Salary Equivalence · London → Cardiff · 2026

What does £25,000 in London
equal in Cardiff?

Based on cost-of-living indices (London 100 vs Cardiff 64, London = 100), £25,000 in London has the same purchasing power as approximately £16,000 in Cardiff. Cardiff is 36% cheaper overall.

London salary
£25,000
COL index 100
Cardiff equivalent
£16,000
COL index 64
COL difference
36%
Cardiff is cheaper
Equivalent purchasing power in Cardiff
£16,000
= £25,000 in London after cost-of-living adjustment
based on COL index 100 → 64 (London = 100)

Why £25,000 in London equals £16,000 in Cardiff

The equivalent accounts for the real cost of maintaining the same standard of living. London rent averages £2,150/month versus £900/month in Cardiff — a £1,250/month saving. Beyond rent, Cardiff is overall 36% cheaper across groceries, transport, restaurants, and utilities (Numbeo COL index 64 vs London's 100).

To achieve the same disposable income in Cardiff, you would need to earn £16,000 — calculated using Rightmove Q1 2026 rental data and HMRC 2025/26 tax rates. Any offer above £16,000 in Cardiff is a real-terms pay rise.

Cost Comparison — London vs Cardiff

Metric London Cardiff Difference
COL index 100 64 −36 pts
1-bed rent £2,150/mo £900/mo −£1,250/mo
Monthly rent saving — — £1,250/mo
Annual rent saving — — £15,000/yr

COL indices from Numbeo 2025 (London = 100). Rent = Rightmove Q4 2025 median for a 1-bed flat.

Relocation Financial Impact

Moving from London to Cardiff saves £1,250/month on rent alone (£2,150 → £900/mo).

£15,000/yr
annual housing saving

You can accept up to 36% salary reduction and maintain your lifestyle. Any offer above £16,000 in Cardiff is a real-terms pay rise.

Other Salary Points — London → Cardiff

£30,000 → £19,200 £35,000 → £22,400

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Frequently Asked Questions

What salary in Cardiff matches £25,000 in London? +
£16,000 in Cardiff provides the same purchasing power as £25,000 in London. This is based on London's COL index of 100 vs Cardiff's 64 (London = 100, Numbeo 2025). The 36% cost difference translates directly to a 36% lower equivalent salary.
Is Cardiff significantly cheaper than London? +
Cardiff is 36% cheaper overall than London. The most visible difference is rent: London averages £2,150/month for a 1-bed flat vs £900/month in Cardiff — a saving of £1,250/month (£15,000/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: £25,000 × (64 ÷ 100) = £16,000. 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 London to Cardiff? +
Financially, yes — up to 36% less. Any offer above £16,000 in Cardiff is a real-terms pay rise compared to your London salary of £25,000. You'd also save £1,250/month on rent alone, giving you more disposable income despite a lower nominal salary.

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