Dallas vs Orlando: Which City Actually Pays Nurses More?

Hi {{first_name|nurse,}}

Two of America's biggest nursing markets. Both hiring like crazy. Both selling the Sunbelt dream.

But one city lets you keep $698 more every single month.

Dallas and Orlando are on every nurse's radar right now. Both are warm. Both are growing fast. Both promise better opportunities than wherever you're stuck right now.

But the numbers tell a very different story about which one actually delivers.

Dallas pays nurses $5,079 more per year right off the bat. That's nice. But it's not the whole story.

The real difference is what happens after you get paid. Texas has no state income tax. Florida doesn't either. So that's a wash. But housing? That's where Orlando falls apart.

Orlando's average home costs $68,661 more than Dallas. That's an extra $367 on your mortgage every month. And unlike taxes, you're paying that for 30 years.

Why is Orlando so expensive? A big reason: everyone had the same idea you did. Remote workers flooded in during the pandemic. Disney keeps expanding. Retirees keep coming. But they're not building houses fast enough. Supply and demand isn't your friend here.

Dallas has problems too. Traffic is terrible. Summers are brutal. But the housing market has more room to breathe. They're actually building suburbs fast enough to keep up with demand. For now.

Dallas has one of the biggest healthcare markets in the country. Baylor Scott & White, Texas Health Resources, Methodist, and a bunch of HCA facilities are all competing for nurses. That's good for you. Competition means better pay and more options.

Travel nursing is huge here. Agencies are constantly looking for 13-week contracts. The rates aren't California money, but they're solid. And you keep more thanks to that zero percent state income tax.

The downside? It's hot. Really hot. And the city is so spread out you'll need a car. Public transit is a joke. But most nurses don't mind driving 20 minutes if it means they can afford a three-bedroom house.

Orlando's healthcare scene is dominated by two big players: AdventHealth and Orlando Health. HCA has a presence too. The market is growing, but it's not as deep as Dallas. Fewer competing systems means less leverage when you're negotiating.

The weather is better than Texas. Theme parks are fun if you have kids. The airport is great for traveling. But you're going to pay for all of it.

Housing costs have gotten out of control. Even rent is painful. A one-bedroom apartment that cost $1,200 in 2019 is now $1,800. And unlike Dallas, there's not much sign of it cooling down. Tourism money keeps propping up the whole economy, which is great until you're competing with remote tech workers for the same rental.

Dallas wins. Not by a little. By $698 every single month. That's $8,376 per year you could be saving, investing, or just not stressing about.

Orlando has its perks. But those perks don't pay your mortgage.

If you're serious about moving, don't just take my word for it. Run your own numbers with your actual specialty and experience level.

Go to Map My Pay and compare any two cities side by side. See what you'd actually keep after taxes and housing. The highest salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.

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Job descriptions tell you the responsibilities, but they never tell you the reality of the lifestyle. Whether you are eyeing a move to California, New York, or anywhere in between, you deserve to know what the community is actually earning.

Inside Map My Pay, we’ve created a "nurse-only" community where transparency is the priority.

Knowledge is power—especially when it comes to your paycheck.

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Talk soon,
Jason from Map My Pay

P.S. We’re posting daily in Map My Pay’s community section. Make sure to join us there and ask your most important questions.