Winner on purchasing power
Newcastle
After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Newcastle retains
£100/month more than in Birmingham —
that's £1,200/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
Newcastle
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£37,068
Net monthly
£2,517
Rent (1-bed)
£750
Rent-to-income
30% — Comfortable
After rent
£1,767
Birmingham vs Newcastle: what the £100/month gap means for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)
On paper, Birmingham foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) roles pay £0/year
more than Newcastle. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Birmingham workers keep £2,517/month versus
£2,517/month in Newcastle.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Birmingham rent runs £850/month
versus £750/month in Newcastle. Once housing costs are factored in,
Newcastle workers have £1,767/month
disposable income versus £1,667/month in Birmingham —
that is £1,200/year in real spending power.
Newcastle's rent-to-income ratio of 30%
compares favourably to Birmingham's 34%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Birmingham |
Newcastle |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£850 |
£750 |
-12% |
| Transport |
£65 |
£75 |
+15% |
| Council tax |
£118 |
£112 |
-5% |
| Groceries |
£265 |
£255 |
-4% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,079 |
£1,193 |
+11% |
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 61 for Newcastle,
a salary of £37,068 in Birmingham delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £34,800 in Newcastle.
Birmingham £37,068 ≈
£34,800
in Newcastle
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
Newcastle
£2.32
Transit (single trip)
Birmingham
£1.55
Newcastle
£1.79
Gym membership
Birmingham
£36/mo
Newcastle
£34/mo
Cinema ticket
Birmingham
£10.40
Newcastle
£9.76
Financial tools
Popular products for UK earners
Best match
Amex Gold
Earn points on everyday spending
Annual fee: £140
Apply Now
Travel rewards
Barclaycard Avios
Collect Avios on every purchase
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now
Cashback
Chase UK Cashback
1% cashback, no annual fee
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now
Frequently asked questions
Does a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) earn more in Birmingham or Newcastle?
+
Birmingham pays a median £37,068 vs £37,068 in Newcastle
— a gross difference of £0.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Newcastle professionals
have £100/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 Newcastle?
+
In Birmingham: gross £37,068 → £2,517/month net take-home.
In Newcastle: gross £37,068 → £2,517/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Birmingham leaves £1,667/month
vs Newcastle's £1,767/month.
What salary in Newcastle matches Birmingham purchasing power?
+
Approximately £34,800 in Newcastle delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£37,068 in Birmingham, based on a cost-of-living index of
65 (Birmingham) vs 61 (Newcastle).
Is Birmingham or Newcastle cheaper to live in?
+
Newcastle is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 61 vs 65 for Birmingham (London = 100).
Rent in Birmingham averages £850/month (1-bed)
vs £750/month in Newcastle.
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 Newcastle the equivalent ratio is 30%.