City Comparison · 2026

Cardiff vs Shrewsbury 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%

West Midlands

Shrewsbury

Median Salary £28,500

Cost of Living 63/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £720/mo

Real Take-Home £22,400/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3%

Unemployment 3.8%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Cardiff

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

Best for Affordability

Shrewsbury

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

Shrewsbury

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 Shrewsbury

Cardiff

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

Full Cardiff Guide →

Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire with a strong public sector and growing tourism economy.

Full Shrewsbury Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Cardiff

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Shrewsbury

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£52,800 vs £32,400

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£36,500 vs £32,400

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Manchester vs Shrewsbury

£36,500 vs £28,500

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Birmingham vs Shrewsbury

£33,200 vs £28,500

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Edinburgh vs Cardiff

£38,900 vs £32,400

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