Travel Nurse Housing in San Diego | Furnished Rentals
Starting a travel assignment in San Diego? You've picked one of the best markets in the country for it. San Diego consistently ranks as the #1 US city for travel-nurse housing demand — major hospital systems here run travel contracts year-round, not just in surge seasons, which means steady assignment availability and a deep bench of furnished rentals built around healthcare workers.
The big three anchors are UC San Diego Health (including Jacobs Medical Center in La Jolla), Scripps Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest, and Sharp Memorial Hospital near Kearny Mesa. Between them and the surrounding clinics, surgical centers, and specialty facilities, nurses take assignments across the whole metro — from beach neighborhoods to the inland suburbs.
San Diego's other advantage is lifestyle math. The weather means you can actually enjoy your days off in January, the neighborhoods near the hospitals are walkable and full of nurses on the same schedule, and the stipends here run toward the premium end nationally. If you're comparing offers, check our travel nurse stipend guide to see how California stacks up before you sign.
Benefits for Property Owners Listing on Transplant Housing
Property owners interested in renting to travel nurses in San Diego should look at Transplant Housing.
Our robust platform can help you reach thousands of potential tenants without worrying about doing your own marketing and offer straightforward pricing for cost-effective listings:
90-day listing: $39While you are renting to travel nurses in San Diego, we provide expert support through multiple channels:
Chat
Phone
EmailTo ensure the safety of your property and a good experience for everyone involved, Transplant Housing has built continuous profile monitoring and account security into our system. This means that we regularly check the profiles of both tenants and property owners to ensure they meet our standards, and we have robust security measures in place to protect your account and personal information.
At Transplant Housing, we've streamlined the process of renting to travel nurses, making it a simple and hassle-free experience for property owners.
To list a suitable accommodation on Transplant Housing, follow these simple steps:
- Choose a listing package
- Enter a complete description of your property
- Upload attractive photos that feature your amenities
- Communicate with potential tenants via the platform
- Establish an agreement and begin collecting rent
Tenant Screening
By reviewing a tenant’s credit history, conducting a thorough background check, and examining their eviction records, property owners gain valuable insights into an applicant’s reliability and trustworthiness.
Why Choose Transplant Housing for Travel Nurses?
Those who choose Transplant Housing’s services to find the best homes or traveling nurse apartments in San Diego enjoy distinct benefits. All facilities are optimized and include the expected amenities to meet the needs of the busy healthcare professional:
Utilities
Kitchenware
Fully furnished apartments
Pet-friendly options
Of course, we also offer budget-friendly homes for short-term stays. No matter which San Diego housing option you choose, Transplant Housing provides a simple and hassle-free booking process via Transplant Housing’s easy-to-use platform. We know how stressful it can be to find the right accommodations. That’s why we make it easy to find furnished rentals for nurses.
Hospitals and Medical Centers Nearby
Most travel contracts in San Diego cluster around these facilities. When you're browsing listings, filter by commute to your specific hospital — a 15-minute drive beats a 45-minute one after a 12-hour night shift, every time.
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UC San Diego Health — Jacobs Medical Center (La Jolla)
The region's academic medical center and Level 1 trauma center. Huge travel demand across ICU, ED, oncology, and surgical specialties. Look at La Jolla, University City, and Clairemont for the shortest commutes.
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Scripps Mercy Hospital (Hillcrest)
A major teaching hospital with heavy travel usage in med-surg, telemetry, and ED. Hillcrest, North Park, and Mission Hills put you within minutes.
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Sharp Memorial Hospital (Serra Mesa)
Sharp's flagship, with strong demand in cardiac, oncology, and surgical services. Mission Valley, Linda Vista, and Tierrasanta are the practical picks.
Neighborhoods travel nurses search most: Hillcrest (walkable, central to Scripps Mercy and Sharp), La Jolla and University City (near UCSD, quieter, pricier), North Park (younger crowd, good food scene, central), and Mission Valley (central to everything, easy freeway access, often the best value for furnished units).
What to Look for in San Diego Travel Nurse Housing
San Diego listings are plentiful, which means you can afford to be picky. Here's what actually matters for a 13-week stay:
Blackout curtains
Non-negotiable if you're on nights — and plenty of San Diego rentals have big, bright windows. Confirm before you book.
Parking
Hillcrest and North Park street parking is genuinely difficult. A dedicated spot or garage is worth paying for; ask whether it's included.
In-unit or on-site laundry
You'll be washing scrubs constantly. Don't settle for a laundromat three blocks away.
Air conditioning
Coastal San Diego is mild, but inland neighborhoods (Mission Valley east, Kearny Mesa) get real heat from September through November. If your assignment runs through fall, AC matters.
All-inclusive monthly pricing
The best listings bundle rent, utilities, wifi, and parking into one number so you can compare it directly against your housing stipend.
Fully furnished, move-in ready
You should need nothing but a suitcase — cookware, linens, towels, and a real workspace included.
Browse current San Diego listings below. Every listing is a furnished, flexible-term rental — no nightly vacation pricing, no booking fees for nurses.
Travel Nurse Housing Options in San Diego
Transplant Housing offers a wide range of accommodations for healthcare professionals who request travel nurse housing.
Current listings in San Diego include:
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A modern furnished condo near University of San Diego -
A private room and bathroom in the Historic District -
A beautiful 3-bed, 2-bath residential home with canyon views -
A cozy and cute 2-bed, 1-bath bungalow close to everything
These properties are in ideal locations near hospitals like UC San Diego Health, Scripps Mercy Hospital, and Sharp Memorial Hospital. Many are located either in Downtown San Diego or other popular neighborhoods, such as Hillcrest and La Jolla.
Own Property in San Diego?
If you're a landlord near UCSD, Scripps, or Sharp, travel nurses are some of the steadiest tenants in the San Diego rental market: 13-week average stays, stipend-backed rent, and far less turnover than nightly rentals. Read our landlord's guide to renting to travel nurses, then list your property — live the same day, starting at $39.
Frequently Asked Questions
Furnished short-term rentals in San Diego typically run higher than the national average — it's a premium stipend market. Most travel nurses here work with a housing stipend in the premium band (roughly $2,800–$4,200/month in California markets), and well-priced listings cluster within that range. Always compare the all-inclusive monthly number — rent plus utilities, wifi, and parking — against your specific stipend, not just the headline rent. Our stipend-by-state guide breaks down what to expect.
The industry standard is 13 weeks, with most leases running 8 to 26 weeks. Listings on Transplant Housing are built for flexible, medium-term stays — not 12-month leases and not nightly vacation rates. Many contracts get extended, so ask your landlord about extension terms before you sign.
A proper travel nurse listing should be fully furnished and move-in ready: furniture, equipped kitchen, cookware, linens and towels, fast wifi, and laundry access. Utilities and parking should either be included or clearly priced. If a listing is vague about what's included, ask — nurses book sight-unseen, so the amenity list is your property tour.
Aim for under 30 minutes, ideally under 20. After night shifts, a short commute isn't a luxury — it's a safety issue. In San Diego, traffic on the 5, 8, and 163 corridors can double drive times at rush hour, so check the route at the time you'd actually be driving it, not just the mileage.
It depends on the listing. Many San Diego houses and some apartment listings welcome pets, often with a pet deposit. Use the pet filter when browsing — and confirm the policy in writing before you book, since "pet-friendly" sometimes means cats only.
Submit a free housing request and our team will contact property owners that match your dates, budget, and hospital — we do the searching for you. It's free for travel nurses, and it's the fastest option when your start date is close.