Travel Nurse Housing Guide 2025: Options, Tips & Cost Savings

Finding the right housing is one of the biggest challenges for travel nurses. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about travel nurse housing, from understanding your housing stipend to finding the perfect place.

Understanding Housing Stipends

What is a Housing Stipend?

A housing stipend is a tax-free payment (up to GSA rates) that travel nurse agencies provide to cover your housing costs during assignments. This is separate from your taxable hourly wage.

How Housing Stipends Work

• Tax-Free: Up to GSA per diem lodging rates
• Weekly or Monthly: Usually paid weekly
• Location-Based: Rates vary by assignment location
• Flexible: You choose your own housing

GSA Lodging Rates

GSA sets maximum tax-free lodging rates by location:

• High-cost areas: $150-$300+/night
• Medium-cost areas: $100-$150/night
• Low-cost areas: $60-$100/night

Example: If GSA rate is $150/night, you can receive up to $1,050/week ($150 × 7) tax-free.

Housing Options for Travel Nurses

1. Furnished Apartments

Pros:

• Fully furnished
• Utilities often included
• Privacy and space
• Home-like feel

Cons:

• Can be expensive
• May require longer leases
• Less flexibility

Best For: Longer assignments (13+ weeks), families, those wanting comfort

---

2. Extended Stay Hotels

Pros:

• Flexible length of stay
• Housekeeping included
• Utilities included
• No lease required

Cons:

• Can be expensive long-term
• Less space
• Less privacy
• May feel temporary

Best For: Short assignments, minimalists, those wanting convenience

---

3. Corporate Housing

Pros:

• Fully furnished
• Utilities included
• Professional management
• Flexible terms

Cons:

• Can be pricey
• May require deposits
• Less personal touch

Best For: Those wanting hassle-free housing, professionals

---

4. Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb, VRBO)

Pros:

• Wide variety of options
• Can find great deals
• Flexible dates
• Often fully furnished

Cons:

• Prices can vary
• May have minimum stays
• Quality varies
• Cancellation policies

Best For: Those comfortable with online booking, flexible travelers

---

5. Room Rentals / Roommates

Pros:

• Most affordable option
• Can save significant money
• Social connection
• Often furnished

Cons:

• Less privacy
• Shared spaces
• Need to find compatible roommate
• Less control

Best For: Budget-conscious travelers, social individuals

---

6. RV / Travel Trailer

Pros:

• Complete freedom
• No rent payments
• Can travel between assignments
• Home is always with you

Cons:

• Initial investment
• Need RV park hookups
• Maintenance required
• Not for everyone

Best For: Adventurous travelers, those wanting freedom, experienced RVers

Finding Housing: Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Understand Your Stipend

• Check your contract for housing stipend amount
• Verify GSA rates for your assignment location
• Calculate weekly/monthly budget
• Factor in utilities if not included

Step 2: Research the Area

• Research neighborhoods
• Check safety ratings
• Look at commute times
• Check amenities nearby

Step 3: Start Early

• Begin searching 4-6 weeks before assignment
• Popular areas book quickly
• Better prices for early bookings
• More options available

Step 4: Use Multiple Resources

Online Platforms:

• Airbnb
• VRBO
• Furnished Finder
• Travel Nurse Housing
• Facebook groups
• Craigslist (use caution)

Networking:

• Ask other travel nurses
• Join travel nurse Facebook groups
• Contact local real estate agents
• Check hospital bulletin boards

Step 5: Verify Everything

• Read reviews carefully
• Ask for photos/videos
• Verify location on map
• Check cancellation policies
• Understand lease terms

Cost-Saving Tips

1. Stay Within Your Stipend

• Find housing that costs less than your stipend
• Keep the difference (it’s tax-free!)
• Use our calculator to see your savings

2. Negotiate Your Stipend

• Research market rates
• Compare with other offers
• Negotiate higher stipend if needed
• Use our Contract Comparison Tool

3. Consider Roommates

• Split costs with another travel nurse
• Can save 30-50% on housing
• More money in your pocket
• Social connection

4. Choose Location Wisely

• Slightly further from hospital = lower rent
• Check commute times
• Balance cost vs. convenience
• Consider public transportation

5. Extended Stays

• Longer stays often get discounts
• Negotiate better rates for 13+ weeks
• Avoid short-term premium pricing
• Lock in good rates

6. Utilities Included

• Look for housing with utilities included
• Avoid surprise costs
• Easier budgeting
• Less hassle

Red Flags to Avoid

Warning Signs:

• Requests for wire transfers or gift cards
• Too good to be true prices
• Pressure to pay immediately
• Unwilling to show property
• No reviews or references
• Suspicious communication

Safety Tips:

• Always visit property first (or video call)
• Use secure payment methods
• Read contracts carefully
• Trust your instincts
• Research the landlord/company

Housing Stipend vs. Agency Housing

Taking the Stipend (Recommended)

Pros:

• Tax-free money (up to GSA rates)
• Complete control over housing
• Can save money if you find cheaper options
• More flexibility

Cons:

• You handle finding housing
• You’re responsible for issues
• Need to manage utilities
• More work upfront

Agency-Provided Housing

Pros:

• No searching required
• Agency handles issues
• Guaranteed housing
• Less stress

Cons:

• Usually more expensive
• Less control
• May not be ideal location
• Less flexibility

Recommendation: Take the stipend if you’re comfortable finding housing. You’ll have more control and can potentially save money.

Budgeting for Housing

Calculate Your Budget

1. Weekly Stipend: Check your contract
2. GSA Rate: Verify for your location
3. Utilities: Estimate if not included
4. Deposits: Factor in security deposits
5. Furniture: If unfurnished, consider costs

Example Budget

• Weekly Stipend: $1,200
• GSA Rate: $150/night = $1,050/week max tax-free
• Target Rent: $800-$1,000/week (utilities included)
• Savings: $200-$400/week tax-free!

State-Specific Considerations

High-Cost States (CA, NY, MA)

• Housing is expensive
• May need roommates or shared housing
• Consider slightly further locations
• Extended stays get better rates

Medium-Cost States (TX, FL, NC)

• More options available
• Better value for money
• Can often stay within stipend easily
• More flexibility

Low-Cost States (AL, MS, AR)

• Very affordable housing
• Can save significant money
• Many options available
• Often can pocket extra stipend

Cost of Living Considerations

When choosing housing, cost of living is critical. A $1,200/month apartment in San Francisco may leave you with less discretionary income than an $800/month apartment in Tulsa, even if the higher-cost city offers higher pay.

Use our Pay Calculator with Cost of Living Analysis to see your true discretionary income (income minus rent) for any assignment location. This helps you determine if an assignment is financially viable.

Key Factors:

• Average rent in the assignment city vs. your housing stipend
• Cost of living index compared to national average
• True discretionary income after housing costs
• Whether you can save money or need to supplement

Related: Check out our state-specific pay guides to see cost of living and average rent data for all 50 states.

Using Our Calculator

Our Travel Nurse Pay Calculator helps you:

• Calculate your housing stipend impact on take-home pay
• See how housing costs affect your true discretionary income
• Compare different housing scenarios and locations
• Factor in cost of living for accurate comparisons
• Maximize your savings

New Feature: Our calculator now includes cost of living analysis showing your true discretionary income after rent, helping you make better financial decisions.

Resources

Official Government Resources

• GSA Per Diem Rates - Official GSA per diem rates by location (lodging, meals, incidentals)
• IRS Publication 463: Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses - Official IRS guidance on travel expenses

Housing Resources

• Furnished Finder - Travel nurse housing marketplace
• Hello Landing - Furnished apartments for travel nurses
• Travel Nurse Housing Facebook Groups - Community resources and housing leads

Conclusion

Finding the right housing is crucial for travel nurses. By understanding your stipend, researching options, using cost-saving strategies, and factoring in cost of living, you can maximize your housing allowance and increase your take-home pay.

Key Takeaways:

• Housing stipends are tax-free (up to GSA rates)
• Start searching early (4-6 weeks before)
• Consider all housing options
• Factor in cost of living when comparing locations
• Stay within your stipend to save money
• Use our cost of living calculator to see true discretionary income
• Use multiple resources to find housing
• Always verify before committing

Remember: The money you save on housing goes directly into your pocket tax-free! Use our pay calculator to see how different housing costs and locations affect your take-home pay.

Related Resources:

• Travel Nurse Pay Calculator - Calculate take-home pay with cost of living
• State Pay Guides - Compare cost of living by state
• Compare States Tool - Side-by-side state comparison
• Tax Guide - Understanding tax-free stipends

---

Last updated: January 2025