Winner on purchasing power
Sheffield
After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Sheffield retains
£125/month more than in York —
that's £1,500/year extra in purchasing power.
Sheffield
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£37,068
Net monthly
£2,517
Rent (1-bed)
£825
Rent-to-income
33% — Comfortable
After rent
£1,692
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
Sheffield vs York: what the £125/month gap means for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)
On paper, Sheffield foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) roles pay £0/year
more than York. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Sheffield workers keep £2,517/month versus
£2,517/month in York.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Sheffield rent runs £825/month
versus £950/month in York. Once housing costs are factored in,
Sheffield workers have £1,692/month
disposable income versus £1,567/month in York —
that is £1,500/year in real spending power.
Sheffield's rent-to-income ratio of 33%
compares favourably to York's 38%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Sheffield |
York |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£825 |
£950 |
+15% |
| Transport |
£65 |
£68 |
+5% |
| Council tax |
£126 |
£120 |
-5% |
| Groceries |
£265 |
£270 |
+2% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,102 |
£974 |
-12% |
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 Sheffield
and 68 for York,
a salary of £37,068 in Sheffield delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £40,000 in York.
Sheffield £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
Sheffield
£2.39
York
£2.58
Transit (single trip)
Sheffield
£1.55
York
£1.62
Gym membership
Sheffield
£35/mo
York
£37/mo
Cinema ticket
Sheffield
£10.08
York
£10.88
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Frequently asked questions
Does a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) earn more in Sheffield or York?
+
Sheffield pays a median £37,068 vs £37,068 in York
— a gross difference of £0.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Sheffield professionals
have £125/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 Sheffield vs York?
+
In Sheffield: 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, Sheffield leaves £1,692/month
vs York's £1,567/month.
What salary in York matches Sheffield purchasing power?
+
Approximately £40,000 in York delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£37,068 in Sheffield, based on a cost-of-living index of
63 (Sheffield) vs 68 (York).
Is Sheffield or York cheaper to live in?
+
Sheffield is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 68 for York (London = 100).
Rent in Sheffield averages £825/month (1-bed)
vs £950/month in York.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Sheffield?
+
A foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Sheffield earning £37,068 takes home
£2,517/month. With median 1-bed rent of £825/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 33%
(comfortable).
In York the equivalent ratio is 38%.