Brighton vs Nottingham
Nottingham wins on purchasing power. Nottingham foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)s have £550/month more disposable income after rent than their Brighton counterparts.
After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Nottingham retains £550/month more than in Brighton — that's £6,600/year extra in purchasing power.
Brighton vs Nottingham: what the £550/month gap means for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)
On paper, Brighton foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) roles pay £0/year more than Nottingham. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Brighton workers keep £2,517/month versus £2,517/month in Nottingham.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Brighton rent runs £1,400/month versus £850/month in Nottingham. Once housing costs are factored in, Nottingham workers have £1,667/month disposable income versus £1,117/month in Brighton — that is £6,600/year in real spending power.
Nottingham's rent-to-income ratio of 34% compares favourably to Brighton's 56%.
For foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)s prioritising financial freedom, Nottingham delivers significantly more disposable income despite comparable gross pay.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 82 for Brighton and 63 for Nottingham, a salary of £37,068 in Brighton delivers equivalent purchasing power to £28,500 in Nottingham.
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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