Salary Equivalence · Edinburgh → Cardiff · 2026

What does £80,000 in Edinburgh
equal in Cardiff?

Based on cost-of-living indices (Edinburgh 72 vs Cardiff 64, London = 100), £80,000 in Edinburgh has the same purchasing power as approximately £71,100 in Cardiff. Cardiff is 11% cheaper overall.

Edinburgh salary
£80,000
COL index 72
Cardiff equivalent
£71,100
COL index 64
COL difference
11%
Cardiff is cheaper
Equivalent purchasing power in Cardiff
£71,100
= £80,000 in Edinburgh after cost-of-living adjustment
based on COL index 72 → 64 (London = 100)

Why £80,000 in Edinburgh equals £71,100 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 £71,100 — calculated using Rightmove Q1 2026 rental data and HMRC 2025/26 tax rates. Any offer above £71,100 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 £71,100 in Cardiff is a real-terms pay rise.

Other Salary Points — Edinburgh → Cardiff

£75,000 → £66,650 £90,000 → £80,000 £100,000 → £88,900

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Frequently Asked Questions

What salary in Cardiff matches £80,000 in Edinburgh? +
£71,100 in Cardiff provides the same purchasing power as £80,000 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: £80,000 × (64 ÷ 72) = £71,100. 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 £71,100 in Cardiff is a real-terms pay rise compared to your Edinburgh salary of £80,000. You'd also save £200/month on rent alone, giving you more disposable income despite a lower nominal salary.

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