City Comparison · 2026

Manchester vs Cardiff 2026

Greater Manchester

Manchester

Median Salary £36,500

Cost of Living 72/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £900/mo

Real Take-Home £26,200/yr

Job Growth ↑ 5.8%

Unemployment 4.1%

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

Manchester

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

Manchester

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

Manchester

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

Best Overall Value

Manchester

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

Top Salaries: Manchester vs Cardiff

Manchester

Manchester is the UK's second city for business with a thriving digital economy and significantly lower costs than London.

Full Manchester 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 Manchester

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Cardiff

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More Comparisons

London vs Manchester

£52,800 vs £36,500

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London vs Cardiff

£52,800 vs £32,400

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Manchester vs Birmingham

£36,500 vs £33,200

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Manchester vs Edinburgh

£36,500 vs £38,900

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Manchester vs Bristol

£36,500 vs £38,200

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Manchester vs Leeds

£36,500 vs £34,800

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