Winner on purchasing power
Exeter
After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Exeter retains
£107/month more than in Edinburgh —
that's £1,284/year extra in purchasing power.
Edinburgh
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£37,068
Net monthly
£2,510
Rent (1-bed)
£1,100
Rent-to-income
44% — Stretched
After rent
£1,410
Exeter
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£37,068
Net monthly
£2,517
Rent (1-bed)
£1,000
Rent-to-income
40% — Stretched
After rent
£1,517
Edinburgh vs Exeter: what the £107/month gap means for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)
On paper, Edinburgh foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) roles pay £0/year
more than Exeter. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Edinburgh workers keep £2,510/month versus
£2,517/month in Exeter.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Edinburgh rent runs £1,100/month
versus £1,000/month in Exeter. Once housing costs are factored in,
Exeter workers have £1,517/month
disposable income versus £1,410/month in Edinburgh —
that is £1,284/year in real spending power.
Exeter's rent-to-income ratio of 40%
compares favourably to Edinburgh's 44%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Edinburgh |
Exeter |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,100 |
£1,000 |
-9% |
| Transport |
£62 |
£68 |
+10% |
| Council tax |
£155 |
£125 |
-19% |
| Groceries |
£280 |
£272 |
-3% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£783 |
£917 |
+17% |
Sources: NHS Scotland 2025/26 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 72 for Edinburgh
and 70 for Exeter,
a salary of £37,068 in Edinburgh delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £36,050 in Exeter.
Edinburgh £37,068 ≈
£36,050
in Exeter
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
Edinburgh
£2.74
Exeter
£2.66
Transit (single trip)
Edinburgh
£1.48
Exeter
£1.62
Gym membership
Edinburgh
£40/mo
Exeter
£39/mo
Cinema ticket
Edinburgh
£11.52
Exeter
£11.20
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Frequently asked questions
Does a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) earn more in Edinburgh or Exeter?
+
Edinburgh pays a median £37,068 vs £37,068 in Exeter
— a gross difference of £0.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Exeter professionals
have £107/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 Edinburgh vs Exeter?
+
In Edinburgh: gross £37,068 → £2,510/month net take-home.
In Exeter: gross £37,068 → £2,517/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Edinburgh leaves £1,410/month
vs Exeter's £1,517/month.
What salary in Exeter matches Edinburgh purchasing power?
+
Approximately £36,050 in Exeter delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£37,068 in Edinburgh, based on a cost-of-living index of
72 (Edinburgh) vs 70 (Exeter).
Is Edinburgh or Exeter cheaper to live in?
+
Exeter is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 70 vs 72 for Edinburgh (London = 100).
Rent in Edinburgh averages £1,100/month (1-bed)
vs £1,000/month in Exeter.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Edinburgh?
+
A foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Edinburgh earning £37,068 takes home
£2,510/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,100/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 44%
(stretched).
In Exeter the equivalent ratio is 40%.