United Kingdom • Updated 2026
Is it worth living in Cardiff on £28,000?
Compare take-home pay vs essentials (rent, food, transport, utilities). Use sliders to match your situation — then judge by disposable left + rent pressure.
Take-home (monthly)
£1,922
Essentials total
£1,485
Disposable left
£437
Rent % of income
49%
Rent£950
Food£260
Transport£120
Utilities£155
Verdict
6/100 • Struggle Housing costs in Cardiff are high (around 49% of income), which will limit your ability to save. You will have some spending money, but big savings goals or frequent travel might be tight. Overall, this salary is likely too low for an independent lifestyle in Cardiff without compromises.
Related pages
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FAQ
Is this accurate?
It’s a consistent baseline for comparisons. Sliders let you match your real situation.
What comfort score is “good”?
Rough guide: 70+ comfortable, 50–69 okay, 30–49 tight, below 30 struggle.
What’s the best lever?
Rent. If rent is high relative to take-home, the outcome is tight even on decent salaries.