Is £25k a good salary in Cardiff?
On £25k in Cardiff, take-home is around £1,793 per month. After essentials of £1,880, you're left with -£87 — a Reality Score of 34/100 (struggling). For more context, see the full cost of living in Cardiff guide.
Is £25k enough to live in Cardiff?
Earning £25k in Cardiff leaves very little headroom: most months close out with essentials eating almost the entire take-home. On £25k in Cardiff, take-home is £1,793/month and essentials run £1,880 — leaving -£87 disposable. We model a single renter using public transport.
Take-home pay
£1,793
per month
Essentials cost
£1,880
per month
Disposable left
-£87
Reality Score 34/100
Reality verdictTight
£25k runs tight in Cardiff. Costs sit close to take-home, leaving little headroom for savings or surprises.
Based on current UK tax rules and city cost benchmarks. Updated regularly.
What £25k actually buys you in Cardiff
Cardiff offers a capital-city lifestyle at regional UK rent levels, with most amenities within walking distance. A balanced affordability profile — slightly cheaper than English cities of comparable size.
On £25k, your take-home pay is roughly £1,793 every month after income tax and National Insurance. Essential monthly costs add up to about £1,880, leaving you with -£87 of disposable income — a Reality Score of 34/100 (Struggling).
Curious how this changes elsewhere? See what life looks like on £35k in Cardiff, or compare Cardiff vs Bristol side-by-side.
Monthly cost breakdown
Indicative averages for a single renter in Cardiff.
- Rent / housing
- £950
- Bills (utilities, council tax, internet)
- £380
- Food & groceries
- £265
- Transport
- £70
- Lifestyle & misc
- £215
- Total essentials
- £1,880
34/ 100
Struggling
Reality Score weighs take-home pay against essentials and any savings commitment to gauge how sustainable the setup is.
What this means
Struggling. You may find it difficult to cover costs without reducing expenses or increasing income.
What this actually means
- Housing eats 53% of your take-home in Cardiff — well above the 30% healthy benchmark. A cheaper area or a flatmate would unlock real breathing room.
- You're running a £87/month shortfall on essentials alone. Without changes, debt is likely — prioritise cutting fixed costs or increasing income.
See your personalised affordability
Use your salary and lifestyle to see which UK cities work best for you.
Adjust the numbers
Tweak any field — your reality updates instantly.
Take-home / mo
£1,793
Total costs / mo
£1,880
Disposable / mo
-£87
Reality Score for this scenario: 34/100 — Struggling
See full reportSee your personalised affordability
Use your salary and lifestyle to see which UK cities work best for you.
Frequently asked questions
What's the take-home pay on £25k in the UK?
After UK 2024/25 income tax and National Insurance, £25k works out to roughly £1,793 per month, or £21,516 per year. The same take-home applies wherever you live in the UK — what changes is how far it stretches once rent, bills and transport are paid.
How much disposable income does £25k leave in Cardiff?
Modelled as a single renter on public transport, £25k in Cardiff leaves about -£87 per month after rent, bills, food and transport. Switching to a flatshare or moving outside zone 1 can lift that meaningfully.
How does Cardiff compare to other UK cities on £25k?
Rent is the single biggest swing factor. See Cardiff vs Bristol side-by-side, or browse all UK cost-of-living guides to see where £25k stretches furthest.
What if I earn more or less than £25k in Cardiff?
Your essentials don't move much with salary — what changes is the surplus. Compare with £35k in Cardiff to see exactly how the disposable figure shifts.
Related cost of living guides
Hand-picked pages that match this combination of city, salary and household — every link points to a real, published guide.
Explore similar scenarios
Compare what changes when you tweak the salary — or move the same salary to a different UK city.
Same city, different salary
Popular scenarios
Last updated: April 2026See how we calculate this
These figures are estimates and may vary based on individual circumstances.
- Based on UK cost benchmarks
- Updated regularly
- Indicative estimates, not financial advice