Remote vs Office · Foundation Doctor (FY1/FY2) · 2026

Cardiff remote
vs London office

A foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) working remotely from Cardiff earns £39,000 vs £39,068 in London. After costs, Cardiff remote wins by £1,146/month. Break-even discount: 49%.

London salary
£39,068
office gross
Remote salary
£39,000
Cardiff gross
Monthly advantage
+£1,146
Cardiff remote
Break-even
49%
max salary cut

Head-to-Head Comparison

London Office
£39,068
Net monthly £2,637
Rent (1-bed) −£2,050
After rent £587/mo
RTI 78%
🏆 Cardiff Remote
£39,000
Net monthly £2,633
Rent (1-bed) −£900
After rent £1,733/mo
RTI 34%

Full Financial Comparison

Metric London office Cardiff remote Difference
Gross salary £39,068 £39,000 −£68
Net monthly £2,637 £2,633 −£4
Rent (1-bed) £2,050/mo £900/mo −£1,150
RTI % 78% 34% −£44%
After rent £587/mo £1,733/mo +£1,146/mo

Tax computed using HMRC 2025/26. Rent = Rightmove Q4 2025 median. Remote salary modelled at 0% discount from London rate.

Break-Even Calculator

You can accept up to a 49% salary reduction and still be better off than London.

Offered discount (0%) £39,000
Break-even discount (49%) £20,000
✓ The 0% offered discount is within the 49% break-even. Cardiff remote wins financially.

Any remote salary above £20,000 in Cardiff beats London financially after living costs.

Remote wins — Cardiff delivers £1,146/month more disposable income

Tools for Remote Workers

Best match
Amex Gold
Earn Membership Rewards on everyday spending. Min. income: £20,000.
Apply Now
Popular
Barclaycard Avios
Collect Avios on purchases. Great for remote workers who travel to London occasionally.
Apply Now
Fee-free
Chase Cashback
1% cashback on all debit card spending. No annual fee, no minimum income.
Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it financially better to be a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Cardiff remote or London office? +
Cardiff remote wins. Despite earning £68 less (0% discount), a Cardiff-based foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) has £1,146/month more after rent compared to a London office role. Rent in Cardiff (£900/mo) vs London (£2,050/mo) more than compensates for the lower gross salary. RTI: 34% vs 78% in London.
What remote salary discount can I accept as a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Cardiff? +
You can accept up to a 49% salary reduction and still be better off than working in London. The typical offered remote discount for foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)s is 0%, which is comfortably within the break-even threshold. Any remote salary above £20,000 in Cardiff leaves you better off than the London office role at £39,068.
What is the break-even remote salary for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Cardiff? +
The break-even remote salary is £20,000 — 49% below the London rate of £39,068. At this salary, after-rent disposable income in Cardiff exactly equals what you'd have working in London. The modelled remote salary of £39,000 (0% discount) is £19,000 above the break-even.

Related Pages

Foundation Doctor (FY1/FY2) salary in Cardiff Afford Cardiff on £40,000? Foundation Doctor (FY1/FY2) London vs Cardiff Salary equivalence: London → Cardiff