Travel Nursing in Santa Cruz, CA

Travel nursing in Santa Cruz, CA — what it costs to live there and 4 furnished places to stay.

Housing in Santa Cruz

4 furnished rentals available for travel nurses.

Browse Santa Cruz housing

Cost of living in Santa Cruz

Prices in California run 11% higher overall.

CategoryIndexvs national
Overall110.711% higher
Housing154.354% higher
Utilities158.959% higher
Groceries and goods106.16% higher
Services102.63% higher

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024, where 100 is the national average.

Rent in Santa Cruz

UnitMonthlyMeasure
Studio$3,480HUD Fair Market Rent 2025, utilities included
One bedroom$3,670HUD Fair Market Rent 2025, utilities included
Two bedroom$4,810HUD Fair Market Rent 2025, utilities included
Three bedroom$5,990HUD Fair Market Rent 2025, utilities included
Typical asking rent, all sizes$3,995Zillow Observed Rent Index 2025

Licensing

California is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so you need a California license to work here even if you hold a multistate license.

Pay in CA

Average weekly package (base + stipends): $2,771 based on 3 reports.

View CA pay data

Other cities in California

Resources

Common questions

Do I need a California nursing license?
California is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so you need a California license to work here even if you hold a multistate license.
Is Santa Cruz expensive for travel nurses?
Against the national average, California runs utilities 59% above, housing 54% above and groceries and goods 6% above. The rest, services, sits within a few points of average. (BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024, where 100 is the national average.)
What is rent for a travel nurse in Santa Cruz?
The market rate for a one-bedroom in Santa Cruz is $3,670 a month (HUD Fair Market Rent, 2025, utilities included). CircleRN lists 4 furnished places here.