Data Report • Q1 2026
The Most Overrated Cities for Travel Nurses in Q1 2026
We analyzed GSA per diem rates vs. actual rent costs across 220 cities. Here are the cities where your stipend doesn't cover rent.
Methodology: Compared weekly GSA housing caps (lodging × 7) to average 1BR rent. Cities where rent exceeds GSA by $200+/month are flagged as "overrated."
Key Finding
0 cities have rent costs that exceed GSA housing stipends by $200+ per month. Travel nurses in these cities are effectively paying out of pocket for housing, even with "tax-free" stipends.
The 20 Most Overrated Cities
| City, State | GSA Housing (Monthly) | Avg Rent (1BR) | Monthly Deficit |
|---|
The 20 Most Profitable Cities
For comparison, here are cities where GSA stipends comfortably cover rent costs:
| City, State | GSA Housing (Monthly) | Avg Rent (1BR) | Monthly Surplus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $7,850.29 | $2,200 | +$5,650.29/mo |
| Boston, MA | $7,850.29 | $2,400 | +$5,450.29/mo |
| Hialeah, FL | $7,031.92 | $1,800 | +$5,231.92/mo |
| Long Beach, CA | $7,031.92 | $1,900 | +$5,131.92/mo |
| Yonkers, NY | $7,031.92 | $1,900 | +$5,131.92/mo |
| Santa Ana, CA | $7,031.92 | $2,000 | +$5,031.92/mo |
| Anaheim, CA | $7,031.92 | $2,100 | +$4,931.92/mo |
| San Diego, CA | $7,031.92 | $2,100 | +$4,931.92/mo |
| Honolulu, HI | $7,031.92 | $2,100 | +$4,931.92/mo |
| Seattle, WA | $7,031.92 | $2,100 | +$4,931.92/mo |
| New York, NY | $7,850.29 | $3,000 | +$4,850.29/mo |
| Los Angeles, CA | $7,031.92 | $2,200 | +$4,831.92/mo |
| Oakland, CA | $7,031.92 | $2,400 | +$4,631.92/mo |
| Cleveland, OH | $5,546.73 | $1,100 | +$4,446.73/mo |
| San Jose, CA | $7,031.92 | $2,600 | +$4,431.92/mo |
| Fresno, CA | $5,546.73 | $1,300 | +$4,246.73/mo |
| New Orleans, LA | $5,546.73 | $1,300 | +$4,246.73/mo |
| Las Vegas, NV | $5,546.73 | $1,300 | +$4,246.73/mo |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $5,546.73 | $1,300 | +$4,246.73/mo |
| Tampa, FL | $5,546.73 | $1,400 | +$4,146.73/mo |
Methodology & Limitations
- • GSA rates are from official GSA.gov per diem tables (2026)
- • Rent data uses average 1BR apartment costs from city data
- • Does not account for agency-provided housing or roommate situations
- • Monthly GSA calculated as (weekly rate × 4.33)
- • "Overrated" threshold: Rent exceeds GSA by $200+/month
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