Winner on purchasing power
Nottingham
After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Nottingham retains
£100/month more than in York —
that's £1,200/year extra in purchasing power.
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
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
Nottingham vs York: what the £100/month gap means for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)
On paper, Nottingham foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) roles pay £0/year
more than York. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Nottingham workers keep £2,517/month versus
£2,517/month in York.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Nottingham rent runs £850/month
versus £950/month in York. Once housing costs are factored in,
Nottingham workers have £1,667/month
disposable income versus £1,567/month in York —
that is £1,200/year in real spending power.
Nottingham's rent-to-income ratio of 34%
compares favourably to York's 38%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Nottingham |
York |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£850 |
£950 |
+12% |
| Transport |
£58 |
£68 |
+17% |
| Council tax |
£118 |
£120 |
+2% |
| Groceries |
£260 |
£270 |
+4% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,098 |
£974 |
-11% |
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 Nottingham
and 68 for York,
a salary of £37,068 in Nottingham delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £40,000 in York.
Nottingham £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
Nottingham
£2.39
York
£2.58
Transit (single trip)
Nottingham
£1.38
York
£1.62
Gym membership
Nottingham
£35/mo
York
£37/mo
Cinema ticket
Nottingham
£10.08
York
£10.88
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Frequently asked questions
Does a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) earn more in Nottingham or York?
+
Nottingham pays a median £37,068 vs £37,068 in York
— a gross difference of £0.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Nottingham professionals
have £100/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 Nottingham vs York?
+
In Nottingham: 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, Nottingham leaves £1,667/month
vs York's £1,567/month.
What salary in York matches Nottingham purchasing power?
+
Approximately £40,000 in York delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£37,068 in Nottingham, based on a cost-of-living index of
63 (Nottingham) vs 68 (York).
Is Nottingham or York cheaper to live in?
+
Nottingham is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 68 for York (London = 100).
Rent in Nottingham averages £850/month (1-bed)
vs £950/month in York.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Nottingham?
+
A foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Nottingham earning £37,068 takes home
£2,517/month. With median 1-bed rent of £850/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 34%
(stretched).
In York the equivalent ratio is 38%.