July 9, 2026
Just How Big Is 1,000 Square Feet?
You’re at the crossroads of a new phase in life, and several housing considerations lie at that junction. “How much square footage do I need?” “...
Travel nursing offers an experience few careers can match: the chance to build your resume while experiencing life in different parts of the country. One assignment might place you near a beach, while the next could put you within driving distance of national parks, major cultural attractions, or some of the nation’s leading healthcare systems.
But not every assignment location delivers the same experience. The best places to work as a travel nurse balance manageable living costs, quality housing options, and a lifestyle that makes your time off just as rewarding as your time on the clock. If you’re contemplating your next move, here’s a closer look at what to consider when choosing your assignment, as well as some of the best travel nursing locations and what makes them worth considering.
While compensation is a major factor to consider when searching for assignments, it’s not the only one. Because this career offers the remarkable opportunity to live and work in a new place, it also means you’ll need to consider lifestyle factors beyond basic employment needs.
If you’ve already got an offer in hand, the overall demand for nurses in that area may not seem important. However, high-demand markets also typically offer plenty of job opportunities and hospitals to choose from, and better odds of extending your assignment if you want to stay put a while longer.
By choosing a city with a healthy supply of available nursing jobs, you are also giving yourself a bit of flexibility if anything changes or plans evolve during your assignment. Though not always the case, higher demand cities often come with increased pay, overtime opportunities, and bonuses… cha-ching!
The best cities for nurses aren’t always the places with higher pay, but rather the places where your precious paychecks, stipends, and relocation funds go farthest. You may have dollar signs in your eyes looking at that big-city paycheck, but if the majority of it goes to groceries, housing, transportation, and all the other necessities of daily living, it might not be the right fit.
That said, this often comes down to a nurse’s priorities—are you hoping to pocket most of your paycheck, or are you willing to splurge for the opportunities in a pricier place? Are you focused more on savings or experiences? There is no “correct” way to evaluate this, but it’s certainly an important factor to reflect on.
Is your agency providing housing? Are you receiving a housing stipend? If the latter, how easily can you find a temporary place to live within that budget? If housing is incredibly competitive in a certain city, you may be stuck paying more or living farther away from the hospital. Furthermore, travel nurses need leases that are flexible and tailored to their specific contract, whether they’ll be living there for weeks or months.
If you manage to find a gig in a city you love, and you plan to return to it repeatedly, you may want to explore the idea of a pied-à-terre, or a secondary “home away from home” near your assignment. Understanding the pros and cons of your housing options, and more importantly, the availability of said options, will play a role in where you seek and accept assignments.
What kind of lifestyle do you want when you’re not clocked in at the hospital? Maybe the dream is to live and work in a bustling metropolis where you have access to any sort of entertainment, food, or activity you can think of. Maybe you’re dreaming of being surrounded by nature, getting in touch with your outdoorsy side, and finally escaping the concrete jungle. The life you have outside of the hospital matters just as much as the heroic work you do within those walls, so don’t forget to really envision what you want this personal time to look like.
While considering these factors, you may have some of your top destinations in mind. If not, below are some of the very best travel nursing locations, based on a variety of different factors, for travel nurses of all budgets, priorities, and lifestyles.
In general, California is one of the best states to travel nurse in because of its widespread nursing shortage. San Francisco consistently needs travel nurses, especially in the ER and OR, and weekly wages are typically some of the highest in the country. That said, San Francisco is also one of the priciest places to live in the United States, so it’s important to note that this competitive pay is often more modest once you consider the general cost of living.
Some of the major perks of travel nursing in San Francisco include competitive packages due to high demand, plenty of short-term and shared housing options, and the lifestyle benefits of working in a world-class city. Here, nurses enjoy a highly walkable lifestyle and easy access to picturesque places like Golden Gate Park, the Painted Ladies, the Presidio, various beaches, and more.
Like many big cities, San Francisco is an investment but offers endless sights, food, and fun.
Like San Francisco, Seattle needs travel nurses, and that demand doesn’t seem to be lessening. Also, like San Francisco, Seattle has a high cost of living, but hospitals often pay travel nurses well and offer hefty housing stipends to offset it. And did we mention that Washington doesn’t have a state income tax?! That helps too.
Seattle is home to some of the best hospitals in the Pacific Northwest, and travel nurses typically enjoy great nurse-to-patient ratios and strict legal regulations that ensure a healthy work environment.
Outside of work, nurses can enjoy the jaw-dropping nature of living in the Pacific Northwest. There is not one, not two, but three national parks within a short drive of Seattle, and the city itself is walkable, green, and has a gorgeous waterfront with plenty of attractions. And for foodies, Seattle offers a ton of delicious food and coffee options to refuel between shifts.
Switching gears and heading over to the East Coast, Charlotte, North Carolina, boasts a rapidly growing healthcare sector and a high demand for travel nurses. Unlike the aforementioned travel nurse destinations, Charlotte’s cost of living is right on par with the national average, so paychecks and stipends may go further than they would in a more expensive big city.
Known as the Queen City, Charlotte has plenty of perks and benefits fit for royalty. Along with a reasonable cost of living, Charlotte provides travel nurses with a delicious dose of Southern hospitality, plenty of green space, and attractions like the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art and the Mint Museum. Oh, and did we mention that travel nurses are only 2.5 hours from the Blue Ridge Mountains and 4 hours from Atlantic Ocean beaches?
If you’re seeking warm weather and a city atmosphere, you may find just what you want in Phoenix, Arizona. Like other states on this list, Arizona is facing a nursing shortage—thanks in part to the snowbirds who flock to the state each fall and winter—and is therefore willing to pay travel nurses competitive rates, especially in high-demand areas like ICU, telemetry, and med-surg. There are plenty of reputable hospital systems in the city, and Phoenix is generally more affordable than many other big cities. Arizona also has no state income tax, meaning more of your pay stays in your bank account.
The biggest draw to Phoenix, however, might be its average 300 days of sunshine. Nurses who love spending their off-the-clock time outdoors will have plenty of sunlight to explore, with easy access to hiking trails, desert preserves, and several nearby state parks. Keep in mind, however, that these outdoor activities are often limited in the summertime, during which the average high is in the triple digits.
That said, any sunshine-seeking nurse can adjust just fine to Phoenix summers with a generous water bottle and pool access.
Houston is home to one of the largest healthcare hubs in the world, with a vast ecosystem that includes major hospitals, specialty facilities, research institutions, and teaching centers. Houston also offers practical advantages, such as a relatively affordable cost of living compared to many major metropolitan areas. You’ll also enjoy diverse neighborhoods and housing options, strong cultural and culinary scenes, and easy access to airports for visiting family or taking weekend trips
For nurses seeking career development and affordability, Houston is definitely a top-tier choice.
One of the most affordable options to grace this list—Tulsa, Oklahoma. It earns a spot for its affordability, strong healthcare sector, demand for travel nurses, and outdoor recreation, among other things. The cost of living in Tulsa is about 17% lower than the national average, and the biggest factor is the city’s affordable housing, which means average salaries go a lot farther here than in some of the other options on this list.
Tulsa living is relatively affordable, and it’s also fun. Gathering Place is a massive riverfront park that is open to the public and offers a ton of free events, including fitness classes, movie nights, and cultural celebrations. The city has a rich arts and culture scene, and music lovers will enjoy learning about its musical history while immersing themselves in the “Tulsa sound.”
Embracing the travel nursing life, or any sort of traveling healthcare profession, means learning to stomach frequent moves, but there are ways to make it easier. Learning to travel light, identifying green flags in housing (Flexibility! Short-term options! Travel nurse recommendations!), and looking for furnished or move-in-ready solutions can simplify the moving process so you can start enjoying your new city right away.
Every assignment comes with a new city, a new team, and a new place to live. CORT Furniture Rental helps travel nurses settle in quickly with move-in-ready furniture that’s delivered and professionally set up before you arrive. With flexible lease terms designed for short- and long-term assignments, you can focus on your work and your experience, not furnishing an apartment from scratch.
