Winner on purchasing power
Glasgow
After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Glasgow retains
£93/month more than in Exeter —
that's £1,116/year extra in purchasing power.
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
Glasgow
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£37,068
Net monthly
£2,510
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
36% — Stretched
After rent
£1,610
Exeter vs Glasgow: what the £93/month gap means for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)
On paper, Exeter foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) roles pay £0/year
more than Glasgow. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Exeter workers keep £2,517/month versus
£2,510/month in Glasgow.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Exeter rent runs £1,000/month
versus £900/month in Glasgow. Once housing costs are factored in,
Glasgow workers have £1,610/month
disposable income versus £1,517/month in Exeter —
that is £1,116/year in real spending power.
Glasgow's rent-to-income ratio of 36%
compares favourably to Exeter's 40%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Exeter |
Glasgow |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,000 |
£900 |
-10% |
| Transport |
£68 |
£55 |
-19% |
| Council tax |
£125 |
£148 |
+18% |
| Groceries |
£272 |
£265 |
-3% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£917 |
£1,012 |
+10% |
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 70 for Exeter
and 62 for Glasgow,
a salary of £37,068 in Exeter delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £32,850 in Glasgow.
Exeter £37,068 ≈
£32,850
in Glasgow
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
Exeter
£2.66
Glasgow
£2.36
Transit (single trip)
Exeter
£1.62
Glasgow
£1.31
Gym membership
Exeter
£39/mo
Glasgow
£34/mo
Cinema ticket
Exeter
£11.20
Glasgow
£9.92
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Frequently asked questions
Does a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) earn more in Exeter or Glasgow?
+
Exeter pays a median £37,068 vs £37,068 in Glasgow
— a gross difference of £0.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Glasgow professionals
have £93/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 Exeter vs Glasgow?
+
In Exeter: gross £37,068 → £2,517/month net take-home.
In Glasgow: gross £37,068 → £2,510/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Exeter leaves £1,517/month
vs Glasgow's £1,610/month.
What salary in Glasgow matches Exeter purchasing power?
+
Approximately £32,850 in Glasgow delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£37,068 in Exeter, based on a cost-of-living index of
70 (Exeter) vs 62 (Glasgow).
Is Exeter or Glasgow cheaper to live in?
+
Glasgow is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 70 for Exeter (London = 100).
Rent in Exeter averages £1,000/month (1-bed)
vs £900/month in Glasgow.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Exeter?
+
A foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Exeter earning £37,068 takes home
£2,517/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,000/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 40%
(stretched).
In Glasgow the equivalent ratio is 36%.