Winner on purchasing power
Leeds
After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Leeds retains
£100/month more than in Exeter —
that's £1,200/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
Leeds
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£37,068
Net monthly
£2,517
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
36% — Stretched
After rent
£1,617
Exeter vs Leeds: what the £100/month gap means for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)
On paper, Exeter foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) roles pay £0/year
more than Leeds. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Exeter workers keep £2,517/month versus
£2,517/month in Leeds.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Exeter rent runs £1,000/month
versus £900/month in Leeds. Once housing costs are factored in,
Leeds workers have £1,617/month
disposable income versus £1,517/month in Exeter —
that is £1,200/year in real spending power.
Leeds's rent-to-income ratio of 36%
compares favourably to Exeter's 40%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Exeter |
Leeds |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,000 |
£900 |
-10% |
| Transport |
£68 |
£65 |
-4% |
| Council tax |
£125 |
£112 |
-10% |
| Groceries |
£272 |
£270 |
-1% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£917 |
£1,035 |
+13% |
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 66 for Leeds,
a salary of £37,068 in Exeter delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £34,950 in Leeds.
Exeter £37,068 ≈
£34,950
in Leeds
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
Leeds
£2.51
Transit (single trip)
Exeter
£1.62
Leeds
£1.55
Gym membership
Exeter
£39/mo
Leeds
£36/mo
Cinema ticket
Exeter
£11.20
Leeds
£10.56
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Frequently asked questions
Does a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) earn more in Exeter or Leeds?
+
Exeter pays a median £37,068 vs £37,068 in Leeds
— a gross difference of £0.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leeds 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 Exeter vs Leeds?
+
In Exeter: gross £37,068 → £2,517/month net take-home.
In Leeds: gross £37,068 → £2,517/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Exeter leaves £1,517/month
vs Leeds's £1,617/month.
What salary in Leeds matches Exeter purchasing power?
+
Approximately £34,950 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£37,068 in Exeter, based on a cost-of-living index of
70 (Exeter) vs 66 (Leeds).
Is Exeter or Leeds cheaper to live in?
+
Leeds is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 66 vs 70 for Exeter (London = 100).
Rent in Exeter averages £1,000/month (1-bed)
vs £900/month in Leeds.
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 Leeds the equivalent ratio is 36%.