Relocating

[francisssgorg]

Hey guys, so I know I think it's better to post this kind of question on a platform like reddit, but maybe I can get a reasonable answer in here as well. Just to give you a background, I migrated here in the US around 2022. I am from the Philippines and I'm an RN. Uprooting my life from my country to this foreign land was difficult. Homesickness is like one of your enemies. Cultural differences also can be a factor. But thank God I think I am way past those... at the moment lol. So probably some of you guys know that Filipinos have nursing degrees. And I admit, income is better than some other jobs. But in this current economy and political climate, the cost of living is becoming worse. My main source of income is my job and my extras come from my per diem job. I am not lazy, though at times, I'm thinking about how other people in my age group are already talking about investments, and stocks, or running a business or probably content creating thru OF...LOL kidding. I am the type of person wherein I'm somewhat playing safe all the time. Even in stuff like business or investments. Probably because I grew up in a household wherein we're not rich, and that all of the small businesses my parents tried failed. I'm just telling this just to emphasize that for now, my main source of income would be my employment. So going back, I live in North Jersey. And I started in Central Jersey. The cost of living when I entered here vs now sky rocketed. Like from food and groceries, to rent, to probably gas. It seems like I'm trying to adjust myself to the world around me but my salary isn't actually keeping up with it lol. And as much as possible, I try to avoid any miscellaneous expenses like material stuff... Clothes or shoes or even vacation budget. But still, I can feel struggling and my savings are stagnant. So few months ago, I thought about relocating. One place that was suggested to me by my ex co worker was Seattle. I went there for a little trip, place was nice, the people were ok, as well as the weather, rent was also reasonable, but the food and grocery prices seems high as well as gas price (which is almost 3x than what we have here in Jersey). I have an upcominh trip in LA but I'm just considering California because the offer for RNs in California is way higher than what we have here in jersey or even nyc for that matter. And I know it kinda balances out with the cost of living, but maybe you guys have any other suggestions of places or whatever so I can save more money for myself. When relocating, I am hoping to find a place that has:

1. Good weather

2. Low to none crime rate

3. Low rent prices

4. Cost efficient in groceries and food prices as well as gas

5. Diversified place

Any suggestions? I feel lost, financially speaking lol. 

[Luv2play]

On 11/6/2025 at 7:33 PM, francisssgorg said:

Hey guys, so I know I think it's better to post this kind of question on a platform like reddit, but maybe I can get a reasonable answer in here as well. Just to give you a background, I migrated here in the US around 2022. I am from the Philippines and I'm an RN. Uprooting my life from my country to this foreign land was difficult. Homesickness is like one of your enemies. Cultural differences also can be a factor. But thank God I think I am way past those... at the moment lol. So probably some of you guys know that Filipinos have nursing degrees. And I admit, income is better than some other jobs. But in this current economy and political climate, the cost of living is becoming worse. My main source of income is my job and my extras come from my per diem job. I am not lazy, though at times, I'm thinking about how other people in my age group are already talking about investments, and stocks, or running a business or probably content creating thru OF...LOL kidding. I am the type of person wherein I'm somewhat playing safe all the time. Even in stuff like business or investments. Probably because I grew up in a household wherein we're not rich, and that all of the small businesses my parents tried failed. I'm just telling this just to emphasize that for now, my main source of income would be my employment. So going back, I live in North Jersey. And I started in Central Jersey. The cost of living when I entered here vs now sky rocketed. Like from food and groceries, to rent, to probably gas. It seems like I'm trying to adjust myself to the world around me but my salary isn't actually keeping up with it lol. And as much as possible, I try to avoid any miscellaneous expenses like material stuff... Clothes or shoes or even vacation budget. But still, I can feel struggling and my savings are stagnant. So few months ago, I thought about relocating. One place that was suggested to me by my ex co worker was Seattle. I went there for a little trip, place was nice, the people were ok, as well as the weather, rent was also reasonable, but the food and grocery prices seems high as well as gas price (which is almost 3x than what we have here in Jersey). I have an upcominh trip in LA but I'm just considering California because the offer for RNs in California is way higher than what we have here in jersey or even nyc for that matter. And I know it kinda balances out with the cost of living, but maybe you guys have any other suggestions of places or whatever so I can save more money for myself. When relocating, I am hoping to find a place that has:

1. Good weather

2. Low to none crime rate

3. Low rent prices

4. Cost efficient in groceries and food prices as well as gas

5. Diversified place

Any suggestions? I feel lost, financially speaking lol. 

I think you are speaking for the majority of young people in the middle class with good education and desired skills who are struggling in today’s economy. It’s the same here in Canada as in the US from all that I read. And I stay in tune with current events. 
The conundrum is that the good jobs are in high cost areas. So your income goes mostly to rent, food, cost of running a car and little left over for extras, much less saving. 
My generation, the baby boomers, starting work in the 1970’s, had it so much easier. We got jobs easily, bought our first houses at a young age, and started savings and making investments as our incomes rose beyond our needs. By our 50’s many of us were well off. I was able to retire at that age and am now 78. I don’t see that for many millennials going forward. 

[wsc]

On 11/6/2025 at 7:33 PM, francisssgorg said:

When relocating, I am hoping to find a place that has:

1. Good weather

2. Low to none crime rate

3. Low rent prices

4. Cost efficient in groceries and food prices as well as gas

5. Diversified place

Any suggestions? I feel lost, financially speaking lol. 

Well, it seems safe to say you didn't use this list when you first picked New Jersey. I think the place you're looking for was described in a book by Thomas More, called Utopia. I'm not trying to be snarky, but only to point that the things on your list are things everybody might want in a locale, making the demand high, and driving the prices up.

If your RN work is in a hospital environment, you might consider cities smaller than Metro NY. Baltimore with Johns Hopkins might work, although a number of your listed items would be hard to find there. Heading farther down the coast, Charleston, South Carolina or Savannah, Georgia are great options to get you closer to your goal, as would any number of locations in Florida. Norfolk and Charlottesville, Virginia might also be considered.

Also, don't just focus on living in or near city centers, but expand out to close-in suburbs with good public transit, or good highways with good traffic management and/or affordable ride services to and from the fun gay places usually found in the downtowns.

Good look in your quest and keep us advised of your progress.

[+ PhileasFogg]

I’d encourage you to consider one other factor - we all talk about cost of living, but we don’t talk much about cost of employment.  The upper Atlantic and New England suffer from high taxation, high cost of living, but because soooo many people live there, relative wages may be lower.

Pondef options in a low tax state like Knoxville or Chattanooga.  

[Nue2thegame]

2 hours ago, PhileasFogg said:

 

Pondef options in a low tax state like Knoxville or Chattanooga.  

Tennessee is nice but Then there are quality of life issues, amenities and cultural offerings (or lack of) to consider. Everything is a trade-off. You have to prioritize. 

[+ Pensant]

On 11/6/2025 at 6:33 PM, francisssgorg said:

One place that was suggested to me by my ex co worker was Seattle. I went there for a little trip, place was nice, the people were ok, as well as the weather, rent was also reasonable, but the food and grocery prices seems high as well as gas price (which is almost 3x than what we have here in Jersey). I

I spend part of the year northwest of Seattle. It’s a very pricey city and region, especially gas prices. There’s no state income tax, though. Nurse salaries are pretty high, however. There’s also the notorious “Seattle Freeze” 

 

[pubic_assistance]

On 11/7/2025 at 8:45 PM, wsc said:

I think the place you're looking for was described in a book by Thomas More, called Utopia.

I agree with @wsc. Your list is a bit Utopian. Sadly you are experiencing fhe unfortunate financial reality of the United States in 2025 for young people. Salaries are not keeping up with inflation. 

Most of my friends from Southeast Asia are shocked by food prices here. There is no cheap food destination in the US except States where farm-to-market is more common. 

Have you looked a little further West in Pennsylvania ? Cost of living is lower than New Jersey but hospital salaries are comparable. You are going to need to compromise on something from your list. Anywhere with no crime & great weather is going to be expensive because everyone wants to be there...and no crime means no poverty. 

Edited Sunday at 02:53 PM by pubic_assistance
spelling

[francisssgorg]

"Have you looked a little further West in Pennsylvania ? Cost of living is lower than New Jersey but hospital salaries are comparable." 

@pubic_assistance sadly most of my coworkers who's also asian/filipino says that it's not a good place to live in. Not a lot of diversity. It's hard but that's one factor I also have to consider. I just have to say this and I'm sorry I don't want to offend any race or anything, but majority if not all, in that state, are white people. With strong political views. And I'm just trying to stay neutral as an immigrant but with the current political climate here, I feel so unsafe. I am a permanent resident here. With proper documents and definitely no criminal records. But nowadays, those documents won't protect you from these purging situation of the immigrants. I came to the point wherein the paranoid me would wanna go back to the Philippines for vacation but is afraid that the system would come up with something like frame me for something so I could get deported. That's how scary I portray the current administration is 😩

[BSR]

28 minutes ago, francisssgorg said:

@pubic_assistance sadly most of my coworkers who's also asian/filipino says that it's not a good place to live in. Not a lot of diversity. It's hard but that's one factor I also have to consider. I just have to say this and I'm sorry I don't want to offend any race or anything, but majority if not all, in that state, are white people. With strong political views. And I'm just trying to stay neutral as an immigrant but with the current political climate here, I feel so unsafe. I am a permanent resident here. With proper documents and definitely no criminal records. But nowadays, those documents won't protect you from these purging situation of the immigrants. I came to the point wherein the paranoid me would wanna go back to the Philippines for vacation but is afraid that the system would come up with something like frame me for something so I could get deported. That's how scary I portray the current administration is 😩

Do you have any proof that legal immigrants with proper documentation and clean criminal records are getting deported?  Or are you just hearing (unsubstantiated) stories and taking them as fact?

[Cooper]

Administrator’s Note 

Gentlemen, Try not to turn this discussion political. 🙏

[francisssgorg]

To respect the admin and the forum guidelines, I wouldn’t respond to that. That’s just my opinion. I’d rather not discuss where I got that idea or notion from. I just don’t want to move in Pennsylvania. Period 🙂. It’s a nice state.

[pubic_assistance]

4 hours ago, francisssgorg said:

sadly most of my coworkers who's also asian/filipino says that it's not a good place to live in. Not a lot of diversity. It's hard but that's one factor I also have to consider.

Diversity is absolutely something to "consider". BUT I made this suggestion because I grew up there and I have seen a huge change in the cultural diversity of various regions in PA. To be afraid of conservative white people is paranoid to be sure. Although the Susquehanna Valley WAS all white back in the 60s, the number of Indian and East Asian, black and Latino people living there has drastically increased over the years. My parents live in a nice suburb just nearby to a major medical center so many of their neighbors are doctors and nurses. The neighbors next door are Indian and the ones across the road are Iranian. My father watches football on Sundays with the gay couple down the road. 

Although you don't have the diversity of a large city and you won't find many traditional gay bars (these are going to be mixed community venues)...it is wrong to jump to the conclusion that these kinds of places are unsafe simply because you're not the same as everyone else. 

Edited Sunday at 03:06 PM by pubic_assistance
spelling

[+ MikeThomas]

I live in Dallas, one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. (please don't bother with the Texas bashing responses.)  Dallas is a pretty liberal city and has a very active gay scene.  I also understand that the greater Dallas area has a growing Filipino community.  Rapidly growing cities are always in need of healthcare professionals.  The summers can be hot, so there is that.  But Texas has no state income tax, so you can take what you would pay in other states and invest for the future!  It may not be for you and that's okay.

[francisssgorg]

I respect everyone's responses. And I love all races that's for sure ❤️ I've met a lot of tasty.... *oh sht*.. Uhmm.. Nice white men or people in general. With everything blasted on the news, it's just frustrating and making me anxious as an immigrant. They are depicting immigrants in a negative way. And not all people in this country are as open and welcoming to immigrants. So most of the time, my colleagues who have lived here almost their entire lives have always adviced me that if I'm going to move to another state, include in the factors the diversity of the place. And again, with my response, I really meant no offense at all. There are certain, how do I say it? Types? Of white people that scares me a little, and to be honest, not all of those types are white. It's up to your interpretation what those types mean. It's probably just because again of the news and my social media feed. But again I love American saus... I mean white men.... err.. PEOPLE! 🫣

All love, no hate I swear xoxo

[pubic_assistance]

3 hours ago, francisssgorg said:

With everything blasted on the news, it's just frustrating and making me anxious as an immigrant.

Most mass media "news" in the US has turned into sensationalist propaganda. Don't be so quick to believe the noise. YES you will find bigoted people in places (mostly the Southern States) but racism against South East Asians is not something youre going to run into everywhere. 

[Azenluvjoy]

Have you considered being a traveling nurse until you find a new location to settle?  I have a few family members that are RN that made good money while traveling and most expenses are paid.  Think of a try and buy in a region.