Software Engineer · City comparison · 2026
London vs Cardiff
London wins on purchasing power. London software engineers have £157/month more disposable income after rent than their Cardiff counterparts.
London salary
£72,000
£4,360/mo take-home
Cardiff salary
£46,000
£3,053/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
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
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
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 100 for London and 64 for Cardiff, a salary of £72,000 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to £46,100 in Cardiff.
London £72,000 ≈
£46,100
in Cardiff
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
London
34%
Cardiff
52%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
London
£3.80
Cardiff
£2.43
Transit (single trip)
London
£4.40
Cardiff
£1.19
Gym membership
London
£55/mo
Cardiff
£35/mo
Cinema ticket
London
£16.00
Cardiff
£10.24
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Frequently asked questions
Does a software engineer earn more in London or Cardiff? +
London pays a median £72,000 vs £46,000 in Cardiff
— 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 London vs Cardiff? +
In London: gross £72,000 → £4,360/month net take-home.
In Cardiff: gross £46,000 → £3,053/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, London leaves £2,310/month
vs Cardiff's £2,153/month.
What salary in Cardiff matches London purchasing power? +
Approximately £46,100 in Cardiff delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£72,000 in London, based on a cost-of-living index of
100 (London) vs 64 (Cardiff).
Is London or Cardiff cheaper to live in? +
Cardiff is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 64 vs 100 for London (London = 100).
Rent in London averages £2,050/month (1-bed)
vs £900/month in Cardiff.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a software engineer in London? +
A software engineer in London earning £72,000 takes home
£4,360/month. With median 1-bed rent of £2,050/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 47%
(high pressure).
In Cardiff the equivalent ratio is 29%.