Winner on purchasing power
Reading
After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Reading retains
£150/month more than in Cambridge —
that's £1,800/year extra in purchasing power.
Cambridge
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£37,068
Net monthly
£2,517
Rent (1-bed)
£1,500
Rent-to-income
60% — High pressure
After rent
£1,017
Reading
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£37,068
Net monthly
£2,517
Rent (1-bed)
£1,350
Rent-to-income
54% — High pressure
After rent
£1,167
Cambridge vs Reading: what the £150/month gap means for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)
On paper, Cambridge foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) roles pay £0/year
more than Reading. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Cambridge workers keep £2,517/month versus
£2,517/month in Reading.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cambridge rent runs £1,500/month
versus £1,350/month in Reading. Once housing costs are factored in,
Reading workers have £1,167/month
disposable income versus £1,017/month in Cambridge —
that is £1,800/year in real spending power.
Reading's rent-to-income ratio of 54%
compares favourably to Cambridge's 60%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Cambridge |
Reading |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,500 |
£1,350 |
-10% |
| Transport |
£75 |
£85 |
+13% |
| Council tax |
£155 |
£150 |
-3% |
| Groceries |
£300 |
£290 |
-3% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£347 |
£502 |
+45% |
Sources: NHS Employers 2025/26 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 87 for Cambridge
and 80 for Reading,
a salary of £37,068 in Cambridge delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £34,100 in Reading.
Cambridge £37,068 ≈
£34,100
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
Cappuccino
Cambridge
£3.31
Reading
£3.04
Transit (single trip)
Cambridge
£1.79
Reading
£2.02
Gym membership
Cambridge
£48/mo
Reading
£44/mo
Cinema ticket
Cambridge
£13.92
Reading
£12.80
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Frequently asked questions
Does a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) earn more in Cambridge or Reading?
+
Cambridge pays a median £37,068 vs £37,068 in Reading
— a gross difference of £0.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Reading professionals
have £150/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Cambridge vs Reading?
+
In Cambridge: gross £37,068 → £2,517/month net take-home.
In Reading: gross £37,068 → £2,517/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cambridge leaves £1,017/month
vs Reading's £1,167/month.
What salary in Reading matches Cambridge purchasing power?
+
Approximately £34,100 in Reading delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£37,068 in Cambridge, based on a cost-of-living index of
87 (Cambridge) vs 80 (Reading).
Is Cambridge or Reading cheaper to live in?
+
Reading is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 80 vs 87 for Cambridge (London = 100).
Rent in Cambridge averages £1,500/month (1-bed)
vs £1,350/month in Reading.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Cambridge?
+
A foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Cambridge earning £37,068 takes home
£2,517/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,500/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 60%
(high pressure).
In Reading the equivalent ratio is 54%.