Travel Nurse Assignment Cost Calculator

Common costs include: housing rent and deposit ($1,500-3,000+ monthly), travel to/from assignment ($200-800), licensing if needed ($100-300), physicals and drug screens ($100-200), moving expenses ($200-500), and ongoing living expenses. Total upfront costs typically range from $3,000-6,000 before your first paycheck.

Plan for 4-6 weeks of expenses before your first paycheck arrives. This includes: security deposit (often equal to one month's rent), first month's rent, travel costs, setup expenses, and living costs. Most new travelers need $5,000-10,000 readily available to start.

It depends on the location. In lower-cost areas, your housing stipend often exceeds actual costs (profit!). In expensive cities like San Francisco or NYC, stipends may not fully cover rent. Use this calculator to see if you'll be 'stipend positive' or 'stipend negative' on your assignment.

If you want to receive tax-free stipends (worth $15,000-25,000/year), you must maintain a legitimate tax home. The cost of maintaining this home ($500-1,000/month) is typically far less than the tax savings. Consult a travel nurse tax professional for your specific situation.

Key strategies: (1) Negotiate travel reimbursement upfront, (2) Find housing below your stipend, (3) Take assignments closer to home to reduce travel costs, (4) Extend contracts to spread one-time costs over more weeks, (5) Use credit card rewards for travel, (6) Ask if the agency covers licensing fees.