City Comparison · 2026

Cardiff vs Leicester 2026

Wales

Cardiff

Median Salary £32,400

Cost of Living 66/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £800/mo

Real Take-Home £24,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4%

Unemployment 4.4%

East Midlands

Leicester

Median Salary £30,500

Cost of Living 65/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £730/mo

Real Take-Home £23,900/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.6%

Unemployment 5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Cardiff

Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.

Best for Affordability

Leicester

Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.

Highest Headline Salary

Cardiff

Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.

Lowest Rent

Leicester

More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.

Best for Career Growth

Cardiff

Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.

Best Overall Value

Cardiff

When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Cardiff vs Leicester

Cardiff

Cardiff is the capital of Wales and a growing business hub with a strong public sector and emerging technology scene.

Full Cardiff Guide →

Leicester

Leicester is one of the UK's most diverse cities with a strong manufacturing base and growing retail and education sectors.

Full Leicester Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Cardiff

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Leicester

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More Comparisons

London vs Cardiff

£52,800 vs £32,400

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London vs Leicester

£52,800 vs £30,500

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Manchester vs Cardiff

£36,500 vs £32,400

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Manchester vs Leicester

£36,500 vs £30,500

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Birmingham vs Leicester

£33,200 vs £30,500

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Edinburgh vs Cardiff

£38,900 vs £32,400

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