Cost of living comparison for healthcare workers
Pick two cities and your pay. See what the same lifestyle costs in the new city, how housing differs, and what registered nurses are paid in each.
Example: $90,000 in Austin, TX buys what $101,900 buys in Seattle, WA. Overall prices are 13% higher there, and housing is 26% higher.
Most expensive metro areas
| City | Overall prices | Housing prices |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | 116 | 195 |
| Oakland, CA | 116 | 195 |
| Fremont, CA | 116 | 195 |
| Hayward, CA | 116 | 195 |
| Concord, CA | 116 | 195 |
| Berkeley, CA | 116 | 195 |
| Antioch, CA | 116 | 195 |
| Richmond, CA | 116 | 195 |
| San Mateo, CA | 116 | 195 |
| Daly City, CA | 116 | 195 |
| San Leandro, CA | 116 | 195 |
| San Ramon, CA | 116 | 195 |
Least expensive metro areas
| City | Overall prices | Housing prices |
|---|---|---|
| Dothan, AL | 84 | 47 |
| Enid, OK | 84 | 51 |
| Shreveport, LA | 85 | 52 |
| Bossier City, LA | 85 | 52 |
| Jackson, TN | 86 | 57 |
| Joplin, MO | 86 | 54 |
| McAllen, TX | 86 | 56 |
| Edinburg, TX | 86 | 56 |
| Fort Smith, AR | 86 | 53 |
| Lawton, OK | 86 | 57 |
| Mission, TX | 86 | 56 |
| Jonesboro, AR | 86 | 54 |
Index, U.S. average = 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024. Cities in the same metro area share the metro index.
Common questions
What does the index mean?
The BEA regional price parity sets the U.S. average at 100. A city at 110 has prices 10% above the national average, a city at 90 has prices 10% below. Housing has its own index and is usually the biggest gap between cities.
Does this include taxes?
No. Prices are separate from taxes. The tool flags states with no state income tax on wages, which can matter as much as rent. Use the take-home pay calculator with your own tax rates.
Where do the numbers come from?
Prices come from the Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities for metropolitan areas, 2024. Registered nurse pay comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey, May 2024. Each city uses the figure for its metro area.
Related tools
Take-home pay calculator · Travel nurse pay calculator · Per diem by city · Pay by city