Cambridge vs Edinburgh
Edinburgh wins on purchasing power. Edinburgh foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)s have £393/month more disposable income after rent than their Cambridge counterparts.
After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Edinburgh retains £393/month more than in Cambridge — that's £4,716/year extra in purchasing power.
Cambridge vs Edinburgh: what the £393/month gap means for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)
On paper, Cambridge foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) roles pay £0/year more than Edinburgh. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Cambridge workers keep £2,517/month versus £2,510/month in Edinburgh.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cambridge rent runs £1,500/month versus £1,100/month in Edinburgh. Once housing costs are factored in, Edinburgh workers have £1,410/month disposable income versus £1,017/month in Cambridge — that is £4,716/year in real spending power.
Edinburgh's rent-to-income ratio of 44% compares favourably to Cambridge's 60%.
For foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)s prioritising financial freedom, Edinburgh delivers significantly more disposable income despite comparable gross pay.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 87 for Cambridge and 72 for Edinburgh, a salary of £37,068 in Cambridge delivers equivalent purchasing power to £30,700 in Edinburgh.
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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