Welcome to the wild but exciting world of travel nursing! You have passed your interview, signed your contract, and packed your bags, but now comes the biggest challenge: finding the right house for 13 weeks to call home. In travel nursing, it is important to find safe, cozy, and budget-friendly housing so you can peacefully focus on your work, which is taking care of your patients. This blog is the ultimate guide to travel nursing housing and rentals, so you can book your next housing like a pro, and also how to determine your stipends with the help of the travel nurse housing stipend calculator.
Travel nurse housing and Rental
As a travel nurse, one of the biggest challenges is finding the right place to live while on assignment. As we all know, travel nursing contracts last from 8-13 weeks and sometimes even more, and therefore, it is important that the place where nurses are staying is safe, budget-friendly, and near the facility. Let’s first discuss the long-term rentals and short-term housing rentals for travel nurses.
Short-term housing rentals for travel nurses
The duration for short-term housing rentals is typically less than 3 months and is used as temporary housing for travel nurses on 4-8 week assignments. The cost per night is usually high, and the leasing terms are nightly, weekly, or month-to-month. Some examples of short-term rental housing for travel nurses are:
- Airbnb
- Hotels
- Furnished month-to-month apartments.
Long-term housing rentals for travel nurses
The duration for long-term housing rentals is more than 3 months, which is ideal for 13 13-week travel nursing contracts. These are cost-effective and furnished. Some of the examples of long-term housing rentals for travel nurses are:
- Fully furnished apartments and homes for rent.
- Private rooms in shared houses.
- Guest houses.
Who arranges the housing for travel nurses?
When a travel nurse signs a contract, they have two options for housing.
- Housing stipends
- Agency-provided housing.
Housing stipend
The agency provides a set amount to travel nurses to find their housing. The pros and cons of housing stipends are:
Pros:
- Freedom to choose where they want to live.
- If the place nurse rent is cheaper than, they can keep the remaining amount, helping them make more money.
Cons:
- Risk of scams.
- Hassle to find the right house or place to rent.
Agency-provided housing
The agency pays for the housing directly for the travel nurses. Some of the pros and cons of agency-provided housing are:
Pros:
It is more convenient as travel nurses don’t have to deal with finding a place, amenities, etc.
Cons:
- There is no freedom for travel nurses to choose their location.
- Sometimes the place is not according to nurses’ likes, but they can’t do anything about it, for example, it may be far from the facility, etc.
- They cannot make extra money like they can with finding their own house.
What is the travel nurse housing stipend calculator?
The amount of housing stipends varies based on different factors such as local cost of living, agency, location, etc. If you meet IRS criteria then then these housing stipends are nontaxable. As a travel nurse, a housing stipend calculator can help you determine your housing stipend, but typically it ranges from $1500 to $3000. This calculator helps you to put your weekly stipend and your work hours in that week, such as 36 hours/week. By doing so, you can calculate your housing stipend.
What to look for in short-term housing for travel nurses?
While renting short-term housing for travel nurses, you must look for the following:
- It should be fully furnished, including furniture, kitchen stuff, Wi-Fi, etc.
- All utilities should be included.
- Washer, dryer, etc.
- Parking availability and a safe neighborhood. Safety should be your priority.
- Responsive landlord and pet policies if you are traveling with your pet.
How to save money on travel nurse housing when you get your housing stipend?
Some of the tips and tricks for saving money on travel nursing housing stipends are:
- Negotiate like a pro. If you are staying at a place longer than 8 weeks, then negotiate until you get the best price.
- Create a budget and use your stipend wisely so you can save some money. Don’t go overboard.
- Avoid higher-cost areas, especially tourist areas.
- The best way to save money is to share a room with other nurses. It is a win-win for both.
What are the best platforms for travel nurse rentals?
- Airbnb
- Furnished finder.
- Travel nurse housing.
- Zillow/apartments.
- Craigslist.
- Facebook groups.
If you want to know more about the Top websites for travel nurse housing, then read our blog “Best travel nurse housing sites for 2025.”
What is the average travel nurse housing stipend by state?
Housing stipends differ from state to state and depend on various factors such as agency, location, state, cost of living, etc. Here is an average travel nurse housing stipend in some states:
- New York: $3000-$4000
- Florida: $2000-$3000
- Texas: $2500-$3500
- Arizona: $$2000-$2500
What are the tips to book travel nurse housing like a pro and save money?
Some of the tips for travel nurse accommodation are as follows:
- As soon as you get your contract, you should start searching for a place to live. Do not wait till the last moment.
- While looking for nurse rental housing, use the trusted sites that are tailored for travel nurses.
- Always ask the right questions. Ask whether it is fully furnished, with utilities, internet, parking, and lease flexibility.
- When selecting or renting housing, you should look for the commute time to your facility and other places, such as grocery stores etc.
- Read reviews and ratings before booking the housing or renting the place.
- Always have a backup plan, as sometimes things don’t go as planned.
- If you are staying for a long time, then negotiate like a pro and save some bucks.
- Get everything in writing, proofs, and copies for receipts, etc.
- Know your stipend limits.
Conclusion
Travel nurse housing and rentals need strategic planning, thorough search, reading reviews, and smart budgeting. When a travel nurse signs a contract, there are two ways that nurses get their housing- it is either provided by an agency or through housing stipends. Both have their pros and cons, but housing stipends can help the nurses make extra money. If she meets the IRS criteria, then these housing stipends are tax-free. A nurse house stipend calculator can help you determine your stipend. No matter what option you choose, it should be safe, comfortable, and near your facility. Some of the best nurse housing rental options are Airbnb, furnished finder, apartments, etc.
If you are a travel nurse and want to work in top healthcare facilities in the US, then download our SkillGigs app now and become part of our travel nursing world.
