Best Cities for Travel Nurses (2026)
Data-driven rankings of 30 metros by housing affordability, hospital density, and opportunity.
Choosing your next travel nursing assignment? The city you pick matters as much as the hospital. Housing costs, the number of nearby hospitals for moonlighting, and overall quality of life all affect your experience. We ranked every metro in our database using a composite score that weighs hospital density, available listings, and rental affordability.
Metro Rankings
| Rank | Metro | Hospitals | Listings | Avg 1BR Rent | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | 166 | 1569 | $1,200 | 7,122,240 | View |
| 2 | Boston, MA | 74 | 2915 | $2,500 | 4,900,000 | View |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | 124 | 1596 | $1,350 | 7,600,000 | View |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | 157 | 757 | $2,200 | 13,200,000 | View |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | 103 | 1652 | $1,700 | 9,500,000 | View |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | 102 | 1599 | $1,350 | 4,845,832 | View |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | 100 | 1483 | $1,400 | 6,200,000 | View |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | 53 | 1664 | $1,550 | 6,100,000 | View |
| 9 | Miami, FL | 58 | 1330 | $1,800 | 6,100,000 | View |
| 10 | New York, NY | 122 | 0 | $3,000 | 20,100,000 | View |
| 11 | San Diego, CA | 30 | 1600 | $2,100 | 3,300,000 | View |
| 12 | Charlotte, NC | 20 | 1580 | $1,400 | 2,700,000 | View |
| 13 | Nashville, TN | 50 | 824 | $1,550 | 1,989,519 | View |
| 14 | Denver, CO | 45 | 853 | $1,650 | 2,900,000 | View |
| 15 | Seattle, WA | 39 | 839 | $2,000 | 4,000,000 | View |
| 16 | Tampa, FL | 47 | 635 | $1,450 | 3,200,000 | View |
| 17 | San Francisco, CA | 68 | 194 | $2,800 | 4,700,000 | View |
| 18 | Orlando, FL | 28 | 568 | $1,500 | 2,700,000 | View |
| 19 | Minneapolis, MN | 27 | 582 | $1,250 | 3,700,000 | View |
| 20 | San Antonio, TX | 52 | 0 | $1,100 | 2,600,000 | View |
| 21 | Detroit, MI | 49 | 0 | $1,100 | 4,300,000 | View |
| 22 | Washington, DC | 50 | 0 | $2,200 | 6,300,000 | View |
| 23 | Baltimore, MD | 44 | 0 | $1,300 | 2,800,000 | View |
| 24 | St. Louis, MO | 43 | 0 | $1,000 | 2,800,000 | View |
| 25 | Pittsburgh, PA | 40 | 0 | $1,200 | 2,400,000 | View |
| 26 | Austin, TX | 40 | 0 | $1,500 | 2,300,000 | View |
| 27 | Cleveland, OH | 36 | 0 | $1,000 | 2,100,000 | View |
| 28 | Columbus, OH | 29 | 0 | $1,200 | 2,100,000 | View |
| 29 | Portland, OR | 25 | 0 | $1,600 | 2,500,000 | View |
| 30 | Raleigh, NC | 13 | 0 | $1,400 | 2,000,000 | View |
Top Metros at a Glance
Houston, TX
Boston, MA
Dallas, TX
Los Angeles, CA
Chicago, IL
Phoenix, AZ
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a city good for travel nurses?
The best cities combine affordable housing, a high density of hospitals (more assignment options), reasonable cost of living, and a strong healthcare job market. Cities with major medical centers and teaching hospitals tend to offer the most opportunities.
Which cities pay travel nurses the most?
Pay varies by specialty and demand, but cities with higher costs of living typically offer higher stipends. The best overall value often comes from cities where pay is moderate but housing costs are low, maximizing your take-home savings.
How do I choose between cities for my next assignment?
Consider housing costs relative to your stipend, the number of hospitals (for extension or moonlighting options), commute times, climate preferences, and proximity to family. Our rankings weight affordability and hospital density to help you compare.