Although the cost of living for Delaware is 1.4% above the national average, the salary for nurses in this state more than makes up for it. The median salary for nurses in Delaware is $70,1888, although when adjusted in terms of cost of living, it’s more like $69,219 – which is still $9,341 above Delaware’s median household income and $16,173 above the U.S. median household income.

Alaska is 6% above the national average in terms of cost of living, and combined with a median salary of $74,182, your adjusted salary would be $69,983. This is only $777 less than Alaska’s median household income, but $16,937 more than the U.S. median household income.

Washington's cost of living is 3.2% above the national average, and the median annual salary for nurses is $72,470. Those two figures combined make the adjusted salary for nurses in Washington $70,223, which is $10,745 more than the median household income for Washington and $17,177 more than the U.S. median household income.

Rhode Island is 1.9% below the national average cost of living, making it a very affordable place to live. The median annual salary for nurses in Rhode Island is $69,087. However, when you factor in the cost of living, the adjusted salary for nurses is actually a bit higher: $70,416, which is $14,055 more than than Rhode Island's median household income, and $17,370 more than the U.S. median household income.

At 1.8% below the national average cost of living, Nevada is a pretty affordable place to live. Nurses in Nevada have a median annual salary of $72,022, although when combined with the cost of living, their adjusted salary is more like $73,342. This is $20,542 more than Nevada's median household income, and $20,296 more than the U.S. median household income.

Oregon is 1.3% below the national average cost of living, and nurses make a median annual salary of $72,542. The adjusted salary for nurses in Oregon in terms of cost of living, however, is a bit higher: $73,497, which is $23,268 more than Oregon's median household income, and $20,451 more than the U.S. median household income.

Minnesota is 2.4% below the national average cost of living, and the median annual salary for nurses is $71,879. These two figures combined makes the adjusted salary for nurses in Minnesota $73,647, which is $13,811 more than Minnesota's median household income, and a whopping $20,601 more than the U.S. median household income.

With the cost of living being 5% less than the national average and a median annual salary for nurses of $69,986, New Mexico is a great place for nurses to live. The adjusted salary in terms of cost of living comes to $73,669, which is a whopping $28,742 more than New Mexico's median household income, and $20,623 more than the U.S. median household income.

Although the cost of living in California is pretty high (12.3% more than the national average), the median annual salary for nurses ($84,593) makes up for it. These two figures combined come to an adjusted annual salary of $75,328, which is still impressive - $14,234 more than California's median household income, and $22,282 more than the U.S. median household income.

At 7.3% above the national average cost of living, Massachussetts may seem like a pretty expensive place to live. But combine that with the median annual salary for nurses, $80,975, and you get an adjusted salary of $75,373 - which is still $8,507 more than Massachusetts' median household income, and $22,327 more than the U.S. median household income, making it the most affordable place for nurses to call home.

Author Elise Williams Rikard Last Updated: June 11, 2020