Software Engineer · City comparison · 2026
Cardiff vs London
London wins on purchasing power. London software engineers have £157/month more disposable income after rent than their Cardiff counterparts.
Cardiff salary
£46,000
£3,053/mo take-home
London salary
£72,000
£4,360/mo take-home
London wins by
+£157
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
London
After paying rent, a software engineer in London retains £157/month more than in Cardiff — that's £1,884/year extra in purchasing power.
+£157
per month
Cardiff
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£46,000
Net monthly
£3,053
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
29% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,153
London
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£72,000
Net monthly
£4,360
Rent (1-bed)
£2,050
Rent-to-income
47% — High pressure
After rent
£2,310
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 64 for Cardiff and 100 for London, a salary of £46,000 in Cardiff delivers equivalent purchasing power to £71,900 in London.
Cardiff £46,000 ≈
£71,900
in London
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Cardiff
52%
London
34%
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 software engineer earn more in Cardiff or London? +
Cardiff pays a median £46,000 vs £72,000 in London
— a gross difference of £26,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, London professionals
have £157/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a software engineer in Cardiff vs London? +
In Cardiff: gross £46,000 → £3,053/month net take-home.
In London: gross £72,000 → £4,360/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cardiff leaves £2,153/month
vs London's £2,310/month.
What salary in London matches Cardiff purchasing power? +
Approximately £71,900 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£46,000 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 software engineer in Cardiff? +
A software engineer in Cardiff earning £46,000 takes home
£3,053/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 29%
(comfortable).
In London the equivalent ratio is 47%.