Frequently Asked Questions
What salary in Cardiff matches £100,000 in London?
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£64,000 in Cardiff provides the same purchasing power as £100,000 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?
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Cardiff is 36% cheaper overall than London.
The most visible difference is rent: London averages £2,050/month for a 1-bed flat
vs £900/month in Cardiff
— a saving of £1,150/month (£13,800/year).
How is the salary equivalence calculated?
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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: £100,000 × (64 ÷ 100) = £64,000.
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?
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Financially, yes — up to 36% less. Any offer above £64,000 in Cardiff
is a real-terms pay rise compared to your London salary of £100,000.
You'd also save £1,150/month on rent alone, giving you
more disposable income despite a lower nominal salary.