City Comparison · 2026

Cardiff vs Stoke-on-Trent 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%

Staffordshire

Stoke-on-Trent

Median Salary £27,500

Cost of Living 58/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £600/mo

Real Take-Home £22,400/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3%

Unemployment 6.2%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Cardiff

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

Best for Affordability

Stoke-on-Trent

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

Stoke-on-Trent

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 Stoke-on-Trent

Cardiff

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

Full Cardiff Guide →

Stoke-on-Trent

Stoke-on-Trent is undergoing regeneration with bet365 as a major employer and growing logistics and manufacturing sectors.

Full Stoke-on-Trent Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Cardiff

Browse live Cardiff vacancies on Reed right now.

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Stoke-on-Trent

Browse live Stoke-on-Trent vacancies on Reed right now.

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£38,900 vs £32,400

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