Brighton vs Oxford
Brighton wins on purchasing power. Brighton foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)s have £50/month more disposable income after rent than their Oxford counterparts.
After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Brighton retains £50/month more than in Oxford — that's £600/year extra in purchasing power.
Brighton vs Oxford: what the £50/month gap means for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)
On paper, Brighton foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) roles pay £0/year more than Oxford. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Brighton workers keep £2,517/month versus £2,517/month in Oxford.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Brighton rent runs £1,400/month versus £1,450/month in Oxford. Once housing costs are factored in, Brighton workers have £1,117/month disposable income versus £1,067/month in Oxford — that is £600/year in real spending power.
Brighton's rent-to-income ratio of 56% compares favourably to Oxford's 58%.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 82 for Brighton and 85 for Oxford, a salary of £37,068 in Brighton delivers equivalent purchasing power to £38,400 in Oxford.
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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