Winner on purchasing power
Birmingham
After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Birmingham retains
£57/month more than in Glasgow —
that's £684/year extra in purchasing power.
Birmingham
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£37,068
Net monthly
£2,517
Rent (1-bed)
£850
Rent-to-income
34% — Stretched
After rent
£1,667
Glasgow
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£37,068
Net monthly
£2,510
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
36% — Stretched
After rent
£1,610
Birmingham vs Glasgow: what the £57/month gap means for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)
On paper, Birmingham foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) roles pay £0/year
more than Glasgow. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Birmingham workers keep £2,517/month versus
£2,510/month in Glasgow.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Birmingham rent runs £850/month
versus £900/month in Glasgow. Once housing costs are factored in,
Birmingham workers have £1,667/month
disposable income versus £1,610/month in Glasgow —
that is £684/year in real spending power.
Birmingham's rent-to-income ratio of 34%
compares favourably to Glasgow's 36%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Birmingham |
Glasgow |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£850 |
£900 |
+6% |
| Transport |
£65 |
£55 |
-15% |
| Council tax |
£118 |
£148 |
+25% |
| Groceries |
£265 |
£265 |
0% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,079 |
£1,012 |
-6% |
Sources: NHS Employers 2025/26 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 65 for Birmingham
and 62 for Glasgow,
a salary of £37,068 in Birmingham delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £35,350 in Glasgow.
Birmingham £37,068 ≈
£35,350
in Glasgow
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
Cappuccino
Birmingham
£2.47
Glasgow
£2.36
Transit (single trip)
Birmingham
£1.55
Glasgow
£1.31
Gym membership
Birmingham
£36/mo
Glasgow
£34/mo
Cinema ticket
Birmingham
£10.40
Glasgow
£9.92
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Frequently asked questions
Does a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) earn more in Birmingham or Glasgow?
+
Birmingham pays a median £37,068 vs £37,068 in Glasgow
— a gross difference of £0.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Birmingham professionals
have £57/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Birmingham vs Glasgow?
+
In Birmingham: gross £37,068 → £2,517/month net take-home.
In Glasgow: gross £37,068 → £2,510/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Birmingham leaves £1,667/month
vs Glasgow's £1,610/month.
What salary in Glasgow matches Birmingham purchasing power?
+
Approximately £35,350 in Glasgow delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£37,068 in Birmingham, based on a cost-of-living index of
65 (Birmingham) vs 62 (Glasgow).
Is Birmingham or Glasgow cheaper to live in?
+
Glasgow is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 65 for Birmingham (London = 100).
Rent in Birmingham averages £850/month (1-bed)
vs £900/month in Glasgow.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Birmingham?
+
A foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Birmingham earning £37,068 takes home
£2,517/month. With median 1-bed rent of £850/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 34%
(stretched).
In Glasgow the equivalent ratio is 36%.