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Florida is a preferred travel nursing destination for its attractive climate, beautiful beaches and ample things to do during off hours. As the third most populous state nationwide and home to a significant number of retirees, the state also has vast and varied healthcare needs, creating abundant travel nursing job opportunities at renowned health systems. However, the state’s popular coastline and numerous tourist attractions can make it tricky to find suitable housing, especially for short-term assignments. Vivian Health offers insights and strategies to help you navigate Florida’s unique housing market and find the ideal home away from home.
Florida’s Diverse Housing Market Benefits Travel Nurses
From lively urban areas to tranquil coastal communities, Florida accommodates various lifestyle choices, allowing individuals to balance a demanding career with personal fulfillment. However, securing affordable travel nurse housing in Florida can still be challenging, especially in the state’s more desirable locations.
Tourist-heavy areas like Orlando and popular coastal cities like Miami typically have competitive rental markets. Luckily, many property owners cater to the sizable tourist market by offering short-term, fully furnished rentals, which can also benefit healthcare travelers on temporary assignments. However, these accommodations typically come at a higher cost compared to traditional leases.
Be sure your housing stipend (if you qualify) or your salary covers the inflated short-term rental prices and leaves you with a livable wage. Also, ensure the property owner is willing to offer a lease that matches the duration of your assignment so you’re not scrambling for alternate housing midway through your contract.
Cost of Living Considerations for Transient Nurses
Unlike another popular sunny state on the opposite coast, Florida is a significantly less expensive option based on the overall cost of living. According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC), Florida ranked as the 16th most expensive state during the first quarter of 2024, with a cost of living 3.1% higher than the national average. On the West Coast, California ranked as the 2nd most expensive—up from 3rd place at the end of 2023—and had a cost of living 45% higher than the national average.
Florida’s cost of living fluctuates by location, but coastal versus non-coastal isn’t necessarily the deciding factor like in other states where living costs are cheaper the further inland you go. Some coastal cities in Florida offer reasonable living costs, such as Pensacola, where the cost of living is 11% lower than the national average and 13% less than the Florida average per Sperling’s Best Places.
Alternatively, popular non-coastal cities like Orlando are more expensive due to the tourist draw. Orlando is Florida’s most populous inland city, with the cost of living 6% higher than the national average and 2.8% more than the state average. However, these rates are still extremely low compared to many urban areas in many states and less than other tourist-centric locations in Florida.
For example, living in Miami while on assignment can be expensive. This coastal city is a major tourist draw with some of the most popular beaches and nightlife. Its cost of living is nearly 19% more than the national average and 15.3% higher than the state average.
Florida’s statewide average housing cost is only 8.4% higher than the national average, but these costs fluctuate throughout the state. Don’t forget to factor in utilities. Florida’s statewide average is just 5.9% more than the national norm.
To give you an idea of the varying housing costs in popular metros, we turned to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Policy Development and Research to compare Fair Market Rents (FMRs) data for 2024. The following table provides an overview of the FMRs for one-bedroom and two-bedroom accommodations in 10 popular metropolitan areas.
| Metro Area | One-Bedroom Housing Cost | Two-Bedroom Housing Cost |
| The Villages | $951 | $1,250 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | $1,098 | $1,278 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | $1,152 | $1,413 |
| Tallahassee | $1,183 | $1,339 |
| Jacksonville | $1,354 | $1,604 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $1,562 | $1,851 |
| West Palm Beach-Boca Raton | $1,573 | $1,851 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $1,638 | $1,857 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $1,692 | $2,102 |
| Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall | $1,884 | $2,324 |
With an overall cost of living that’s only slightly above the U.S. average, a travel nurse’s salary goes further in this popular locale compared to some. However, the average wage of Florida travel contracts generally takes this into account with lower housing stipends.
RELATED: How Travel Nurse Housing Stipends Work
According to Vivian’s salary data on July 24, 2024, the average salary for travel nurses in Florida was $1,947 weekly—8% lower than the national average. Conversely, California’s average travel nurse wage was $2,399 per week—12% higher than the norm—to help offset the state’s higher cost of living. Travel contracts within a state should also factor in higher living costs. For example, average travel nurse wages in Miami on this date was $2,045, while Pensacola’s average pay was $1,834.
Seasonal Variations and Short-Term Housing Challenges
In popular states like Florida, the demand for housing fluctuates not only by location but also by season. When temporary tourists flock to the state during spring breaks and summer vacations, the availability and pricing for short-term rentals may be impacted. However, even winter months in a state with year-round warm weather can prove challenging for temporary housing seekers. In the winter, Florida sees an influx of snowbirds—retirees escaping colder climates.
Travel nurses looking for short-term housing during peak seasons may find some of their go-to options in short supply, such as longer stays at Airbnb rentals or alternative housing options like extended-stay hotels. While travelers may want to plan their assignments during off-peak periods when demand for housing might be lower, finding 13 consecutive weeks of “off-peak” time in the Sunshine State is its own unique challenge.
Additionally, you must negotiate the terms of your short-term lease to include a flexible end date to accommodate the uncertainty of assignment durations, such as mutually agreed-upon extensions. Finding property owners willing to agree to an open-ended checkout can be difficult. Plus, month-to-month leases often come at a premium, with prices potentially rising even more during seasonal peaks.
7 Tips for Securing Short-Term Housing
Navigating the housing market in Florida requires strategic planning and resourcefulness to find an ideal short-term accommodation. Here are some actionable tips for securing housing that meets your professional and personal needs while on assignment:
- Expand Your Search to Maximize Flexibility: Be open to all types of housing options, such as renting a room in a house, subletting or serviced apartments with flexible lease terms. You might even consider finding a roommate, preferably one who’s already secured housing during your contract dates.
- Explore Areas Further Away. If you don’t mind a short commute, look for housing slightly outside popular areas where rents might be lower. For example, if your contract is in Miami, consider one of the many nearby suburbs.
- Tour Properties Remotely. Travelers often can’t view rental properties in person, but you must be able to assess potential housing options before committing. See if the property owner can provide a virtual tour or detailed photos of the rental. Scour online platforms with honest reviews of rentals you’re considering.
- Check with Local Realtors. Some real estate agencies offer rentals, including short-term solutions. Even if they don’t, they know the local housing market. They may be able to point you in the right direction, such as property owners who are more accommodating to temporary residents.
- Network with Other Nurses: Other travel nurses can often provide leads on housing in areas they’ve previously worked. Online forums and social media groups dedicated to travel nursing are invaluable for sharing tips and rental leads.
- Utilize Specialty Housing Platforms. Several online platforms are dedicated to short-term housing, including a few specifically for healthcare professionals. Many property owners offering short-term leases prefer hosting travel nurses because they’re typically among the best tenants, so use your career to your advantage.
- Prioritize Safety and Convenience. While you want to secure affordable housing, always ensure the location is safe. If you can’t find a rental near work, try to at least locate something close to essential services like grocery stores, banks and public transportation.
Where to Find Travel Nurse Housing in Florida
For travel nurses seeking housing in Florida, several specialized housing websites can be invaluable resources. These platforms meet the needs of healthcare professionals on temporary assignments, offering a range of furnished, flexible-term rental options. Check out these key resources:
- Furnished Finder: Widely recognized for its comprehensive listings tailored to traveling healthcare professionals, all of this site’s listings are fully furnished, and most posters offer flexible lease terms to attract short-term tenants. It has numerous properties throughout the state, especially in large cities like Miami, and each listing includes a rundown of the closest medical facilities and attractions.
- Travel Nurse Housing: Dedicated to the unique housing needs of travel nurses, this platform is a sister site to Furnished Finder and provides access to various rental options located conveniently near major healthcare facilities. Like Furnished Finder, when you search for properties in Orlando or other Florida cities, this site also lists the closest healthcare facilities and attractions, including distance.
- Extended Stay America: Ideal for longer stays in a hotel setting, you’ll find properties throughout Florida, including Miami, Orlando and Tampa. These properties offer amenities like full kitchens, WiFi and on-site laundry, making them feel more like apartments but with the conveniences found in a hotel.
- Airbnb and Vrbo: While typically used for vacation rentals, these platforms can also offer viable short-term Florida housing options for healthcare professionals. However, rentals might be pricier and may not be available for your entire contract. While Airbnb typically has more options, Vrbo still has numerous properties for rent around Florida. When browsing these sites, always factor cleaning, booking and other fees into your total cost.
- ShortTermHousing.com: Specializes in 30-day corporate housing rentals, including listings specifically for traveling healthcare professionals regardless of location, budget or duration. This essential source for fully equipped accommodations has properties throughout the state, including numerous options throughout Tampa.
Benefits of Housing Close to Healthcare Facilities
Living in Florida while on a travel assignment offers a range of scenic locales and activities, but the largest hospitals are located in major metro areas. The top five largest as of October 2022 were all located in just three cities.
Staying in Orlando offers easy access to popular tourist attractions and the largest hospital chain in Florida (AdventHealth Orlando). It’s also home to the fifth-largest hospital in the state based on the number of staff beds (Orlando Health’s Orlando Regional Medical Center). Taking a travel assignment in Miami means access to beautiful beaches, a buzzing nightlife scene and jobs at two of the largest hospitals in the state (Jackson Memorial and Baptist Hospital). If you’re considering a temporary position in Tampa, it boasts a relatively low cost of living compared to other major cities in the state and the third largest hospital by number of beds (Tampa General).
For travel nurses, locating housing near healthcare facilities should be a significant consideration. Being close to work reduces commute times, lowers transportation costs and helps enhance work-life balance. It’s especially beneficial if your contract requires you to work irregular shifts or be placed on call, where quick access to the workplace is crucial. While proximity should be a priority in your housing search, don’t be surprised if you face logistical challenges with many housing options.
Make the Most of Your Assignment in Florida
Living and working as a travel nurse in Florida offers a unique opportunity to experience one of the most beautiful and dynamic states in the U.S. By understanding the state’s housing challenges and leveraging the right resources, you can secure housing that supports your professional commitments and personal needs. Ensure your assignment in Florida is a success by exploring all your housing options to find the most comfortable, convenient and affordable option that allows you to enjoy your time in the Sunshine State.
Sign up for Vivian Health to begin your journey as a travel nurse in Florida or explore opportunities across the country.
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