Foundation Doctor (FY1/FY2) · City comparison · 2026
Leeds vs London
Leeds wins on purchasing power. Leeds foundation doctor (fy1/fy2)s have £1,030/month more disposable income after rent than their London counterparts.
Leeds salary
£37,068
£2,517/mo take-home
London salary
£39,068
£2,637/mo take-home
Leeds wins by
+£1,030
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Leeds
After paying rent, a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Leeds retains £1,030/month more than in London — that's £12,360/year extra in purchasing power.
+£1,030
per month
Leeds
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£37,068
Net monthly
£2,517
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
36% — Stretched
After rent
£1,617
London
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£39,068
Net monthly
£2,637
Rent (1-bed)
£2,050
Rent-to-income
78% — High pressure
After rent
£587
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 66 for Leeds and 100 for London, a salary of £37,068 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to £56,150 in London.
Leeds £37,068 ≈
£56,150
in London
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Leeds
41%
London
0%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Leeds
£2.51
London
£3.80
Transit (single trip)
Leeds
£1.55
London
£4.40
Gym membership
Leeds
£36/mo
London
£55/mo
Cinema ticket
Leeds
£10.56
London
£16.00
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Frequently asked questions
Does a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) earn more in Leeds or London? +
Leeds pays a median £37,068 vs £39,068 in London
— a gross difference of £2,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leeds professionals
have £1,030/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 Leeds vs London? +
In Leeds: gross £37,068 → £2,517/month net take-home.
In London: gross £39,068 → £2,637/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Leeds leaves £1,617/month
vs London's £587/month.
What salary in London matches Leeds purchasing power? +
Approximately £56,150 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£37,068 in Leeds, based on a cost-of-living index of
66 (Leeds) vs 100 (London).
Is Leeds or London cheaper to live in? +
Leeds is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 66 vs 100 for London (London = 100).
Rent in Leeds averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £2,050/month in London.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Leeds? +
A foundation doctor (fy1/fy2) in Leeds earning £37,068 takes home
£2,517/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 36%
(stretched).
In London the equivalent ratio is 78%.