Travel Nurse Pay in Orlando, Florida: 2026 Cost of Living & GSA Rates
Economic analysis: GSA housing caps, average rent, and profitability verdict for travel nurses in Orlando.
Data reviewed July 3, 2026 · 50 states, 221 cities, FY2026 GSA rates
Pay and rent figures on this page are our own editorial estimates, reviewed July 31, 2026 — not survey or government wage data. How we produce these numbers.
Economics Verdict
Ceiling Covers Rent: Orlando Travel Nursing
GSA Housing Cap (Weekly)
$1,015–$1,246/wk
≈ $4,395–$5,395/mo, by season
Avg Rent (1BR)
$1,300/mo
Margin
$3,095 to $4,095/mo
Even the lowest GSA rate is 3.4x average 1BR rent
Judged on the lowest GSA rate of the year, not the peak. A ceiling is the most a tax-free housing stipend can be, not what an offer pays, and it is not extra pocket money: a stipend is meant to reimburse real lodging costs for a traveler with a valid tax home.
How the numbers here are checked
Tax figures are computed from published IRS and SSA sources and per diem from GSA, each carrying a citation and a retrieval date; our build fails if any loses one. Pay, rent and cost-of-living figures are our own editorial estimates. This page has not been reviewed by a licensed professional — see our methodology, and consult a CPA about your own situation.
Travel Nurse Pay Breakdown
Estimate your take-home pay, taxes, and blended rate in seconds.
Federal tax applies to wages after the $16,100 standard deduction; FICA applies to all wages. Tax-free stipends are excluded from both.
Same-state assignment, and FL levies no wage income tax, so no state income tax return is due on these wages.
Overtime (Optional)
Blended Hourly Rate
$101.17
Based on 36 hours in FL.
Gross Weekly Pay
$3,642
Taxable Weekly Income
$1,836
Estimated Weekly Taxes
$375
True Net Weekly Pay
$3,267
Assignment Projections
13-Week Assignment
$42,477
Net Pay
26-Week Assignment
$84,953
Net Pay
Annual (52 weeks)
$169,907
Net Pay
Take Home vs Taxes
Take Home
$3,267
per week
Taxes
$375
per week
Total Gross: $3,642 per week
🏠 Housing Stipend Analysis
Your Weekly Housing Stipend
$1,246
≈ $5,395/month
Est. 1BR Rent in Orlando
$1,300
Monthly average
✅ Potential Tax-Free Pocket Money
+$4,095
Your stipend covers rent with $4,095 left over each month.
Find apartments under $1,300/month in Orlando:
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Cost of Living Analysis in Orlando
After rent, this is what you'll have left each month for other expenses
National average = 100. Orlando's cost of living is higher than the national average by 3.1 points.
Rent figures are our own editorial estimates, not survey or listings data. Actual rent varies by neighborhood and housing type.
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Staff vs. Travel Nurse in Orlando, Florida
An annual take-home comparison under stated assumptions. Change any input to match your own offers.
Staff Nurse
Weekly Gross
$1,332
Weekly Take-Home (before state income tax)
$1,107
Annual Take-Home (before state income tax) (52 weeks)
$57,557
Travel Nurse
Weekly Gross (incl. stipends)
$3,642
Weekly Take-Home (before state income tax) (while working)
$3,282
Annual Take-Home (before state income tax) (48 weeks)
$157,516
Under these assumptions, the travel contract nets $99,959 more per year
Travel is counted for 48 weeks and staff for 52, so the weekly gap while working is $2,175 in travel's favor.
How this is calculated: single filer, 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and FICA (SSA). Only the taxable wage is taxed; stipends are treated as tax-free, which requires a valid tax home. State income tax is not included on either side because it depends on your tax home as well as the assignment state; the Pay Calculator handles that where we have a sourced schedule.
Assumptions: the travel taxable rate is our editorial estimate for this place, the stipend is the GSA lodging plus meals-and-incidentals ceiling (the most a stipend can be, so real offers are often lower), and the staff rate is an editorial estimate relative to the travel rate. All are editable under "Customize & Detail". Staff benefits (health insurance, retirement match, paid leave) and travel costs (a second household, licensing, gaps between contracts) are not valued.
Want a detailed breakdown customized for your situation?
Travel Nurse Pay in Orlando
Average Hourly Rate
$51/hr
Average Weekly Pay
$2,040
GSA Lodging Rate
$178/night
GSA Meal Rate (M&IE)
$80/day
Cost of Living in Orlando
Cost of Living Index
103.1 (Above National Average)
Studio
$1100/mo
1 Bedroom
$1300/mo
2 Bedroom
$1700/mo
Does the Stipend Cover Rent in Orlando?
GSA sets Orlando's lodging ceiling by season. It is $178/night in Jan–Mar and $145/night in Apr–Dec, a $231 per week swing in the most a housing stipend can legally be.
| Period | GSA lodging | Weekly ceiling | Monthly ceiling | vs $1,300 rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | $178/night | $1,246 | $5,395 | +$4,095/mo |
| Apr–Dec | $145/night | $1,015 | $4,395 | +$3,095/mo |
A contract that starts in Jan–Mar is covered by the higher ceiling; one that starts in Apr–Dec is capped at the lower one. The rate that applies is set by the month you work, so a contract that crosses a boundary can span both.
Source: GSA FY2027 per diem rates, converted at 4.33 weeks per month. Rent is our editorial one-bedroom estimate, not a listings survey. See the full month-by-month schedule on the Orlando GSA rates page, or test an actual offer in the stipend calculator.
How Orlando Compares in Florida
- Estimated taxable pay: tied for 3rd highest of 10 tracked Florida cities ($51/hr, editorial estimate).
- GSA lodging ceiling (annual peak): 7th highest of 10 ($178/night).
- One-bedroom rent: tied for 4th lowest of 10 ($1,300/mo, editorial estimate).
Other Florida cities: Cape Coral, Hialeah, Jacksonville, Miami, Pensacola, Port St. Lucie. State overview: Florida travel nurse pay.
Top Hospitals in Orlando
- 🏥 Orlando Health
- 🏥 AdventHealth
- 🏥 Nemours Children's Hospital
Specialty Pay in Orlando
Estimated hourly rates for the specialties most in demand here. Click any specialty for certifications, demand and national pay detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do travel nurses make in Orlando, Florida?
Travel nurses in Orlando typically earn between $46 and $61 per hour in taxable wages, with an average of $51/hr. When including tax-free stipends, the blended hourly rate ranges from $58-73 per hour.
What are the GSA rates for Orlando, Florida?
The GSA per diem rates for Orlando are: Lodging: $178/night, and Meals & Incidental Expenses (M&IE): $80/day — GSA publishes M&IE as a single combined rate, not a separate incidentals figure. These rates determine the maximum tax-free stipend amounts travel nurses can receive. For official rates, visit [GSA.gov](https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates).
What is the cost of living in Orlando?
The cost of living index in Orlando is 103.1, which is above the national average. Average rent ranges from $1100 for a studio to $1700 for a two-bedroom apartment.
Does the GSA housing stipend cover rent in Orlando?
It depends on the month. GSA's lodging ceiling for Orlando is $178/night ($5,395/month) in Jan–Mar and $145/night ($4,395/month) in Apr–Dec. Against our editorial one-bedroom estimate of $1,300/month, that is $4,095 in Jan–Mar and $3,095 in Apr–Dec. A ceiling is the most a stipend can be, not what an offer pays, so check the offer's actual stipend.
When should a travel nurse start a contract in Orlando for the highest stipend ceiling?
GSA's lodging rate for Orlando is highest in Jan–Mar ($178/night) and lowest in Apr–Dec ($145/night), a $231 per week difference in the legal tax-free housing ceiling. A higher ceiling only helps if the agency actually pays a larger stipend, so ask for the stipend by week.
What hospitals hire travel nurses in Orlando?
Top hospitals in Orlando that frequently hire travel nurses include Orlando Health, AdventHealth, Nemours Children's Hospital, and others. These facilities offer competitive pay rates and excellent working conditions for travel nurses.
What specialties are in demand in Orlando?
The most in-demand specialties for travel nurses in Orlando include ICU, ER, Peds. These specialties typically offer higher pay rates and more contract opportunities.