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

Liverpool vs Nottingham

Liverpool wins on purchasing power. Liverpool foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)s have £50/month more disposable income after rent than their Nottingham counterparts.

Liverpool salary
£37,068
£2,517/mo take-home
Nottingham salary
£37,068
£2,517/mo take-home
Liverpool wins by
+£50
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Liverpool

After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Liverpool retains £50/month more than in Nottingham — that's £600/year extra in purchasing power.

+£50
per month
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
Nottingham
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £37,068
Net monthly £2,517
Rent (1-bed) £850
Rent-to-income 34% — Stretched
After rent £1,667

Liverpool vs Nottingham: what the £50/month gap means for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)

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

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Liverpool rent runs £800/month versus £850/month in Nottingham. Once housing costs are factored in, Liverpool workers have £1,717/month disposable income versus £1,667/month in Nottingham — that is £600/year in real spending power.

Liverpool's rent-to-income ratio of 32% compares favourably to Nottingham's 34%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Liverpool Nottingham Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £800 £850 +6%
Transport £70 £58 -17%
Council tax £115 £118 +3%
Groceries £260 £260 0%
Disposable income remaining £1,139 £1,098 -4%

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 62 for Liverpool and 63 for Nottingham, a salary of £37,068 in Liverpool delivers equivalent purchasing power to £37,650 in Nottingham.

Liverpool £37,068 ≈
£37,650
in Nottingham

Income retention after all essentials

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

Liverpool 45%
Nottingham 44%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Liverpool £2.36
Nottingham £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Liverpool £1.67
Nottingham £1.38
Gym membership
Liverpool £34/mo
Nottingham £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Liverpool £9.92
Nottingham £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) earn more in Liverpool or Nottingham? +
Liverpool pays a median £37,068 vs £37,068 in Nottingham — a gross difference of £0. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Liverpool professionals have £50/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 Liverpool vs Nottingham? +
In Liverpool: gross £37,068£2,517/month net take-home. In Nottingham: gross £37,068£2,517/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Liverpool leaves £1,717/month vs Nottingham's £1,667/month.
What salary in Nottingham matches Liverpool purchasing power? +
Approximately £37,650 in Nottingham delivers equivalent purchasing power to £37,068 in Liverpool, based on a cost-of-living index of 62 (Liverpool) vs 63 (Nottingham).
Is Liverpool or Nottingham cheaper to live in? +
Liverpool is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 63 for Nottingham (London = 100). Rent in Liverpool averages £800/month (1-bed) vs £850/month in Nottingham.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Liverpool? +
A foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Liverpool 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 Nottingham the equivalent ratio is 34%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Liverpool and Nottingham

Afford Liverpool on £35,000? Afford Nottingham 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