I often get asked if it is financially affordable to live in the UK. So, I thought about sharing my own experience so far.
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My Expenditure
It has been exactly two months since I started working in the NHS. I have spent only £1,000 in total in these two months.
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My Pay
My takehome pay is £2,450 per month after income tax, national insurance, accommodation rent, utility bills and council tax deductions. The pay scale for junior doctors is around £2,500 to £2,700 per month and we get a little extra money during the first month or so (because it is tax-free).
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My Savings
Thus, I have already saved more than £4,000 in the first two months alone. This should encourage everyone who is worried about finances in the UK.
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Breakdown of my Expenses
I have spent money mainly on groceries. The most expensive thing I have bought so far is my ePortfolio for £169. Overall, I have spent money on the following in these two months:
- ePortfolio – £169
- Initial groceries – £200
- Regular groceries – £250 (£30/week)
- Lunch/dinner/eating out – £80 (£4 per meal)*
- Bus tickets for each weekend – £32 (£4 per day)
- Return train tickets to London/Crewe (four trips) – £120
- Railcard – £30
- Provisional Driving Licence – £34
- PassMedicine – £25
- Monthly mobile data – £60 (£30 per month)
- Accommodation rent – £0.00**
- Bills – £0.00**
- Council tax and other taxes – £0.00**
- Total: £1,000
*I do not always eat out. I also cook at home or I buy frozen food. Thus, I have only spent £80 on meals/eating out in two months.
**Accommodation rent, utility bills and all taxes are taken from my salary. Thus, I do not have to pay anything for them.
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Disclaimer
This post only covers my experience. I have friends who have saved £15,000 in a year and I have friends who did not save anything during the year. Expenses depend on a lot of factors including the size of your family, whether you are sending money back home or not, accommodation choice, rent, city, pets, shopping choices. Overall, expenses depend on your lifestyle more than anything else. But the point is, if you want, you can save money no matter what your situation is.
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Conclusion
You will earn more than enough to live a very comfortable life in the UK. You can choose to save money, you can choose to spend all of it, or you can spend it in moderation. You can do whatever you want. But you will not be short of money. You will have enough money to achieve everything you have ever dreamed of.
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Useful Links
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much do we earn in the UK? After tax deduction, the salary is around £1,900/month without nights/banding and £2,700/month with nights/banding. (Night shift is a 12-hour shift in the U.K. You can read about working hours and banding in the UK by clicking the highlighted links) 2. How much pay is enough? It depends on your lifestyle and it depends on where you are living. For example, big cities like London and Manchester are more expensive than small towns like Blackpool. But the following might give you a general idea: £1,900/month is more than enough for a single person and just enough for a couple. £2,700/month would be more than enough for a couple. . 3. Would I be Able To Save Money? Again, that depends on your lifestyle and the area where you choose to live. And, of course, it depends on your salary. It also depends on you being single or living with a spouse. As you can see, I have saved two-thirds of my earning so far. I have seen people with £2,700/month, save £1,000/month for a whole year and I have seen people with £1,900/month not save anything for a year. So it depends on each individual and how they live. . 4. How much tax would I have to pay in the UK? Depending on their grade, 20% to 25% of a junior doctor’s salary goes into taxation. Please read my post about taxation in the UK to get a more detailed understanding of taxation. In my opinion, considering the benefits we get, 20% to 25% is a very small amount of taxation and I pay my tax very happily. 5. Do I earn £2,450 before taxation, bills and rent or after? I get £2,450 in my hand at the end of the month after all deductions. Tax, bills and rent have already been deducted from my salary of £2,450. .
aoa i heard one can get a job in uk without plab if one has cleared mrcp part 1 and ielts and has done housejob , is that possible? And then do mrcp 2 and paces during job , please reply
That is not correct. You must complete your MRCP and IELTS before you can get GMC registration and a job in the UK.
Please go through this:
https://naseersjourney.com/2017/04/29/entry-routes-for-medical-practice-in-the-uk/
Where do you live ? I mean don’t you have to pay for rent? Sorry for my ignorance but i dont get it where do you live while working and after that.
I live in hospital accommodation. My rent, bills and taxes are deducted from my salary. I hope that makes sense. Please read the final FAQ of this post. Good luck! 🙂
The most striking part: “You will have enough money to achieve everything you have ever dreamed of”….
That is correct. Everything is within reach. You can travel the world. You can get the latest and the most expensive phones, laptops and cars. You can do whatever you like. 🙂
Please make an exposé on getting a provisional driving licence, DVLA tests and getting a full driver’s licence in the UK. Thanks.
As soon as I get a licence, I will write on the subject. But this is a good idea. Thank you! 🙂
Hi Naseer. Thanks once again for your very informative blog.
How big is the hospital accommodation? Will it be big enough to accommodate a family of 4? (2 parents and 2 children)
Thanks
Each hospital has their own accommodation facilities. So it will depend on the hospital you join. Not all hospitals have family accommodation available at all times.
Do all hospitals provide accomodation??
If not then how much will be the accomodation cost outside hosp?
Not all hospitals do; it also depends on availability. This might help: https://naseersjourney.com/2017/07/08/search-for-accommodation/
Thank you for your prompt response. 😊
No problem! 🙂
Alright. Thank you for your prompt response. 😊
You’re welcome! 😊
MAY I PLZ KNOW UR OVERALL PAY PER MONTH. mine is 2550 /month but bfr tax reduction. payroll say my tax reduction is 40%.. after tax and accommodation charges i could only get less than 2k /month but its in the first month even and my actual PAYE tax is not reduced.
Your taxation can not be 40%. Please check my post about taxation.
If you are getting less than £2,000 per month, you’re probably at an unbanded post (without nights).
I don’t know my overall pay, honestly. I just know what I’m getting in my hand at the end of the month. And that is £2,450 after all deductions for now.
Naseer is 2450/m you’re getting for FY1 or FY2?
ST1 level non-training post.
JizakAllah. Thanks for the immediate answer 🙂
Hi im a radiology resident in Sri Lanka. Do you know whether I can work in UK if I have FRCR. Do I get GMC registration or do I have to do PLAB?
Thanks in Advance
Hello,
I’m not sure. But you can check acceptable qualifications from this link to check if FRCR will let you work in the UK. Good luck! 🙂
https://naseersjourney.com/2017/04/29/entry-routes-for-medical-practice-in-the-uk/
Thanks for your helpful posts and blog.
I understand we’re automatically enrolled on the NHS pension scheme. How much do we actually pay into the scheme?
Is the pension contribution deducted from the take home pay after tax or is it included in ‘all deductions’, and then the remainder is the take home pay?
From what I know, we pay £250 to £300 into NHS Pension scheme each month.
Your second question is unclear. There is no such thing as “all deductions” in our pay. “Take home pay” is what we get in our hands.
Thanks.
What I mean is this : is the £250-£300 deducted from the net after all tax OR is is it already included as part of all deductions from the salary (which includes NI, income tax, etc?)
I still do not understand your question. I’m very sorry. NHS pensions has no link with your taxation deductions.
Where do you live?
Portsmouth.
What are the charges of the accomodation? And what is the accomodation like? Do you live in a private apartment or there’s one provided by the institution you work at and they cut out the apartment charges from your monthly salary?
1. £300/month.
2. It’s nice. I like it.
3. The latter.
Hi Naseer…I found your post to be very helpful. Could you please give an estimate of house rents in and around uk if I do not get any hospital accomodations ? Thank you in advance.
House rent can vary from £400 to £600 usually. Prices in London are double or triple of this.
are you live in a shared accomodation or single bed room with your own bathroom and kitchen?
It was a shared accommodation with a private bedroom and shared washrooms, kitchen and living area.
Can an married FY2 get a separate accommodation?
Do they allow your spouse to live with you in separate accommodation with your own washroom and kitchen?
Or if we you live in shared accommodation do they allow the spouse to live with you? Only spoise no kids.
How many people share one accommodation? Two bedrooms per washroom?
Thanks in advance
All of this depends on the hospital.
What do you think of nhs pension? Have you opted out?
I think it can be a good support system later in life. I have not opted out.
Thanks for the quick reply 🙂
If husband and wife both do job and have 2 small kids .still expenses are easily fulfilled ?
It will still depend on their lifestyle.
Accomodation rent is also given?? Where they give accomadation? A single room flat or something like that?? Please elaborate.
How many court cases do you have to attend as a doctor?are they frequent?do they take away your license easily?
Most doctors do not have to attend any. No one in my circle has attended any. I don’t know anyone whose licence has been taken away.
Can a couple get job and accomodation in same hospital easily?
That will depend on availability. They might have to wait a bit if there aren’t enough jobs available. I and my wife work at the same hospital. 🙂
Do all hospitals provide hospital accommodation? Because that seems to save alot of money.
Almost all hospitals provide hospital accommodation. However, due to supply and demand, hospital accommodation might not always be available.
I have some questions . Me and wife are planning for plab. Do we both can get job in same hospital ? And what about residency in gynae for her? And how much we can save per month if we both got job there as i also have to support my family in pakistan. Thanks
1. Yes, it is possible to work in the same hospital, depending on job availability. My wife and I work at the same hospital. Getting into any surgical field is difficult but not impossible. The price would be time, effort and energy. For savings, please read this: https://naseersjourney.com/2017/03/23/pay-scales-for-junior-doctors-in-the-uk/
1. For how long do you plan on continuing the non-training job?
2. What’s next for you? GP training?
3. Amazing dedication on maintaining this website and putting so much information out there. Kudos!
1. For as long as I have to.
2. GP training.
3. Thank you so much! 😊
Hi Naseer
Thanku for the information.
Actually University of wolverhampton is recruiting IMG from our univ widout PLAB.i am general surgeon. I wish to work in UK. Dey r offering me n my wife who is a pathologist core medical training n ll get us GMC registration and continue in medicine branch. We r ready to change our speciality But If we ll nt be able to clear MRCP aftr 2 years then do we hve any other job options in UK?? Like SHO/ Registrar??
Thanks in advance
Yes, you can always apply for other jobs. All the best! 🙂
What is the takehome pay at fy2 level and ct level a? Thanks