Winner on purchasing power
Leicester
After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Leicester retains
£150/month more than in York —
that's £1,800/year extra in purchasing power.
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
York
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£37,068
Net monthly
£2,517
Rent (1-bed)
£950
Rent-to-income
38% — Stretched
After rent
£1,567
Leicester vs York: what the £150/month gap means for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)
On paper, Leicester foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) roles pay £0/year
more than York. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Leicester workers keep £2,517/month versus
£2,517/month in York.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Leicester rent runs £800/month
versus £950/month in York. Once housing costs are factored in,
Leicester workers have £1,717/month
disposable income versus £1,567/month in York —
that is £1,800/year in real spending power.
Leicester's rent-to-income ratio of 32%
compares favourably to York's 38%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Leicester |
York |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£800 |
£950 |
+19% |
| Transport |
£62 |
£68 |
+10% |
| Council tax |
£118 |
£120 |
+2% |
| Groceries |
£258 |
£270 |
+5% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,146 |
£974 |
-15% |
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 68 for York,
a salary of £37,068 in Leicester delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £40,000 in York.
Leicester £37,068 ≈
£40,000
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
Cappuccino
Leicester
£2.39
York
£2.58
Transit (single trip)
Leicester
£1.48
York
£1.62
Gym membership
Leicester
£35/mo
York
£37/mo
Cinema ticket
Leicester
£10.08
York
£10.88
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Frequently asked questions
Does a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) earn more in Leicester or York?
+
Leicester pays a median £37,068 vs £37,068 in York
— a gross difference of £0.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leicester professionals
have £150/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 York?
+
In Leicester: gross £37,068 → £2,517/month net take-home.
In York: gross £37,068 → £2,517/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Leicester leaves £1,717/month
vs York's £1,567/month.
What salary in York matches Leicester purchasing power?
+
Approximately £40,000 in York delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£37,068 in Leicester, based on a cost-of-living index of
63 (Leicester) vs 68 (York).
Is Leicester or York cheaper to live in?
+
Leicester is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 68 for York (London = 100).
Rent in Leicester averages £800/month (1-bed)
vs £950/month in York.
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 York the equivalent ratio is 38%.