Overview
Cardiff is the capital of Wales and a growing business hub with a strong public sector and emerging technology scene.
The median salary in Cardiff is £32,400 per year. With a cost of living index of 66/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £800/month, residents typically retain £24,800 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Cardiff vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Cardiff is highlighted.
London
100
Edinburgh
79
Bristol
78
Manchester
72
Leeds
70
Birmingham
68
Cardiff
66
Liverpool
65
Sheffield
63
Newcastle
61
Best Paying Jobs in Cardiff
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Cardiff Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £32,400 |
| Cost of Living Index | 66/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £800/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £24,800/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 4% |
| Population | 366,000 |
Top Industries in Cardiff
Public Sector
Finance
Creative
Healthcare
Technology
Major Employers in Cardiff
NHS Wales
Admiral
BBC Wales
Legal & General
Cardiff University
Compare Cardiff with Other Cities
Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk