Winner on purchasing power
Sheffield
After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Sheffield retains
£175/month more than in Exeter —
that's £2,100/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
Sheffield
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£37,068
Net monthly
£2,517
Rent (1-bed)
£825
Rent-to-income
33% — Comfortable
After rent
£1,692
Exeter vs Sheffield: what the £175/month gap means for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)
On paper, Exeter foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) roles pay £0/year
more than Sheffield. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Exeter workers keep £2,517/month versus
£2,517/month in Sheffield.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Exeter rent runs £1,000/month
versus £825/month in Sheffield. Once housing costs are factored in,
Sheffield workers have £1,692/month
disposable income versus £1,517/month in Exeter —
that is £2,100/year in real spending power.
Sheffield's rent-to-income ratio of 33%
compares favourably to Exeter's 40%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Exeter |
Sheffield |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,000 |
£825 |
-17% |
| Transport |
£68 |
£65 |
-4% |
| Council tax |
£125 |
£126 |
+1% |
| Groceries |
£272 |
£265 |
-3% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£917 |
£1,102 |
+20% |
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 63 for Sheffield,
a salary of £37,068 in Exeter delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £33,350 in Sheffield.
Exeter £37,068 ≈
£33,350
in Sheffield
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
Sheffield
£2.39
Transit (single trip)
Exeter
£1.62
Sheffield
£1.55
Gym membership
Exeter
£39/mo
Sheffield
£35/mo
Cinema ticket
Exeter
£11.20
Sheffield
£10.08
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Frequently asked questions
Does a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) earn more in Exeter or Sheffield?
+
Exeter pays a median £37,068 vs £37,068 in Sheffield
— a gross difference of £0.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Sheffield professionals
have £175/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 Sheffield?
+
In Exeter: gross £37,068 → £2,517/month net take-home.
In Sheffield: gross £37,068 → £2,517/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Exeter leaves £1,517/month
vs Sheffield's £1,692/month.
What salary in Sheffield matches Exeter purchasing power?
+
Approximately £33,350 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£37,068 in Exeter, based on a cost-of-living index of
70 (Exeter) vs 63 (Sheffield).
Is Exeter or Sheffield cheaper to live in?
+
Sheffield is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 70 for Exeter (London = 100).
Rent in Exeter averages £1,000/month (1-bed)
vs £825/month in Sheffield.
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 Sheffield the equivalent ratio is 33%.