Nashville, Tennessee assignment guide

Travel Nurse Cost of Living in Nashville, Tennessee

Estimate what a Nashville travel assignment may leave after housing, food, transportation and everyday living costs — and compare the numbers before you sign.

Updated October 4, 2026 · Planning estimates for one adult

Is a Nashville travel assignment worth it?

Nashville has a large healthcare market, but the financial result can change substantially with furnished-housing location, commute distance and season. A strong weekly offer can look less attractive once temporary housing and driving costs are included.

TravelAssignmentWorth currently uses a Nashville local planning benchmark of about $1,850 per month for ordinary housing before the site's short-term/furnished adjustment, plus estimated food, transportation and other living costs. The calculator applies a transparent 20% short-term/furnished adjustment to the housing benchmark. All inputs can be changed when you have real quotes.

~$2,220/mosite housing estimate after 20% short-term/furnished adjustment
~$90/wksite food planning estimate
13 weekscommon example contract length used below
Important: These are budgeting estimates, not furnished-housing quotes and not a determination that any stipend is tax-free. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and tax home.

Example: a 13-week Nashville assignment

For this example, we use a current Nashville travel-nurse average of $1,818 per week reported by Vivian in late September/early October 2026. This is a market benchmark, not a guaranteed offer; pay varies by specialty, shift, facility and contract.

Planning itemEstimated amount
Total contract pay$23,634
Housing (~$2,220/month)~$6,655
Food (~$90/week)~$1,170
Transportation (~$700/month)~$2,100
Other living costs (~$340/month)~$1,020
Estimated remaining~$12,689
Estimated remaining per week~$975

Rounded planning example. It does not include taxes, expenses you maintain back home, contract setup costs or unusual personal expenses.

Calculate your Nashville assignment →

Major Nashville-area hospital systems to know

The Nashville metro is geographically spread out. Before choosing housing, confirm the exact facility and model the commute rather than treating “Nashville” as one small area.

Vanderbilt University Medical CenterMajor academic medical center and health system based in Nashville.
TriStar HealthHCA Healthcare's TriStar network operates multiple hospitals across Middle Tennessee.
Ascension Saint ThomasOperates Nashville-area hospitals including Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown.
Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at VanderbiltChildren's hospital within Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Housing and commute strategy

Start with the actual hospital address and your shift times. Nashville-area assignments can involve substantial driving, so a lower rent farther away can be offset by fuel, time and vehicle costs. Compare furnished options based on total weekly cost, not rent alone.

Tennessee nursing license consideration

Tennessee participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact. An eligible nurse whose primary state of residence is another NLC state may be able to practice in Tennessee under a multistate license. Verify your individual license status and eligibility before accepting or starting an assignment.

This site does not determine licensure eligibility.

Finding furnished housing for a Nashville assignment

Housing can be one of the biggest variables in whether an assignment works for your budget. Before signing a lease or booking an extended stay, compare the total monthly cost with the housing estimate used above and replace the calculator estimate with your actual expected cost.

Total monthly price
Include rent plus required fees rather than comparing the advertised base price alone.
Utilities & internet
Confirm whether electricity, water, internet and other utilities are included.
Commute & parking
Check drive time, transit options and employee or residential parking costs.
Deposit & cancellation
Review deposits, minimum-stay rules and what happens if your assignment changes.
Budget tip: A cheaper rental farther from the facility is not always cheaper overall. Compare housing, commuting and parking together before deciding.

Read our full travel nurse housing cost guide →

Data and official resources

U.S. GSA per diem rates — federal lodging and meals/incidental reimbursement benchmarks. These are reference benchmarks, not furnished-rental quotes or tax determinations.

Nurse Licensure Compact — current compact participation and multistate license guidance.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, TriStar Health, Ascension Saint Thomas Tennessee, and Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt — facility information for assignment and commute planning.

Pay benchmark source: Vivian travel-nurse salary benchmark for Nashville. Average checked October 4, 2026; market data changes frequently.