Exeter vs York
York wins on purchasing power. York foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)s have £50/month more disposable income after rent than their Exeter counterparts.
After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in York retains £50/month more than in Exeter — that's £600/year extra in purchasing power.
Exeter vs York: what the £50/month gap means for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)
On paper, Exeter foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) roles pay £0/year more than York. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Exeter workers keep £2,517/month versus £2,517/month in York.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Exeter rent runs £1,000/month versus £950/month in York. Once housing costs are factored in, York workers have £1,567/month disposable income versus £1,517/month in Exeter — that is £600/year in real spending power.
York's rent-to-income ratio of 38% compares favourably to Exeter's 40%.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 70 for Exeter and 68 for York, a salary of £37,068 in Exeter delivers equivalent purchasing power to £36,000 in York.
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
Financial tools
Popular products for UK earners