That's not really true. I don't know why people are such sticklers for using Manhattan as the basis of affordability. My sister almost never works OT and lives very comfortably on her income. She works three days per week. She has her own one bedroom apartment. She lives in a good location (not Manhattan) that's very close to the train.

At my place, the nurses only work OT when they are short nurses.

People would say the same thing in my field (also healthcare, not as well-paid as nurses.) I used to work lots of OT and had second jobs. This was just for the extra money that I put to good use.