Travel Nurse Housing Stipend vs. Agency Housing: Complete 2026 Comparison

When I started travel nursing, my recruiter made agency housing sound so simple: “We’ll handle everything. You just show up with your suitcase.”

What she didn’t mention was the $10,000+ I’d be giving up over a 13-week contract.

Choosing between agency housing and taking the stipend is one of the biggest financial decisions travel nurses make. Let me break down exactly what each option means so you can make the right choice for your situation.

Quick Comparison: Agency Housing vs. Stipend

How Agency Housing Works

With agency housing, your staffing company:

1. Finds and rents an apartment near your facility
2. Furnishes it (usually basic furnishings)
3. Pays rent and utilities directly
4. Handles any issues during your stay
5. Manages move-out when you leave

What you get:

• A place to stay
• Zero upfront housing costs
• Zero housing logistics

What you give up:

• Your housing stipend (the tax-free portion of your pay)
• Control over where and how you live
• Potentially thousands of dollars

Typical Agency Housing

Agency housing varies widely in quality:

• Apartment complexes — Often extended-stay-friendly buildings
• Corporate housing — Furnished apartments
• Extended stay hotels — Sometimes used for short assignments
• Shared housing — Some agencies offer roommate situations

Quality warning: You don’t always get to see the housing before accepting. Some travelers report:

• Older furniture and appliances
• Locations far from the hospital
• Neighborhoods they wouldn’t have chosen
• Shared housing they didn’t expect

Always ask your recruiter for photos and the exact address before accepting agency housing.

How Taking the Stipend Works

When you take the stipend:

1. You receive a tax-free housing allowance (weekly or monthly)
2. You find your own housing (Furnished Finder, Airbnb, etc.)
3. You pay rent directly to your landlord
4. You keep the difference between stipend and rent

What you get:

• Control over where you live
• Tax-free income on the difference
• Ability to choose quality and location

What you take on:

• Finding housing yourself
• Upfront costs (deposits, first month’s rent)
• Risk if your contract is cancelled

The Real Financial Difference

This is where it gets interesting. Let’s do the math.

Example Assignment: 13 Weeks in Denver, CO

Agency Housing Option:

• Weekly gross: $2,800
• Housing: Provided (stipend forfeited)
• Taxable income: $2,800/week
• After taxes (~25%): $2,100/week
• 13-week take-home: $27,300

Stipend Option:

• Weekly gross: $2,800
• Housing stipend: $1,400/week (included in gross)
• Taxable wages: $1,400/week
• After taxes (~22%): $1,092/week taxable
• Plus: $1,400/week tax-free stipend
• Weekly take-home: $2,492

Now factor in actual housing costs:

• Furnished Finder rental: $1,200/month
• Weekly housing cost: $277
• Net after housing: $2,215/week
• 13-week take-home: $28,795

Difference: $1,495 more by taking the stipend

And that’s with average housing! If you find cheaper options:

• Roommate split ($800/month): $30,815 take-home (+$3,515)
• Extended stay deal ($1,000/month): $29,848 take-home (+$2,548)

The Math Formula

Use this to calculate your specific situation:

With Stipend:

1. Weekly stipend: $_____
2. Monthly rent you’d pay: $_____ ÷ 4.33 = $_____ weekly
3. Stipend profit: (Line 1 - Line 2) = $_____ per week tax-free
4. 13-week profit: Line 3 × 13 = $_____

With Agency Housing:

• Stipend profit: $0

Difference = Your stipend profit

Use our Stipend Calculator to run these numbers instantly.

When to Choose Agency Housing

Despite the financial hit, agency housing makes sense in certain situations:

1. First Travel Assignment

Your first assignment has enough stress without adding housing logistics. Agency housing lets you:

• Focus on learning travel nursing
• Avoid costly first-timer mistakes
• Have support if something goes wrong

Consider it “paying tuition”—take the stipend once you’re comfortable.

2. Very Short Notice Assignments

If you’re starting in 5 days, finding good housing yourself is nearly impossible. Agency housing can be arranged quickly.

3. Extremely Short Assignments

For 4-6 week contracts, the hassle of finding short-term rentals may not be worth the savings.

4. High-Cost Areas with Low Stipends

In some expensive cities, your stipend might not cover decent housing. If your stipend is $1,500/week but studios start at $3,000/month, the math changes:

• Stipend: $6,495/month
• Rent: $3,000/month
• Profit: $3,495/month (still decent!)

But if the stipend is only $1,000/week ($4,330/month), you’re only keeping $1,330/month—might be worth less stress.

5. You Value Convenience Over Money

Some nurses simply don’t want to deal with housing. If the stress reduction is worth $2,000-4,000 per contract to you, that’s a valid choice.

6. Contract Cancellation Concern

With agency housing, if your contract cancels, you walk away. With a lease, you might owe rent. (Though this can be mitigated—see below.)

When to Take the Stipend

For most experienced travel nurses, the stipend is the better financial choice:

1. You Have Time to Find Housing

With 3-4 weeks before your start date, you have plenty of time to find good housing. Use Furnished Finder, travel nurse Facebook groups, or extended stay hotels.

2. You Want to Maximize Income

If you’re travel nursing to build savings, pay off debt, or reach financial goals, the stipend difference compounds:

• 1 contract: Save $2,000-4,000 extra
• 4 contracts/year: Save $8,000-16,000 extra
• 3 years: Save $24,000-48,000 extra

That’s a down payment on a house.

3. You Have Specific Preferences

Want to live:

• Close to the hospital?
• In a safe neighborhood?
• With a gym or pool?
• With a full kitchen?

With the stipend, you choose. With agency housing, you get what you get.

4. You’re Comfortable with Housing Logistics

After a few contracts, finding housing becomes routine. You know which platforms to use, what questions to ask, and how to spot scams.

How to Minimize Risk When Taking the Stipend

The biggest fear with taking the stipend is: “What if my contract cancels and I’m stuck with a lease?”

Here’s how to protect yourself:

1. Choose Flexible Housing

• Month-to-month rentals — Leave anytime
• Extended stay hotels — Weekly rates, no commitment
• Airbnb with monthly discount — Often flexible cancellation
• Travel nurse-specific landlords — Understand assignment cancellations

2. Build a Cancellation Clause Into Your Lease

When signing a lease, ask for this language:

“If tenant’s travel nurse assignment is cancelled or terminated by the facility, tenant may terminate this lease with 14 days written notice and payment of [one week’s rent] as an early termination fee.”

Many landlords who rent to travel nurses will agree to this.

3. Have Emergency Funds

Keep 1 month’s rent in reserve. If you’re cancelled, you can pay any penalties and move on.

4. Get Renters Insurance

Costs $15-30/month and covers your belongings plus potential liability. Some even cover lease break costs.

Real-World Housing Options Comparison

Here’s what housing typically costs on each platform:

My Recommendation by Experience Level

First assignment: Take agency housing. Learn the ropes.

Assignments 2-3: Try the stipend with Extended Stay or Airbnb (flexible, lower risk).

Experienced (4+ assignments): Furnished Finder or Facebook groups. Maximize your profit.

How to Find Housing (Quick Guide)

If you’ve decided to take the stipend, here’s where to look:

1. Furnished Finder

• Designed for travel nurses
• Landlords understand 13-week stays
• Usually $800-1,500/month
• Full guide here

2. Travel Nurse Facebook Groups

• Search “[City] Travel Nurse Housing” or “Gypsy Nurse Housing”
• Direct from other nurses or landlords
• Often cheapest option
• Less protection than formal platforms

3. Extended Stay Hotels

• Extended Stay America, Homewood Suites, etc.
• Weekly rates available
• No lease commitment
• Comparison guide here

4. Airbnb

• Filter for monthly stays
• Message hosts about travel nurse rates
• Discount guide here

5. Corporate Housing Companies

• Blueground, Sonder, Landing
• Higher quality but pricier
• Blueground review here

FAQs

Can I switch from agency housing to stipend mid-contract?

Usually no. This is locked in when you sign your contract. Decide before accepting the assignment.

What if I find cheaper housing than my stipend?

You keep the difference tax-free. That’s the goal! If your stipend is $1,400/week and rent is $1,000/month ($231/week), you profit $1,169/week tax-free.

Is the stipend always better financially?

Almost always, yes—if you’re willing to do the work of finding housing. The only exception is extremely expensive cities where housing exceeds your stipend.

What happens to my stipend if I take agency housing?

You don’t receive it. The agency uses it to pay for your housing instead. It’s not “extra money” on top of housing—it replaces it.

Can I negotiate a higher stipend?

Sometimes. Agencies have some flexibility. Ask: “What’s the maximum housing stipend for this location?” You might get an extra $50-100/week.

The Bottom Line

For most travel nurses, taking the stipend is the better financial choice—often worth $2,000-5,000 more per 13-week contract.

Choose agency housing if:

• It’s your first assignment
• You have very short notice
• You prioritize convenience over income
• You’re genuinely worried about cancellation risk

Take the stipend if:

• You have time to find housing
• You want to maximize your income
• You’re comfortable with basic housing logistics
• You’ve done this before

Whatever you choose, make it an informed decision. Now you have the information to do exactly that.

---

Related Resources

• Stipend Calculator — Calculate your housing profit
• Furnished Finder Guide
• Housing Stipend Calculator Guide
• Travel Nurse Pay Breakdown
• Airbnb vs. Furnished Finder
• Pay Calculator — See how housing affects take-home pay