Choosing where to work and live in the U.S. is a big decision. We’re here to help guide you through the process of selecting where to set down roots so that you can get off to the best possible start in your new career as an international healthcare professional working in the United States.
One of the most important considerations when deciding where to work in the U.S. is the cost of living, which can vary substantially even between cities in the same state. It’s important to thoroughly research the cities you’re considering moving to.
People tend to be more familiar with the bigger cities in the U.S., which are seen more often in global media. Austin, Texas is a good example. More than 974,000 people call Austin home, and while it isn’t the biggest city in Texas in terms of population, it is the 10th largest city in the U.S. as of 2023. Serving as the capital of Texas, and also known as the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin hosts some of the country’s leading music festivals, and has hundreds of live music venues that draw in world-class acts. It’s a vibrant city to live in, but it is more expensive than alternative locations within Texas.
About 3.5 hours’ drive away from Austin is San Angelo. Many Conexus MedStaff healthcare professionals choose to start their U.S. journey in San Angelo due to the cost of living, which is around 4.25% lower than in Austin. With a population of close to 100,000 people, the city offers a thriving cultural scene with plenty to do for everyone, from live entertainment, weekend festivals, concerts, art studios and events, a wide variety of dining options, and family-friendly events. It is located along the Concho River and home to many parks and landmarks including San Angelo State Park, Fort Concho and the International Waterlily Collection.
To give you a better understanding of how the cost of living varies between the two locations, this article provides a cost comparison between Austin and San Angelo.
Austin vs San Angelo, Texas
Starting with the basics, apartment rental is approximately 31% cheaper in San Angelo. Renting an apartment in Austin will cost around $1,819, compared to $1,261 in San Angelo. If you were to consider purchasing a home, San Angelo comes in at about 15% cheaper than Austin. Energy, however, is more expensive in San Angelo; you can expect to pay roughly $206.65 compared to $156.31 in Austin, which is 32% cheaper.
Below you’ll see examples of some common expenses and what they cost in each city.
Choosing where to live in the U.S. will ultimately come down to personal preference. Austin and San Angelo are both exciting cities, offering considerable opportunities for exciting lifestyles. For newly-relocated international healthcare professionals in the U.S., our recommendation would be to choose San Angelo, as the lower overall cost of living will enable greater savings and a higher quality of life.
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Can I afford it?
1. Work out your approximate monthly income (taking tax into consideration). Try not to rely on too much overtime pay – a good work-life balance is important for your well-being!
2. Then, take away any non-negotiable expenses, such as health insurance costs and money put aside for emergency funds or savings.
3. Write down the essentials you’ll need each month. These expenses will form the basis for a monthly budget. Include necessities such as rent, utilities, a cellphone, internet, groceries, and so on. You may want to purchase or hire a car, or you may need to pay for public transport to work and back. Shop around online to determine [EG2] how much these things may cost in your preferred city. You’ll also want to take into consideration less frequent purchases, such as buying clothes and scrubs, haircuts, leisure activities such as a visit to the movies and so on.
4. Subtract your anticipated monthly costs from the figure in step 2. The amount you’re left with is your expendable income. This is what you can use for savings, to send money back home, for vacations – whatever you like.
You want your expendable income to be as high as possible for the best possible quality of life. If your preferred city of deployment is too expensive, then our experts will be able to suggest alternative locations where the cost of living is lower.
Can I choose where I work when I start my healthcare career in the U.S.?
We collaborate with healthcare organizations across the United States to provide opportunities for international nurses and medical technologists moving to the U.S., as well as nursing graduates on the F1 visa looking for OPT and Green Card sponsorship. Once you start working with Conexus MedStaff, we do everything we can to make sure you’re placed at a location that is a good fit for you.
To do this, we follow a placement process that takes your geographical preferences, career goals, acuity level, and other factors into consideration.
Learn more about our placement process.
How can I start working as a U.S. nurse or medical technologist?
We specialize in helping international nurses and medical technologists build a life and career they love in the United States. Getting started is simple: apply today, and someone from our team will be in touch with more information.
Source: Bankrate