If you have a very loving and supportive family and you can live in with your parents for 10+ years, then stay in California. However, since nursing is so portable, I would leave California in a heartbeat. Healthcare in general is doing well everywhere, pick a lower cost of living area. The schools in CA are in total collapse, so if you have kids or plan to, your life will be ruined by staying here. I came here 12 years ago and now I wish I had never come. CA is not a happy place. Denver area, Colorado. Austin Texas. Seattle, WA. I would move to any of those places over San Diego, LA or San Fran. Maybe if you get a sweet job in Sacramento or some other lower cost of living area, but I'm done with CA.