Salary Equivalence · Edinburgh → Cardiff · 2026

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

Based on cost-of-living indices (Edinburgh 72 vs Cardiff 64, London = 100), £75,000 in Edinburgh has the same purchasing power as approximately £66,650 in Cardiff. Cardiff is 11% cheaper overall.

Edinburgh salary
£75,000
COL index 72
Cardiff equivalent
£66,650
COL index 64
COL difference
11%
Cardiff is cheaper
Equivalent purchasing power in Cardiff
£66,650
= £75,000 in Edinburgh after cost-of-living adjustment
based on COL index 72 → 64 (London = 100)

Why £75,000 in Edinburgh equals £66,650 in Cardiff

The equivalent accounts for the real cost of maintaining the same standard of living. Edinburgh rent averages £1,100/month versus £900/month in Cardiff — a £200/month saving. Beyond rent, Cardiff is overall 11% cheaper across groceries, transport, restaurants, and utilities (Numbeo COL index 64 vs Edinburgh's 72).

To achieve the same disposable income in Cardiff, you would need to earn £66,650 — calculated using Rightmove Q1 2026 rental data and HMRC 2025/26 tax rates. Any offer above £66,650 in Cardiff is a real-terms pay rise.

Cost Comparison — Edinburgh vs Cardiff

Metric Edinburgh Cardiff Difference
COL index 72 64 −8 pts
1-bed rent £1,100/mo £900/mo −£200/mo
Monthly rent saving — — £200/mo
Annual rent saving — — £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 Edinburgh to Cardiff saves £200/month on rent alone (£1,100 → £900/mo).

£2,400/yr
annual housing saving

You can accept up to 11% salary reduction and maintain your lifestyle. Any offer above £66,650 in Cardiff is a real-terms pay rise.

Other Salary Points — Edinburgh → Cardiff

£70,000 → £62,200 £80,000 → £71,100 £90,000 → £80,000

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 Cardiff matches £75,000 in Edinburgh? +
£66,650 in Cardiff provides the same purchasing power as £75,000 in Edinburgh. This is based on Edinburgh's COL index of 72 vs Cardiff's 64 (London = 100, Numbeo 2025). The 11% cost difference translates directly to a 11% lower equivalent salary.
Is Cardiff significantly cheaper than Edinburgh? +
Cardiff is 11% cheaper overall than Edinburgh. The most visible difference is rent: Edinburgh averages £1,100/month for a 1-bed flat vs £900/month in Cardiff — a saving 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 × (64 ÷ 72) = £66,650. 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 Edinburgh to Cardiff? +
Financially, yes — up to 11% less. Any offer above £66,650 in Cardiff is a real-terms pay rise compared to your Edinburgh salary of £75,000. You'd also save £200/month on rent alone, giving you more disposable income despite a lower nominal salary.

Related Pages

Compare Edinburgh vs Cardiff Afford Cardiff on £65,000? Afford Edinburgh on £75,000? Reverse: £66,650 in Cardiff → Edinburgh Software Engineer salary in Edinburgh Software Engineer salary in Cardiff