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

Newcastle vs London

Newcastle wins on purchasing power. Newcastle foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)s have £1,280/month more disposable income after rent than their London counterparts.

Newcastle salary
£37,068
£2,517/mo take-home
London salary
£39,068
£2,637/mo take-home
Newcastle wins by
+£1,280
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Newcastle

After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Newcastle retains £1,280/month more than in London — that's £15,360/year extra in purchasing power.

+£1,280
per month
Newcastle
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £37,068
Net monthly £2,517
Rent (1-bed) £750
Rent-to-income 30% — Comfortable
After rent £1,767
London
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £39,068
Net monthly £2,637
Rent (1-bed) £2,150
Rent-to-income 82% — High pressure
After rent £487

Newcastle vs London: what the £1,280/month gap means for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)

On paper, Newcastle foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) roles pay £2,000/year less than London. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Newcastle workers keep £2,517/month versus £2,637/month in London.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Newcastle rent runs £750/month versus £2,150/month in London. Once housing costs are factored in, Newcastle workers have £1,767/month disposable income versus £487/month in London — that is £15,360/year in real spending power.

Newcastle's rent-to-income ratio of 30% compares favourably to London's 82%.

For foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)s prioritising financial freedom, Newcastle delivers significantly more disposable income despite lower gross pay.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Newcastle London Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £750 £2,150 +187%
Transport £75 £185 +147%
Council tax £112 £165 +47%
Groceries £255 £320 +25%
Disposable income remaining £1,193 £-325 -127%

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 61 for Newcastle and 100 for London, a salary of £37,068 in Newcastle delivers equivalent purchasing power to £60,750 in London.

Newcastle £37,068 ≈
£60,750
in London

Income retention after all essentials

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

Newcastle 47%
London 0%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Newcastle £2.32
London £3.80
Transit (single trip)
Newcastle £1.79
London £4.40
Gym membership
Newcastle £34/mo
London £55/mo
Cinema ticket
Newcastle £9.76
London £16.00

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Frequently asked questions

Does a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) earn more in Newcastle or London? +
Newcastle pays a median £37,068 vs £39,068 in London — a gross difference of £2,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Newcastle professionals have £1,280/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 Newcastle vs London? +
In Newcastle: gross £37,068£2,517/month net take-home. In London: gross £39,068£2,637/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Newcastle leaves £1,767/month vs London's £487/month.
What salary in London matches Newcastle purchasing power? +
Approximately £60,750 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to £37,068 in Newcastle, based on a cost-of-living index of 61 (Newcastle) vs 100 (London).
Is Newcastle or London cheaper to live in? +
Newcastle is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 61 vs 100 for London (London = 100). Rent in Newcastle averages £750/month (1-bed) vs £2,150/month in London.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Newcastle? +
A foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Newcastle earning £37,068 takes home £2,517/month. With median 1-bed rent of £750/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 30% (comfortable). In London the equivalent ratio is 82%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Newcastle and London

Afford Newcastle on £35,000? Afford London on £40,000? Salary equivalence: Newcastle → London

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