Kentucky Travel Nurse Stipend Calculator
Kentucky's average GSA rates allow up to $686/week in tax-free housing plus $413/week for meals — a combined ceiling around $1,099/week. Verify any KY stipend quote below.
Data reviewed July 3, 2026 · 50 states, 221 cities, FY2026 GSA rates
$98/night
Avg GSA Lodging
$59/day
M&IE Rate
~$1,099/wk
Combined Weekly Ceiling
$2,979/mo
Monthly Housing Allowance
Travel Nurse Pay Breakdown
Estimate your take-home pay, taxes, and blended rate in seconds.
Same state assignment. You'll pay 5% state tax plus 24% federal tax.
Overtime (Optional)
Blended Hourly Rate
$70.53
Based on 36 hours in KY.
Gross Weekly Pay
$2,539
Taxable Weekly Income
$1,440
Estimated Weekly Taxes
$418
True Net Weekly Pay
$2,121
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Assignment Projections
13-Week Assignment
$27,578
Net Pay
26-Week Assignment
$55,156
Net Pay
Annual (52 weeks)
$110,313
Net Pay
Take Home vs Taxes
Take Home
$2,121
per week
Taxes
$418
per week
Total Gross: $2,539 per week
🏠 Housing Stipend Analysis
Your Weekly Housing Stipend
$686
≈ $2,970/month
Est. 1BR Rent in Kentucky
$850
Monthly average
✅ Potential Tax-Free Pocket Money
+$2,120
Your stipend covers rent with $2,120 left over each month.
Find apartments under $850/month in Louisville:
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Cost of Living Analysis in Kentucky
After rent, this is what you'll have left each month for other expenses
National average = 100. Kentucky's cost of living is lower than the national average by 10.3 points.
💡 Lower cost of living area. Your pay may go further here than in expensive cities.
Housing Cost: Low
Utilities: Low
Rent data based on 2025 market averages. Actual rent may vary by neighborhood and housing type.
Resources for Your Assignment
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Stipend vs Rent by Kentucky City
Monthly GSA housing allowance against average one-bedroom rent — positive margin means the max stipend more than covers housing.
| City | GSA Lodging/mo | 1BR Rent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $4,317 | $1,100 | +$3,217/mo |
| Lexington | $3,344 | $1,000 | +$2,344/mo |
| Bowling Green | $2,979 | $900 | +$2,079/mo |
| Owensboro | $2,979 | $1,000 | +$1,979/mo |
Kentucky Stipend Questions
What is the maximum housing stipend in Kentucky?
Stipend ceilings follow GSA per diem rates, set per city. Kentucky's average GSA lodging rate is $98/night — about $686/week or $2,979/month in tax-free housing allowance. Add the $59/day M&IE rate and the combined weekly ceiling is roughly $1,099. Individual cities run higher or lower.
Is my Kentucky stipend offer good?
Compare it to two numbers: the GSA ceiling for the assignment city (offers at the ceiling are maxed; offers well below have negotiating headroom) and the local one-bedroom rent (a stipend above rent is tax-free profit). The table on this page shows both for every Kentucky city we track.
Are travel nurse stipends taxable in Kentucky?
Stipends are federal-tax-free (and state-tax-free) when you maintain a qualifying tax home and work far enough away to need overnight lodging — the state doesn't change the IRS rules. Amounts above the GSA ceiling for your assignment ZIP are generally treated as taxable wages.
Which Kentucky cities have the best stipend margin?
Louisville currently has the best margin we track in Kentucky — the monthly GSA lodging allowance runs $3,217 above average one-bedroom rent. See the full city table above and the GSA Rate Explorer for all 221 cities nationally.