How the Housing Stipend Works
Your housing stipend is a weekly or monthly tax-free payment to cover temporary lodging while on assignment away from your tax home. The amount is based on GSA per diem lodging rates for your assignment location — higher cost-of-living areas have higher stipends.
The key benefit: if your actual housing costs are less than your stipend, you keep the difference tax-free. Savvy travelers can pocket hundreds of extra dollars each month by finding affordable housing.
Typical Housing Stipend Amounts
High-Cost Areas ($2,500–$3,500+/mo)
New York, San Francisco, Boston, Los Angeles. Even with high rents, elevated stipends often let you come out ahead with smart housing choices.
Moderate-Cost Areas ($1,500–$2,500/mo)
Denver, Austin, Nashville, Charlotte, Portland. Often the best balance — decent stipends with manageable actual costs, leaving more in your pocket.
Lower-Cost Areas ($1,000–$1,500/mo)
Rural assignments and smaller cities. Lower stipend but often the widest gap between stipend and actual cost.
Housing Stipend vs. Agency Housing
Most agencies give you a choice: take the stipend and find your own place, or let the agency provide housing. Taking the stipend gives you control and usually puts more money in your pocket. Agency housing is convenient but almost always worth less than the stipend equivalent.
Unless you're in a very high-cost area where finding affordable short-term housing is genuinely difficult, most experienced travelers recommend taking the stipend.
How to Maximize Your Housing Stipend
Use travel-specific platforms. Furnished Finder is built for healthcare travelers. Airbnb monthly discounts work well for 13-week stays. Facebook groups for travel therapists often have housing leads.
Consider roommates. Splitting a two-bedroom with another traveler cuts your costs while keeping both stipends intact.
Negotiate lease terms. Many landlords offer discounts for the certainty of a 13-week commitment with an upfront deposit.
Compare the GSA rate to your stipend. If your agency's housing stipend is significantly below the GSA lodging rate for your area, ask why. A transparent agency will explain the math. Learn about GSA rates →