Winner on purchasing power
Liverpool
After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Liverpool retains
£100/month more than in Cardiff —
that's £1,200/year extra in purchasing power.
Cardiff
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£37,068
Net monthly
£2,517
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
36% — Stretched
After rent
£1,617
Liverpool
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£37,068
Net monthly
£2,517
Rent (1-bed)
£800
Rent-to-income
32% — Comfortable
After rent
£1,717
Cardiff vs Liverpool: what the £100/month gap means for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)
On paper, Cardiff foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) roles pay £0/year
more than Liverpool. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Cardiff workers keep £2,517/month versus
£2,517/month in Liverpool.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cardiff rent runs £900/month
versus £800/month in Liverpool. Once housing costs are factored in,
Liverpool workers have £1,717/month
disposable income versus £1,617/month in Cardiff —
that is £1,200/year in real spending power.
Liverpool's rent-to-income ratio of 32%
compares favourably to Cardiff's 36%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Cardiff |
Liverpool |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£900 |
£800 |
-11% |
| Transport |
£50 |
£70 |
+40% |
| Council tax |
£132 |
£115 |
-13% |
| Groceries |
£255 |
£260 |
+2% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,047 |
£1,139 |
+9% |
Sources: NHS Wales 2025/26 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 64 for Cardiff
and 62 for Liverpool,
a salary of £37,068 in Cardiff delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £35,900 in Liverpool.
Cardiff £37,068 ≈
£35,900
in Liverpool
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
Cardiff
£2.43
Liverpool
£2.36
Transit (single trip)
Cardiff
£1.19
Liverpool
£1.67
Gym membership
Cardiff
£35/mo
Liverpool
£34/mo
Cinema ticket
Cardiff
£10.24
Liverpool
£9.92
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Frequently asked questions
Does a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) earn more in Cardiff or Liverpool?
+
Cardiff pays a median £37,068 vs £37,068 in Liverpool
— a gross difference of £0.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Liverpool professionals
have £100/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 Cardiff vs Liverpool?
+
In Cardiff: gross £37,068 → £2,517/month net take-home.
In Liverpool: gross £37,068 → £2,517/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cardiff leaves £1,617/month
vs Liverpool's £1,717/month.
What salary in Liverpool matches Cardiff purchasing power?
+
Approximately £35,900 in Liverpool delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£37,068 in Cardiff, based on a cost-of-living index of
64 (Cardiff) vs 62 (Liverpool).
Is Cardiff or Liverpool cheaper to live in?
+
Liverpool is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 64 for Cardiff (London = 100).
Rent in Cardiff averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £800/month in Liverpool.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Cardiff?
+
A foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Cardiff earning £37,068 takes home
£2,517/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 36%
(stretched).
In Liverpool the equivalent ratio is 32%.