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City Comparison · 2026

Cardiff vs Milton Keynes 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%
VS
South East England
Milton Keynes
Median Salary £38,500
Cost of Living 78/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,100/mo
Real Take-Home £26,800/yr
Job Growth ↑ 5.5%
Unemployment 3.2%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Milton Keynes
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Cardiff
Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.
Highest Headline Salary
Milton Keynes
Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.
Lowest Rent
Cardiff
More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.
Best for Career Growth
Milton Keynes
Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.
Best Overall Value
Milton Keynes
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Cardiff vs Milton Keynes

Cardiff

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

Full Cardiff Guide →

Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes is one of the UK's fastest growing cities with a strong business services and technology sector.

Full Milton Keynes Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Cardiff

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Milton Keynes

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