Best Cities for Nurses in 2026: Where Pay Goes Furthest After RentWe compared registered nurse pay with rent in 251 large U.S. cities. In Vallejo, rent takes just 14.7% of a nurse's salary.How Much Has Rent Gone Up Since 2024? September 2026 UpdateU.S. rents are up 7.2% since 2024, while pay is up 7.9%. See the rise by region and in the 15 biggest cities.What Is a $100,000 Salary Really Worth in the 25 Biggest U.S. Cities?$100,000 feels like $111,220 in El Paso but only $86,495 in San Francisco, based on official 2024 price levels.