Cost of living · 2026/27
Swansea: Cost of Living 2026/27
Wales's second city, anchored by the DVLA's headquarters in Morriston. A typical 2-bed averages around £775/month - some £300 below Cardiff - while workplace median pay (£710/week) trails Cardiff's by about £26, so the rent saving dominates the comparison.
At a glance
- Typical 2-bed rent
- £775/mo
- Council Tax Band D
- £2,238/yr
- Median annual pay (FT)
- £36,920
- Population
- 251,000
Note. Welsh Rates of Income Tax stay at 10p in each band for 2026/27, so income tax matches England/NI - see Cardiff notes. The Band D figure is the gov.wales overall average for Swansea including community council and South Wales Police precepts.
Take-home after rent in Swansea
Monthly take-home for common UK salaries, using Wales tax rates (our salary calculator), then subtracting typical rent and monthly council tax / rates.
| Gross | Take-home /mo | After rent | After rent + council tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| £36,920 (local median) | £2,509 | £1,734 | £1,547 |
| £50,000 | £3,293 | £2,518 | £2,332 |
| £75,000 | £4,505 | £3,730 | £3,543 |
| £100,000 | £5,713 | £4,938 | £4,752 |
Primary industries in Swansea
- Public administration (DVLA)
- Higher education (Swansea University)
- Healthcare (NHS Wales)
- Financial and business services
- Tourism (Gower)