Aberdeen vs Exeter
Exeter wins on purchasing power. Exeter foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)s have £57/month more disposable income after rent than their Aberdeen counterparts.
After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Exeter retains £57/month more than in Aberdeen — that's £684/year extra in purchasing power.
Aberdeen vs Exeter: what the £57/month gap means for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)
On paper, Aberdeen foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) roles pay £0/year more than Exeter. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Aberdeen workers keep £2,510/month versus £2,517/month in Exeter.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Aberdeen rent runs £1,050/month versus £1,000/month in Exeter. Once housing costs are factored in, Exeter workers have £1,517/month disposable income versus £1,460/month in Aberdeen — that is £684/year in real spending power.
Exeter's rent-to-income ratio of 40% compares favourably to Aberdeen's 42%.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 73 for Aberdeen and 70 for Exeter, a salary of £37,068 in Aberdeen delivers equivalent purchasing power to £35,550 in Exeter.
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
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