Nominal salary tells you how much money you receive. Cost-of-living-adjusted salary tells you how much that money can actually buy. A $200,000 salary in San Francisco and a $140,000 salary in Austin can provide nearly identical purchasing power. Tax differences are not included.
Where Should I Live?
Nominal vs COL-Adjusted Salary
| # | Location | Median (Nominal) | COL Index | Adjusted | COL Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore, MD | $78,666 | 116.5 | $67,524 | #1 |
| 2 | Hyattsville, MD | $67,764 | 116.5 | $58,167 | #3 (-1) |
| 3 | New York, NY | $65,291 | 125.1 | $52,191 | #6 (-3) |
| 4 | Brooklyn, NY | $64,459 | 125.1 | $51,526 | #7 (-3) |
| 5 | Bronx, NY | $64,355 | 125.1 | $51,443 | #8 (-3) |
| 6 | New Orleans, LA | $61,568 | 91.3 | $67,435 | #2 (+4) |
| 7 | Delray Beach, FL | $59,259 | 102.8 | $57,645 | #4 (+3) |
| 8 | Orlando, FL | $57,574 | 102.8 | $56,006 | #5 (+3) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Registered Nurses is in Baltimore, MD at $78,666, but after cost-of-living adjustment Baltimore, MD offers the best purchasing power at $67,524 equivalent.
- Beware: New York, NY looks strong at #3 on nominal pay ($65,291) but its high cost of living drops it 3 spots to #6 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Registered Nurses wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.