Bristol vs Reading
Bristol wins on purchasing power. Bristol foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)s have £0/month more disposable income after rent than their Reading counterparts.
After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Bristol retains £0/month more than in Reading — that's £0/year extra in purchasing power.
Bristol vs Reading: what the £0/month gap means for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)
On paper, Bristol foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) roles pay £0/year more than Reading. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Bristol workers keep £2,517/month versus £2,517/month in Reading.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Bristol rent runs £1,350/month versus £1,350/month in Reading. Once housing costs are factored in, Bristol workers have £1,167/month disposable income versus £1,167/month in Reading — that is £0/year in real spending power.
Bristol's rent-to-income ratio of 54% compares favourably to Reading's 54%.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 75 for Bristol and 80 for Reading, a salary of £37,068 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £39,550 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
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