn £33,750 — calculated using Rightmove Q1 2026 rental data and HMRC 2025/26 tax rates. Any offer below £33,750 in Edinburgh represents a real-terms pay cut.

Cost Comparison — Cardiff vs Edinburgh

Metric Cardiff Edinburgh Difference
COL index 64 72 +8 pts
1-bed rent £900/mo £1,100/mo +£200/mo
Monthly rent premium — — +£200/mo
Annual rent premium — — +£2,400/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 Edinburgh costs £200/month more in rent (£900 → £1,100/mo).

+£2,400/yr
annual housing premium

You need £33,750 in Edinburgh to match your Cardiff lifestyle — £3,750 more than your current Cardiff salary.

Other Salary Points — Cardiff → Edinburgh

£25,000 → £28,150 £35,000 → £39,400 £40,000 → £45,000

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Frequently Asked Questions

What salary in Edinburgh matches £30,000 in Cardiff? +
£33,750 in Edinburgh provides the same purchasing power as £30,000 in Cardiff. This is based on Cardiff's COL index of 64 vs Edinburgh's 72 (London = 100, Numbeo 2025). The 13% cost difference translates directly to a 13% higher equivalent salary.
Is Edinburgh significantly cheaper than Cardiff? +
Edinburgh is 13% more expensive overall than Cardiff. The most visible difference is rent: Cardiff averages £900/month for a 1-bed flat vs £1,100/month in Edinburgh — a premium of £200/month (£2,400/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: £30,000 × (72 ÷ 64) = £33,750. 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 Edinburgh? +
Moving to Edinburgh requires a higher salary to maintain your standard of living. You need approximately £33,750 — £3,750 more than your current £30,000 in Cardiff. Edinburgh is 13% more expensive overall and rent averages £1,100/month vs £900.

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