Travel Nurse Housing in Flagstaff, Arizona: Complete Guide
Flagstaff is a mountain city at 7,000 feet in northern Arizona near the Grand Canyon. Travel nurses find a strong regional hospital, four-season recreation, and a college-town atmosphere with NAU.
Flagstaff Medical Center (Northern Arizona Healthcare) is the regional hospital.
Whether you are heading to Flagstaff for your first travel nursing assignment or returning for another contract, this guide will help you navigate the housing market, understand what to expect from local costs, and find a neighborhood that fits your needs. Flagstaff has a lot to offer travel nurses, and a little planning goes a long way toward making your assignment a success.
Major Hospitals and Health Systems
Flagstaff is home to several major hospitals and health systems that consistently hire travel nurses across a wide range of specialties. Knowing which facilities are in the area helps you plan your housing search around commute times and gives you a sense of where demand is concentrated.
Flagstaff Medical Center — A Level I trauma center and the primary hospital for northern Arizona, serving a vast region including the Navajo Nation and Hopi Reservation.
Travel nurse demand in Flagstaff is generally strong, with ICU, ED, med-surg, and telemetry being among the most frequently requested specialties. Contract availability tends to be strong year-round, though demand typically peaks during ski season and summer Grand Canyon tourist season. If you are flexible on specialty or shift, you will have even more options to choose from in this market.
Best Neighborhoods for Travel Nurses
Choosing the right neighborhood is one of the most important decisions you will make during your Flagstaff assignment. Where you live affects your commute, your safety, your access to amenities, and ultimately your quality of life for the duration of your contract. Here are the top neighborhoods that travel nurses should consider when searching for housing in Flagstaff.
Downtown Flagstaff
A walkable downtown on Route 66 with restaurants, shops, and breweries.
Pros: Walkable, dining scene, Route 66 charm, close to hospital
Cons: Higher rents, tourist traffic, cold winters
Sunnyside-University area
Residential area near NAU with moderate rents.
Pros: Near hospital, moderate rents, NAU campus access
Cons: Student noise, limited parking, older housing
East Flagstaff
Residential neighborhoods along I-40 with newer developments.
Pros: Moderate rents, safe, mountain scenery
Cons: Car-dependent, limited dining, suburban feel
When choosing where to live, prioritize keeping your commute under 30 minutes whenever possible. Car-dependent. Small city with commutes under 10 minutes. If you are unfamiliar with the area, connect with other travel nurses who have worked in Flagstaff through Facebook groups or online forums to get firsthand recommendations on neighborhoods.
Average Housing Costs
Housing costs in Flagstaff are slightly above the national average. Here is a general overview of what you can expect to pay for rental housing in the area. Keep in mind that prices vary by neighborhood, season, and the specific amenities included with the unit.
- Studio apartment: $900 to $1,400 per month
- One-bedroom apartment: $1,050 to $1,650 per month
- Furnished apartment (travel nurse friendly): $1,350 to $2,050 per month
Flagstaff is more expensive than you might expect for its size due to tourism and limited inventory.
Many travel nurses in Flagstaff find their housing through Furnished Finder , which connects healthcare travelers with landlords who specifically offer furnished, short-term rentals designed for assignment-length stays. It is one of the most widely used housing platforms in the travel nursing industry and an excellent starting point for your search. You can also explore local Facebook groups, Craigslist, and extended-stay hotels to compare your options and find the best fit for your budget and preferences.
GSA Stipend Rate
The General Services Administration publishes per diem rates that many travel nursing agencies use as a baseline for calculating housing and meals and incidentals stipends. The GSA rate for the Flagstaff, AZ area varies by time of year, with higher rates typically applying during peak travel seasons and lower rates during off-peak months.
It is essential to check the current GSA per diem rate for your specific assignment dates and location, as rates are updated annually each October and can change significantly from year to year. You can look up the exact rate on the GSA website or ask your recruiter for the figures they are using to calculate your pay package. Keep in mind that your actual stipend may differ from the published GSA rate depending on your agency’s internal pay structure and policies.
Understanding how your stipend fits into your total compensation is key to evaluating any travel nursing contract. For help breaking down the numbers, use our pay calculator to compare packages side by side and see your estimated take-home pay after taxes, stipends, and deductions.
Housing Tips for Flagstaff
Every city has its own quirks and considerations when it comes to finding and securing travel nurse housing. Here are tips specific to Flagstaff that will help you avoid common pitfalls, stretch your housing stipend further, and settle in more quickly.
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High altitude — At 7,000 feet, altitude adjustment is needed. Stay hydrated.
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Grand Canyon is 80 minutes away — One of the world’s greatest natural wonders is a short drive.
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Real winter — Flagstaff gets significant snow. Winter gear is essential.
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Navajo Nation service area — The hospital serves a large Native American patient population, providing unique cultural experience.
For a comprehensive overview of the housing search process from start to finish, including how to spot scams and negotiate lease terms, check out our complete travel nurse housing guide. It covers everything you need to know regardless of which city you are heading to.
Cost of Living Overview
Flagstaff’s cost of living is above average, driven by limited housing supply and tourism demand.
When budgeting for your Flagstaff assignment, factor in all of your regular expenses beyond rent. Fry’s and Safeway are main grocery options. Flagstaff’s brewery and restaurant scene is good but not cheap. Tracking your spending during the first two weeks of your assignment will give you a realistic picture of your monthly costs and help you adjust your budget accordingly.
Things to Do on Days Off
One of the greatest perks of travel nursing is the opportunity to explore a new city on your days off. Flagstaff has plenty to offer whether you prefer outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, or simply relaxing and recharging between shifts.
- Grand Canyon National Park — One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World is just 80 minutes north.
- Arizona Snowbowl — Skiing and snowboarding on the slopes of the San Francisco Peaks.
- Walnut Canyon National Monument — Cliff dwellings and hiking trails in a stunning canyon just east of Flagstaff.
- Sedona Day Trip — The famous red rock formations of Sedona are just 45 minutes south.
Take full advantage of your time in Flagstaff. Exploring the local culture, trying restaurants you have never heard of, and visiting nearby attractions are what make travel nursing more than just a paycheck. Many travel nurses find that their days off are when they truly fall in love with a new city.
Final Thoughts
Flagstaff, Arizona offers travel nurses a mountain gateway to the Grand Canyon with a Level I trauma center, four-season recreation, and a unique patient population serving the vast northern Arizona region. With Flagstaff Medical Center (Northern Arizona Healthcare) and a above average cost of living, it is a market well worth considering whether you are a first-time traveler or a seasoned veteran looking for your next destination.
Start your housing search as early as possible, ideally four to six weeks before your assignment start date. The best furnished rentals tend to go quickly, especially in popular neighborhoods near major hospitals. Furnished Finder is an excellent resource for finding travel nurse housing in Flagstaff, and joining local travel nurse social media groups can give you insider tips and real-time availability updates.
For more resources on finding and securing great travel nurse housing anywhere in the country, explore our complete housing guide. And when you are comparing pay packages for Flagstaff assignments, our pay calculator can help you break down the numbers and understand your true compensation.
We wish you the best on your Flagstaff assignment. It is a great place to be a travel nurse.