Travel nurse housing in Santa Cruz, CA
4 furnished rentals listed by hosts for travelers, median $2,150 a month. HUD fair market rent for a one-bedroom here is $3,670, the benchmark this page holds a housing stipend against, and the median asks $1,520 less.
- Active listings
- 4
- Median asking rent
- $2,150 a month
- Price range
- $1,600 to $3,100
- Pet friendly
- 25%
- HUD fair market rent, 1BR
- $3,670
What renting here costs
Median asking rent across the 4 listings is $2,150 a month, from $1,600 to $3,100. HUD fair market rent for a one-bedroom is $3,670 (2025); 4 of the 4 sit at or under it.
| Asking rent | Listings |
|---|
| Under $1k | 0 |
| $1–1.5k | 0 |
| $1.5–2k | 2 |
| $2–2.5k | 0 |
| $2.5–3k | 1 |
| Over $3k | 1 |
Available now
- 1-bedroom apartment — $2,500 a month · under fair market rent · utilities included, parking, furnished
- 1-bedroom private room — $1,600 a month · under fair market rent · private room, utilities included, parking
- 1-bedroom house — $3,100 a month · under fair market rent · utilities included, parking, pets ok
- 1-bedroom private room — $1,800 a month · under fair market rent · private room, utilities included, furnished
The stipend against the market
HUD fair market rent is the benchmark this page holds a housing stipend against; furnished traveler rentals ask what they ask. Monthly figures, side by side:
- Cheapest private room
- $1,600
- HUD fair market rent, 1BR
- $3,670
- Median listing here
- $2,150
- HUD fair market rent, 2BR
- $4,810
- Market asking rent (Zillow ZORI)
- $3,995
The GSA lodging rate for Santa Cruz is $139 to $176 a night (fiscal 2026), up to about $5,280 a month: the tax-free ceiling for a lodging stipend, not what an agency pays.
Against the national average, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA runs housing 64% above, utilities 53% above and groceries and goods 5% above. (Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro, 2024.)
| Category | vs. national average |
|---|
| Overall | 10% above |
| Housing | 64% above |
| Utilities | 53% above |
| Groceries and goods | 5% above |
| Services | at par |
HUD fair market rent for a two-bedroom in Santa Cruz is $4,810 a month (2025, utilities included); a one-bedroom is $3,670.
California taxes wage income.
Renting here as a traveler
- 4 of 4 listings sit under fair market rent
- HUD fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Santa Cruz is $3,670 a month, the benchmark this page holds a stipend against. The 4 under it run from $1,600.
- 2 private rooms with a shared kitchen
- Median $1,700 a month, against $2,800 for an entire place here.
- 4 of 4 include utilities
- Every listing here states which utilities are included; the detail page lists them.
- Parking on 3 of 4
- 1 state none; the detail page says what each offers.
- 1 listing takes pets
- 25% of the listings here state pets allowed.
- Minimum stay: 1 month median
- Across the 4 listings that state one, in months.
Common questions
- How much does travel nurse housing cost in Santa Cruz, CA?
- 4 listings on CircleRN ask from $1,600 to $3,100 a month, median $2,150. HUD fair market rent for a one-bedroom is $3,670, so the median sits $1,520 under it.
- Can I rent a private room instead of an entire place in Santa Cruz?
- Yes. 2 of the 4 listings are private rooms with shared common areas, from $1,600 a month.
- What is the GSA lodging rate for Santa Cruz?
- $139 to $176 a night depending on the month for Santa Cruz (fiscal 2026), up to about $5,280 a month. That is the tax-free ceiling for a lodging stipend, not what an agency pays; your recruiter quotes the actual figure.
- How do booking and payment work on CircleRN?
- You message the host on CircleRN and make the arrangements with them directly, including payment. CircleRN does not hold or process rent. Never wire money before you have seen the place or spoken to the host; see the Trust & Safety page for the signs of a scam.
- Do I need a California license to work in Santa Cruz?
- California is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so you need a California license to work here even if you hold a multistate license.
Housing elsewhere in the state
- Housing in San Diego — 72 listings, median $2,350, $180 under fair market rent
- Housing in Los Angeles — 56 listings, median $2,150, $0 under fair market rent
- Housing in Sacramento — 27 listings, median $1,800, $170 over fair market rent
- Housing in Riverside — 15 listings, median $2,000, $10 over fair market rent
- Housing in Palm Springs — 14 listings, median $2,175, $315 over fair market rent
- Housing in Bakersfield — 13 listings, median $1,600, $540 over fair market rent
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