Accountant (Qualified) · City comparison · 2026
Cardiff vs London
London wins on purchasing power. London accountant (qualified)s have £80/month more disposable income after rent than their Cardiff counterparts.
Cardiff salary
£36,000
£2,453/mo take-home
London salary
£58,000
£3,683/mo take-home
London wins by
+£80
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
London
After paying rent, a accountant (qualified) in London retains £80/month more than in Cardiff — that's £960/year extra in purchasing power.
+£80
per month
Cardiff
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£36,000
Net monthly
£2,453
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
37% — Stretched
After rent
£1,553
London
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£58,000
Net monthly
£3,683
Rent (1-bed)
£2,050
Rent-to-income
56% — High pressure
After rent
£1,633
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 64 for Cardiff and 100 for London, a salary of £36,000 in Cardiff delivers equivalent purchasing power to £56,250 in London.
Cardiff £36,000 ≈
£56,250
in London
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Cardiff
40%
London
22%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Cardiff
£2.43
London
£3.80
Transit (single trip)
Cardiff
£1.19
London
£4.40
Gym membership
Cardiff
£35/mo
London
£55/mo
Cinema ticket
Cardiff
£10.24
London
£16.00
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Frequently asked questions
Does a accountant (qualified) earn more in Cardiff or London? +
Cardiff pays a median £36,000 vs £58,000 in London
— a gross difference of £22,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, London professionals
have £80/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a accountant (qualified) in Cardiff vs London? +
In Cardiff: gross £36,000 → £2,453/month net take-home.
In London: gross £58,000 → £3,683/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cardiff leaves £1,553/month
vs London's £1,633/month.
What salary in London matches Cardiff purchasing power? +
Approximately £56,250 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£36,000 in Cardiff, based on a cost-of-living index of
64 (Cardiff) vs 100 (London).
Is Cardiff or London cheaper to live in? +
Cardiff is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 64 vs 100 for London (London = 100).
Rent in Cardiff averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £2,050/month in London.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a accountant (qualified) in Cardiff? +
A accountant (qualified) in Cardiff earning £36,000 takes home
£2,453/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 37%
(stretched).
In London the equivalent ratio is 56%.