Hi {{first_name|nurse,}}
Two of America’s biggest nursing markets. One pays double. But the nurse earning half actually keeps almost the same amount every month. Let me show you how California’s dream salary becomes Florida’s reality check.
The Tale of Two Cities
San Diego and Miami Beach are where nurses dream about moving. Ocean views. Great weather. High demand for RNs.
But one of these cities is lying to you about what you’ll actually keep. And it might not be the one you think.
The Numbers: Side by Side
Category | San Diego, CA | Miami Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
Median RN Salary | $139,350 | $72,560 |
Annual Taxes Paid | $43,617 | $15,963 |
Average Home Price | $1,026,800 | $517,399 |
Monthly Mortgage | $5,501 | $2,772 |
Monthly Leftover | $2,477 | $1,944 |
The Verdict | ✅ Winner by $533/month | Close second |
What These Numbers Actually Mean
San Diego pays you $139K. Miami Beach pays you $72K. That’s a $66,790 difference. Huge, right?
But California takes $43,617 in taxes. Florida takes $15,963. That’s because Florida has zero state income tax, while California charges up to 9.3% on your nursing salary. Suddenly that $66K gap shrinks to $39K.
Then housing hits. A basic home in San Diego runs over a million dollars. In Miami Beach, you’re looking at half that. Your mortgage payment difference is $2,729 per month, or $32,748 per year.
By the time you pay your taxes and mortgage, San Diego leaves you with $2,477 monthly. Miami Beach leaves you with $1,944. You’re earning double in California but only keeping $533 more per month. That’s $6,396 per year.
City #1: What Nurses Need to Know About San Diego
San Diego’s nursing market is controlled by three big players: Sharp HealthCare, Scripps Health, and UC San Diego Health. Sharp runs seven hospitals and treats nurses well. Scripps has five hospitals and a solid reputation. UCSD pays the most but works you the hardest.
The California Nurses Association is strong here. That means safer ratios, better breaks, and real backup when things go wrong. You’re not fighting alone when management pushes unsafe assignments.
Travel nursing is massive in San Diego. Contracts regularly hit $3,000–$3,500 per week because local hospitals can’t fill spots. If you take a staff job, you’ll work alongside travelers making double your rate. It stings, but it also means you have options if you want to go PRN or agency.
The lifestyle is expensive but beautiful. You’ll pay $6 for gas and $15 for a burrito. But you get year-round perfect weather, beaches that don’t feel like soup, and outdoor activities everywhere. Traffic is bad but not LA bad.
City #2: What Nurses Need to Know About Miami Beach
Miami Beach is basically Mount Sinai Medical Center and not much else. Most nurses actually work at Jackson Memorial or other hospitals in Miami proper and just live near the beach. The job market is tighter and pays way less than California.
Florida is a right-to-work state with almost zero union presence. Your ratios can be rough. Your assignments can be unsafe. And if you speak up too much, they’ll just hire someone else. It’s not all bad, but you need thicker skin than you would in California.
The cost of living is lower, but it’s rising fast. Miami has become expensive over the last few years with everyone moving from New York and California. That $517K average home price in Miami Beach would have been $350K five years ago. Insurance is brutal too—hurricane coverage can add $5K–$8K per year to your housing costs.
The lifestyle is humid and cultural. You’ll sweat through your scrubs walking to your car. But you get no state income tax, diverse food, nightlife, and Latin culture everywhere. Plus the Atlantic is warmer than the Pacific, if that matters to you.
The Bottom Line
San Diego wins on take-home pay by $533 per month, but barely. If you value union protection, safer ratios, and higher earning potential, San Diego is worth it. If you want to avoid state taxes and don’t mind at-will employment, Miami Beach keeps you almost as comfortable for half the salary.
Neither city is a slam dunk. Both are expensive. Both require serious planning before you move.
What Should You Do?
Don’t trust the salary hype. Run your actual numbers based on your situation—single, married, kids, whatever.
Compare any two cities and see what you’d actually keep at MapMyPay.com. Because that $139K salary isn’t real until you subtract what life actually costs.
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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.
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Talk soon,
Jason from Map My Pay
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