City Comparison 2026 · NHS Pay Scales

Glasgow vs
Leeds

Doctor salary — which pays more in real terms?

A Glasgow foundation doctor earns £52,000 (including Glasgow HCAS) vs £52,000 in Leeds. Despite the higher Glasgow salary, Leeds doctors have £137 more disposable income per month after rent — because Leeds's average 1-bed rent (£900) is £950/month less than Glasgow's (£900).

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LONDON EDINBURGH

+£137

Leeds Advantage

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

Glasgow Hub apartment

£52,000

Foundation Doctor Salary (FY1/FY2)

Take Home (Monthly) £3,256
verified

The Real Winner

Leeds

Leeds wins by £137/month disposable income over Glasgow.

Leeds Hub fort

£52,000

Foundation Doctor Salary (FY1/FY2)

Take Home (Monthly) £3,393

The Financial Grid

Expense Category Glasgow (Monthly) Leeds (Monthly) Delta
home Rent (1-Bed City Centre) £900 £900 -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 £2,356 £2,493 +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

Leeds · NHS bookmark_border

Foundation Doctor — FY1

NHS Lothian · Royal Infirmary of Leeds

Full-time Band FY1 Relocation pkg

£52,000

per year + TPS pension

Apply

via NHS Jobs · Posted 2 days ago

Glasgow · NHS bookmark_border

Foundation Doctor — FY2

King's College Hospital NHS Trust · Glasgow SE5

Full-time Band FY2 Glasgow HCAS

£52,000

per year inc. HCAS

Apply

via NHS Jobs · Posted 5 days ago

Leeds · Remote-eligible

Specialty Doctor — General Practice

NHS Scotland · Multiple locations

Hybrid Band ST3+ £137/mo more

£53,000+

Specialty grade

Explore

via NHS Scotland · Posted today

Income Retention
Efficiency

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

Leeds Efficiency 55% Retained
Glasgow Efficiency 14% Retained
monitoring

Pro Tip

"Relocating to Leeds 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 Leeds right now. Your £137/month salary boost is one application away.

Browse Leeds Roles →

Featured Roles · Leeds

local_hospital

Specialty Registrar — Internal Medicine

NHS Lothian · Leeds · £51,017–£58,398

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GP Partner — Leeds City Centre

Private Practice · Leeds · £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 Glasgow than Leeds?

Yes. A foundation doctor earns £52,000 in Glasgow (including Glasgow HCAS) versus £52,000 in Leeds. However after rent and living costs, Leeds doctors have approximately £137 more disposable income per month.

What is the take-home pay for a doctor in Glasgow vs Leeds?

On £52,000 (Glasgow), take-home is approximately £3,256/month after tax and NI. On £52,000 (Leeds), take-home is £3,393/month. After average rent, Leeds leaves £2,493/month vs Glasgow's £2,356/month.

Is Leeds cheaper than Glasgow for doctors?

Yes — significantly. Leeds's average 1-bed rent is £900/month vs Glasgow's £900/month. Leeds's overall cost-of-living index is 72 vs Glasgow's 100. A doctor's Leeds salary delivers 28% more purchasing power than the equivalent Glasgow salary.

Is the tax rate different in Scotland for doctors?

Yes. Scotland has its own income tax bands. At foundation doctor salary levels (£52,000), 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 Leeds's lower housing costs.

What salary in Leeds matches a Glasgow doctor lifestyle?

Because Leeds's cost of living is 28% lower than Glasgow, a doctor earning £52,000 in Leeds maintains a significantly better lifestyle than the equivalent Glasgow salary of £52,000. No adjustment is needed — Leeds's lower salary delivers more disposable income.