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City Comparison · 2026

Cardiff vs Sunderland 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
North East England
Sunderland
Median Salary £27,800
Cost of Living 58/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £580/mo
Real Take-Home £22,600/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
Sunderland
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
Sunderland
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 Sunderland

Cardiff

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

Full Cardiff Guide →

Sunderland

Sunderland is home to Nissan's largest European plant and has a growing digital and technology sector driven by major investment.

Full Sunderland Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Cardiff

Browse live Cardiff vacancies on Reed right now.

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Sunderland

Browse live Sunderland vacancies on Reed right now.

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