Brighton vs Reading
Reading wins on purchasing power. Reading foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)s have £50/month more disposable income after rent than their Brighton counterparts.
After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Reading retains £50/month more than in Brighton — that's £600/year extra in purchasing power.
Brighton vs Reading: 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 Reading. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Brighton workers keep £2,517/month versus £2,517/month in Reading.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Brighton rent runs £1,400/month versus £1,350/month in Reading. Once housing costs are factored in, Reading workers have £1,167/month disposable income versus £1,117/month in Brighton — that is £600/year in real spending power.
Reading's rent-to-income ratio of 54% compares favourably to Brighton's 56%.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 82 for Brighton and 80 for Reading, a salary of £37,068 in Brighton delivers equivalent purchasing power to £36,150 in Reading.
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
Financial tools
Popular products for UK earners