City Comparison 2026 · NHS Pay Scales

Newcastle vs
Nottingham

Doctor salary — which pays more in real terms?

A Newcastle foundation doctor earns £37,000 (including Newcastle HCAS) vs £38,000 in Nottingham. Despite the higher Newcastle salary, Nottingham doctors have £40 more disposable income per month after rent — because Nottingham's average 1-bed rent (£850) is £950/month less than Newcastle's (£750).

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LONDON EDINBURGH

+£40

Nottingham Advantage

Nottingham doctors have significantly higher monthly disposable income despite a lower gross wage.

Newcastle Hub apartment

£37,000

Foundation Doctor Salary (FY1/FY2)

Take Home (Monthly) £2,513
verified

The Real Winner

Nottingham

Nottingham wins by £40/month disposable income over Newcastle.

Nottingham Hub fort

£38,000

Foundation Doctor Salary (FY1/FY2)

Take Home (Monthly) £2,573

The Financial Grid

Expense Category Newcastle (Monthly) Nottingham (Monthly) Delta
home Rent (1-Bed City Centre) £750 £850 -46.3%
train Commuting (Monthly Pass) £185 £62 -66.5%
Council Tax & Utilities £307 £285 -7.2%
shopping_cart Groceries £320 £280 -12.5%
Disposable Income Remaining £1,763 £1,723 +270%

Sources: NHS Employers Agenda for Change pay scales 2025/26 · ONS ASHE 2025 · Rightmove Rental Trends Q4 2025 · Revenue Scotland income tax rates 2025/26 · Numbeo COL Index 2025. Last updated: January 2026.

Live Roles · Updated Daily

Doctor Jobs in These Cities

Nottingham · NHS bookmark_border

Foundation Doctor — FY1

NHS Lothian · Royal Infirmary of Nottingham

Full-time Band FY1 Relocation pkg

£38,000

per year + TPS pension

Apply

via NHS Jobs · Posted 2 days ago

Newcastle · NHS bookmark_border

Foundation Doctor — FY2

King's College Hospital NHS Trust · Newcastle SE5

Full-time Band FY2 Newcastle HCAS

£37,000

per year inc. HCAS

Apply

via NHS Jobs · Posted 5 days ago

Nottingham · Remote-eligible

Specialty Doctor — General Practice

NHS Scotland · Multiple locations

Hybrid Band ST3+ £40/mo more

£53,000+

Specialty grade

Explore

via NHS Scotland · Posted today

Income Retention
Efficiency

Despite the Newcastle salary premium, higher costs of living in the capital erode purchasing power significantly faster than in Nottingham.

Nottingham Efficiency 55% Retained
Newcastle Efficiency 14% Retained
monitoring

Pro Tip

"Relocating to Nottingham effectively grants a massive boost in disposable income for NHS professionals."

- SalaryDex Career Insights

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Lifestyle Anchors

coffee

Cappuccino

£3.95 / £3.20

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Gasoline (1L)

£1.52 / £1.48

fitness_center

Gym Membership

£48 / £32

movie

Cinema Ticket

£15 / £11.50

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Ready to make the move?

47 doctor roles open in Nottingham right now. Your £40/month salary boost is one application away.

Browse Nottingham Roles →

Featured Roles · Nottingham

local_hospital

Specialty Registrar — Internal Medicine

NHS Lothian · Nottingham · £51,017–£58,398

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healing

GP Partner — Nottingham City Centre

Private Practice · Nottingham · £90,000–£120,000

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Listings powered by NHS Jobs · Reed.co.uk · Indeed

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Frequently asked questions

Updated Q1 2026 · Sources: NHS Employers, ONS ASHE 2025, Revenue Scotland

Do doctors earn more in Newcastle than Nottingham?

Yes. A foundation doctor earns £37,000 in Newcastle (including Newcastle HCAS) versus £38,000 in Nottingham. However after rent and living costs, Nottingham doctors have approximately £40 more disposable income per month.

What is the take-home pay for a doctor in Newcastle vs Nottingham?

On £37,000 (Newcastle), take-home is approximately £2,513/month after tax and NI. On £38,000 (Nottingham), take-home is £2,573/month. After average rent, Nottingham leaves £1,723/month vs Newcastle's £1,763/month.

Is Nottingham cheaper than Newcastle for doctors?

Yes — significantly. Nottingham's average 1-bed rent is £850/month vs Newcastle's £750/month. Nottingham's overall cost-of-living index is 72 vs Newcastle's 100. A doctor's Nottingham salary delivers 28% more purchasing power than the equivalent Newcastle salary.

Is the tax rate different in Scotland for doctors?

Yes. Scotland has its own income tax bands. At foundation doctor salary levels (£38,000), Scottish taxpayers pay approximately £168/year more than an equivalent English salary due to the 21% intermediate rate band. This small premium is far outweighed by Nottingham's lower housing costs.

What salary in Nottingham matches a Newcastle doctor lifestyle?

Because Nottingham's cost of living is 28% lower than Newcastle, a doctor earning £38,000 in Nottingham maintains a significantly better lifestyle than the equivalent Newcastle salary of £37,000. No adjustment is needed — Nottingham's lower salary delivers more disposable income.