Winner on purchasing power
Brighton
After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Brighton retains
£100/month more than in Cambridge —
that's £1,200/year extra in purchasing power.
Brighton
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£37,068
Net monthly
£2,517
Rent (1-bed)
£1,400
Rent-to-income
56% — High pressure
After rent
£1,117
Cambridge
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£37,068
Net monthly
£2,517
Rent (1-bed)
£1,500
Rent-to-income
60% — High pressure
After rent
£1,017
Brighton vs Cambridge: what the £100/month gap means for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)
On paper, Brighton foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) roles pay £0/year
more than Cambridge. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Brighton workers keep £2,517/month versus
£2,517/month in Cambridge.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Brighton rent runs £1,400/month
versus £1,500/month in Cambridge. Once housing costs are factored in,
Brighton workers have £1,117/month
disposable income versus £1,017/month in Cambridge —
that is £1,200/year in real spending power.
Brighton's rent-to-income ratio of 56%
compares favourably to Cambridge's 60%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Brighton |
Cambridge |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,400 |
£1,500 |
+7% |
| Transport |
£80 |
£75 |
-6% |
| Council tax |
£155 |
£155 |
0% |
| Groceries |
£295 |
£300 |
+2% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£447 |
£347 |
-22% |
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 82 for Brighton
and 87 for Cambridge,
a salary of £37,068 in Brighton delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £39,350 in Cambridge.
Brighton £37,068 ≈
£39,350
in Cambridge
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
Brighton
£3.12
Cambridge
£3.31
Transit (single trip)
Brighton
£1.90
Cambridge
£1.79
Gym membership
Brighton
£45/mo
Cambridge
£48/mo
Cinema ticket
Brighton
£13.12
Cambridge
£13.92
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Frequently asked questions
Does a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) earn more in Brighton or Cambridge?
+
Brighton pays a median £37,068 vs £37,068 in Cambridge
— a gross difference of £0.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Brighton 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 Brighton vs Cambridge?
+
In Brighton: gross £37,068 → £2,517/month net take-home.
In Cambridge: gross £37,068 → £2,517/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Brighton leaves £1,117/month
vs Cambridge's £1,017/month.
What salary in Cambridge matches Brighton purchasing power?
+
Approximately £39,350 in Cambridge delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£37,068 in Brighton, based on a cost-of-living index of
82 (Brighton) vs 87 (Cambridge).
Is Brighton or Cambridge cheaper to live in?
+
Brighton is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 82 vs 87 for Cambridge (London = 100).
Rent in Brighton averages £1,400/month (1-bed)
vs £1,500/month in Cambridge.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Brighton?
+
A foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Brighton earning £37,068 takes home
£2,517/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,400/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 56%
(high pressure).
In Cambridge the equivalent ratio is 60%.