Salary Equivalence · Cardiff → Edinburgh · 2026

What does £75,000 in Cardiff
equal in Edinburgh?

Based on cost-of-living indices (Cardiff 64 vs Edinburgh 72, London = 100), £75,000 in Cardiff has the same purchasing power as approximately £84,400 in Edinburgh. Edinburgh is 13% more expensive overall.

Cardiff salary
£75,000
COL index 64
Edinburgh equivalent
£84,400
COL index 72
COL difference
13%
Edinburgh is more expensive
Equivalent purchasing power in Edinburgh
£84,400
= £75,000 in Cardiff after cost-of-living adjustment
based on COL index 64 → 72 (London = 100)

Why £75,000 in Cardiff equals £84,400 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 £84,400 — calculated using Rightmove Q1 2026 rental data and HMRC 2025/26 tax rates. Any offer below £84,400 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 £84,400 in Edinburgh to match your Cardiff lifestyle — £9,400 more than your current Cardiff salary.

Other Salary Points — Cardiff → Edinburgh

£70,000 → £78,750 £80,000 → £90,000 £90,000 → £101,250

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 Edinburgh matches £75,000 in Cardiff? +
£84,400 in Edinburgh provides the same purchasing power as £75,000 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: £75,000 × (72 ÷ 64) = £84,400. 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 £84,400 — £9,400 more than your current £75,000 in Cardiff. Edinburgh is 13% more expensive overall and rent averages £1,100/month vs £900.

Related Pages

Compare Cardiff vs Edinburgh Afford Edinburgh on £80,000? Afford Cardiff on £75,000? Reverse: £84,400 in Edinburgh → Cardiff Software Engineer salary in Cardiff Software Engineer salary in Edinburgh