RN hourly rate and cost of living?

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I'm currently a nursing student in Missouri and want to move to California when I'm finished (specifically San Diego). I have a few years to go, but I'd like to have an idea of what to expect. About how much is the cost of living to live decently, but cheaply (including rent, utilities, groceries, gas, car insurance)? Also, what is the going hourly rate for RN's fresh out of school? Anything else I need to know? Thanks.

Hi SFcardiacRN. We might be relocating to San Jose, CA. Do you still recommend CA. We love the idea. Any comments are appreciated. Thanks.

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hi, I am a new grad with CA RN. Is it possible for me to find a job in Texas? thx

I was born and raised in a city by the sea (Oxnard, California). You can earn up to $45 hourly in med-surg at Los Robles Hospital in nearby Thousand Oaks, but a decent house will cost anywhere from $600,000 to $1,000,000 and the rents will run between $1400-$2500.

A cheaper alternative in California is Bakersfield. There's about 430,000 people in the Bakersfield metro area and the cost of living is the cheapest in California. You'll pay about $800 to rent a nice 2 bedroom apartment. This is one of the only cities left that still offers decent houses for sale for under $300,000. The only major catch is that there's nothing much to see or do. You will need to drive 120 miles to see the beach, 100 miles south to reach Los Angeles, and 280 miles north to reach San Francisco or Sacramento.

I am a native Californian who is relocating to Texas in a couple of weeks. I couldn't resist selling my California house and using the profit to buy a brand new one for cash in Texas.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

If you are looking for relatively high wages compared to the cost of living there are two places to look. Madison Wisconsin and the Twin Cities of MN. In both places brand new grads start out over $30/hour and one can rent a nice apartment for $600.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
If you are looking for relatively high wages compared to the cost of living there are two places to look. Madison Wisconsin and the Twin Cities of MN. In both places brand new grads start out over $30/hour and one can rent a nice apartment for $600.

It true. My cousin bought a two story house with a finished basement for $400,000 just out side of the Twin Cities that would sell for almost a million here in California, and I do not even live in the city.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

check out minority nurse winter 2007 article:

follow the money

which u.s. cities and regions offer the most job opportunities and highest salaries for nurses? (and let’s not forget diversity and livability!)

the top 20 u.s. cities for nursing

salary.com: compare salaries & cost of living between cities

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