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 even between cities.[CP1] It’s important to thoroughly research the areas you’re thinking about moving to. In this blog, we are going to look at differences between Tallahassee, Florida and Dothan, Alabama.
Florida capitol Tallahassee is located in the area known as the Florida Panhandle, in the northwestern part of the state. It has a subtropical climate, with long, hot, humid summers and short, mild winters. The city is known for blending old with new and urban chic with countryside charm. Its nickname, the City of Oaks, comes from the fact that it has beautiful oak-lined streets and plenty of green spaces. You’ll find historic landmarks nestled between modern architecture, and serene parks offering a green escape amidst the bustle of the city. Although Tallahassee offers a relatively low cost of living, especially by Florida standards, there are limited public transport options, and the area is occasionally impacted by hurricanes and tropical storms.
Dothan, which is affectionately known as the Peanut Capitol of the World, as well as Alabama’s Mural City, is located in Alabama, close to the Florida border. This beautiful town offers peaceful, affordable and family-focused living, surrounded by a rich culture that combines art and history. Giant, colorful murals can be found scattered throughout the downtown district, where there are numerous shopping and dining options to enjoy. Similar to Tallahassee, Dothan enjoys a subtropical climate – you can expect hot and humid summers and mild winters. With generally good weather year round, there is plenty of opportunity to explore the many activities surrounding the town, including theme parks, water parks, botanical gardens, art installations, museums and more. Dothan also has strong public transportation links, making it easy to travel both nearby and further afield.
To give you a better understanding of how the cost of living varies between the two locations, this article provides a cost comparison between Tallahassee and Dothan.
Tallahassee, Florida, and Dothan, Alabama
Generally speaking, living in Dothan is almost 4% cheaper than in Tallahassee. One of the biggest differences between the two locations is the cost of housing. Renting an apartment in Dothan will cost an average of around $1,137 compared to $1,369 in Tallahassee, which is a difference of 17%. Buying a home is 23% cheaper in Dothan; you can expect to pay approximately $321,000 versus $416,000 in Tallahassee. Energy costs the same in both locations, but the cost of a phone line in Dothan is 4% less in Dothan.
Below you’ll see examples of some common expenses and what they cost in each city.
Both Tallahassee and Dothan offer a great standard of living. Our preference, however, goes to Dothan. The overall cost of living in Dothan may only be marginally lower than in Tallahassee, but there are strong savings to be had on major necessary expenses such as rent – and paying less for essential spending will help contribute to a better quality of life in general.
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 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