Foundation Doctor (FY1/FY2) · City comparison · 2026

Leicester vs Liverpool

Leicester wins on purchasing power. Leicester foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)s have £0/month more disposable income after rent than their Liverpool counterparts.

Leicester salary
£37,068
£2,517/mo take-home
Liverpool salary
£37,068
£2,517/mo take-home
Leicester wins by
+£0
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Leicester

After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Leicester retains £0/month more than in Liverpool — that's £0/year extra in purchasing power.

+£0
per month
Leicester
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £37,068
Net monthly £2,517
Rent (1-bed) £800
Rent-to-income 32% — Comfortable
After rent £1,717
Liverpool
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £37,068
Net monthly £2,517
Rent (1-bed) £800
Rent-to-income 32% — Comfortable
After rent £1,717

Leicester vs Liverpool: what the £0/month gap means for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)

On paper, Leicester foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) roles pay £0/year more than Liverpool. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Leicester workers keep £2,517/month versus £2,517/month in Liverpool.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Leicester rent runs £800/month versus £800/month in Liverpool. Once housing costs are factored in, Leicester workers have £1,717/month disposable income versus £1,717/month in Liverpool — that is £0/year in real spending power.

Leicester's rent-to-income ratio of 32% compares favourably to Liverpool's 32%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Leicester Liverpool Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £800 £800 0%
Transport £62 £70 +13%
Council tax £118 £115 -3%
Groceries £258 £260 +1%
Disposable income remaining £1,146 £1,139 -1%

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 63 for Leicester and 62 for Liverpool, a salary of £37,068 in Leicester delivers equivalent purchasing power to £36,500 in Liverpool.

Leicester £37,068 ≈
£36,500
in Liverpool

Income retention after all essentials

% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries

Leicester 46%
Liverpool 45%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Leicester £2.39
Liverpool £2.36
Transit (single trip)
Leicester £1.48
Liverpool £1.67
Gym membership
Leicester £35/mo
Liverpool £34/mo
Cinema ticket
Leicester £10.08
Liverpool £9.92

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Frequently asked questions

Does a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) earn more in Leicester or Liverpool? +
Leicester pays a median £37,068 vs £37,068 in Liverpool — a gross difference of £0. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leicester professionals have £0/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 Leicester vs Liverpool? +
In Leicester: gross £37,068£2,517/month net take-home. In Liverpool: gross £37,068£2,517/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Leicester leaves £1,717/month vs Liverpool's £1,717/month.
What salary in Liverpool matches Leicester purchasing power? +
Approximately £36,500 in Liverpool delivers equivalent purchasing power to £37,068 in Leicester, based on a cost-of-living index of 63 (Leicester) vs 62 (Liverpool).
Is Leicester or Liverpool cheaper to live in? +
Liverpool is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 63 for Leicester (London = 100). Rent in Leicester averages £800/month (1-bed) vs £800/month in Liverpool.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Leicester? +
A foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Leicester earning £37,068 takes home £2,517/month. With median 1-bed rent of £800/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 32% (comfortable). In Liverpool the equivalent ratio is 32%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Leicester and Liverpool

Afford Leicester on £35,000? Afford Liverpool on £35,000?

Data sources & methodology

ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2025 · Rightmove Rental Trends Tracker Q1 2026 · Numbeo Cost of Living 2026

Analysis by the SalaryDex data team · May 2026 · Corrections: [email protected] · Full methodology · Data transparency pledge