How to Find the Best Travel Nurse Housing in California

Depending on where your contract takes you in California depends on your weekly income. According in Indeed, travel nurses in Los Angeles make around $2,784 per week, and travel nurses in San Fransisco earn approximately $3025. Compared to staff nurses making roughly $113,000 yearly, your income as a travel nurse would be around $148,000 annually. This is a significant annual income increase, so if travel nursing is something you are interested in and it works for your lifestyle, Advantis Medical is here to be your guiding light!

Once you have locked in a travel nursing contract in California, it is time to figure out your travel nursing budget. How much are you willing to spend on housing? What other costs of living do you need to include in your budget? Are there specific things you would like to do on your travel journey that you may need to budget for? Once you have created your budget, it is time to figure out where your travel nurse housing in California should be located.

Now that you have locked in your contract in California, you have to decide if you will find your own travel nurse housing or use the housing resources from your travel company. The two main options are agency-provided housing or housing stipends. Speak with your recruiter to find more information on the housing options available for you, but here are some short-term options for travel nurse housing in California.  

1. Extended Stay Hotels

Since California is a popular tourist and corporate travel destination, there are several options for extended-stay hotels that would be ideal for a nurse traveling alone that only need a little space or storage. Pros to this living situation are that you typically have on-site amenities like pools, gyms, restaurants, housekeeping, and laundry. Downfalls to extended stay hotels are the need for more space and kitchen appliances. If you do not typically cook, this may work well for you, but if you are looking for an area where you can prepare your meals, there may be better options for you.  

2. Room Rental

Finding someone willing to rent a room without a longer commitment than what you need for a contract may be challenging. If you do not need a lot of space but would like access to a kitchen and possibly your own laundry unit, renting a room in someone’s apartment or home is the option for you. You may still get some of the amenities you would in an extended-stay hotel, depending on the apartment complex or house you rent.  

3. Apartment or Condo Rental

Are you looking for your own space or traveling with another nurse? Renting an apartment or condo would be an excellent travel nurse housing option for you in California! Renting an apartment or condo will give you more space for a roommate or if you expect to have guests during your travel nurse contract. Additionally, you will not be responsible for any outdoor maintenance and could potentially have an onsite gym or pool.  

4. House or Townhouse Rental

Are you a nurse traveling with a family? Renting a home or a townhome would be your best bet for travel nurse housing in California. This will give you the extra space you need for your family and belongings. Make sure to discuss with the landlord if you will be responsible for maintaining the exterior of the home or lot during your stay. You wouldn’t want a rental that needed its lawn mowed and not have a lawn mower!  

Similar to the income that you can expect as a travel nurse in California, your cost of living depends on where you will be living in California. On average, renting a studio apartment can range from $550-$2350 monthly, a one-bedroom rental can range from $600-2900 monthly, and if you want two or more bedrooms, expect to pay anywhere from $800-$4970 monthly. If you are interested, more expensive rental options are available, but we can save those rentals for millionaires and celebrities.  

Are you looking for something fully furnished or with specific amenities? Expect to have a higher monthly payment. Also, remember to consider parking and renter’s insurance costs in your California travel nurse housing budget.  

Depending on your search area, finding short-term rentals that meet your needs and your budget can take a little digging. Several factors will affect how much your rental will cost you each month.  

• Your overall cost will depend on which housing service you use and whether any discounts are available.  
• Your location will play a massive role in your rent. Are you looking for something near Los Angeles or San Fransisco? You should expect to pay a higher price tag.  
• Are you looking for an onsite gym, pool, or rooftop deck? Again, add it to your budget.  
• Is your contract during a high-traffic time of year? You may luck out in California because the entire year is an excellent time to travel there, so this factor may play a minor role. The rental cost could reflect that as well.  
• If you are planning on traveling with other travel nurses or friends that can split the costs with you, that will help make your monthly rent more affordable.  
• The length of your contract may also affect your monthly costs as well, and shorter stays may cost more per month due to the lack of a yearly contract. Make sure to double-check with the rental property if they have any additional costs if you are not signing a year-long lease.  

Now that you have a contract in place and you have created a budget, you will have to decide if you want to utilize agency-placed housing or stipend-pay for housing. Each comes with its share of pros and cons.  

Choosing agency-placed housing means that your travel nursing agency provides you with your living accommodations. Overall, this is your most affordable option because agencies typically participate in long-term leases and move travelers into them for the duration of their contract and then have another traveling nurse lined up to fill the long-term lease. This option gives you little time before or after your contract to move your belongings and explore your new city. The benefit, however, is that you will not be responsible for extra costs and fees if your travel nursing contract is cut short.  

If you already have rental space in mind or someone you can stay with for the duration of your travel nursing contract, a stipend-pay housing option may work for you. If you choose to take the stipend pay, you will need to find your rental property, book the property, and pay all of the costs related to the property. This option gives you as much time as possible before and after your travel nursing contract to explore your surroundings. However, if you are traveling alone, this option can be expensive since you are responsible for all costs, including initiating your utilities and breaking your lease early if your contract ends early.  

1. Apartments.com

Using apartments.com as your housing search provides you with apartment, townhome, and condominium options in your selected area. You will also be able to search for pet-friendly options and several other amenities like in-unit laundry, pools, parking, business centers, etc.  

2. Furnished Finder  

Furnished Finder is a website designed with the traveling professional in mind that allows you to search for short-term rentals of homes, condos, apartments, and rooms. Additionally, the rentals on this website typically come fully furnished, and amenities are included in the cost. You can search by location, start date, and monthly budget. You can also see when the rental will be available, in case you are interested in moving sooner. Additionally, there are no booking fees for travelers.  

3. Homestay  

If you are looking to rent a room for the duration of your travel nursing contract, using Homestay to aid in your search will be very helpful. Homestay offers long-term and short-term options, and it gives a description of who you will be staying with and a description of the property. Additionally, it describes what areas of the property you will have access to and if any amenities come with the rental.  

4. VRBO

VRBO is typically used for vacation rentals but can also be used as a short-term rental website. Using this site allows you to search based on how many bedrooms you will need and if there are any extra amenities you are looking for. You can also reach out to the listing host to see if they offer any specials or discounts for travel nurses.  

If you have been considering transitioning into travel nursing, what is stopping you? Update that resume, and Advantis Medical will help you find your first or next travel assignment! We are here to guide you through the daunting task of finding housing options and a new place for you to call home for now!  

California has plenty to offer, whether you love soaking in the great outdoors or living the city life. Wouldn’t it be amazing to head to the Pacific Ocean or the Golden Gate Bridge on your day off or even after work? Browse exclusive travel job openings from the #1 rated travel nurse agency. You can choose to work with one of our dedicated Pro Recruiters and receive top-notch, white-glove service, or express your interest in specific jobs directly on our individual job pages.  Start your next adventure today by searching for travel nursing jobs in California.