City Comparison · 2026

Glasgow vs Cardiff 2026

Scotland

Glasgow

Median Salary £35,200

Cost of Living 69/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £850/mo

Real Take-Home £25,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4.1%

Unemployment 4.5%

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%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Glasgow

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

Glasgow

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

Glasgow

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

Best Overall Value

Glasgow

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

Top Salaries: Glasgow vs Cardiff

Glasgow

Glasgow is Scotland's largest city and commercial centre with a diverse economy spanning finance, manufacturing and a growing technology sector.

Full Glasgow Guide →

Cardiff

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

Full Cardiff Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Glasgow

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Cardiff

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£38,900 vs £35,200

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