Travel Nurse Housing in Louisville, Kentucky: Complete Guide

Louisville is Kentucky’s largest city, famous for the Kentucky Derby, bourbon, and a growing food and arts scene along the Ohio River. For travel nurses, Louisville offers a surprisingly robust healthcare market, moderate cost of living, and a genuine Southern hospitality that makes new arrivals feel welcome.

Louisville’s healthcare landscape is anchored by Norton Healthcare, Baptist Health, and UofL Health (University of Louisville). Humana, one of the nation’s largest health insurance companies, is also headquartered here. Travel nurse demand is consistent across major specialties.

Whether you are heading to Louisville 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. Louisville 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

Louisville 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.

Norton Hospital — The flagship of Norton Healthcare, located downtown. Norton is one of the largest healthcare systems in the region with strong cardiac, neuroscience, and women’s health programs.

UofL Health - University Hospital — The primary teaching hospital for the University of Louisville School of Medicine and a Level I trauma center. It serves a diverse patient population and offers academic medical center experience.

Baptist Health Louisville — A large community hospital in the Eastpoint area with comprehensive services including cardiac care, oncology, and orthopedics.

Norton Children’s Hospital — A major pediatric facility downtown providing specialized care for critically ill children and attracting pediatric travel nurses.

Travel nurse demand in Louisville is generally steady, with ICU, ED, med-surg, and cardiac being among the most frequently requested specialties. Contract availability tends to be strong year-round, though demand typically peaks during Kentucky Derby week in May drives up short-term housing prices, and winter flu season increases hospital demand. 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 Louisville 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 Louisville.

NuLu (New Louisville)

East Market Street has been transformed into Louisville’s trendiest neighborhood with farm-to-table restaurants, boutique shops, galleries, and the weekly NuLu Farmers Market.

Pros: Walkable and trendy, excellent restaurants, close to downtown hospitals, vibrant arts scene

Cons: Higher rents for Louisville, limited parking during events, small geographic area

Highlands (Bardstown Road)

Louisville’s iconic neighborhood strip along Bardstown Road features miles of locally owned restaurants, bars, shops, and coffee houses. It is the most walkable and vibrant residential area in the city.

Pros: Walkable and vibrant, excellent dining and nightlife, diverse community, moderate rents

Cons: Parking on Bardstown Road is competitive, some noise from bars, car needed for hospital commutes outside the Highlands

Old Louisville

One of the largest collections of Victorian-era homes in the country, Old Louisville offers beautiful architecture, tree-lined streets, and affordable rents near the UofL campus.

Pros: Beautiful Victorian architecture, very affordable rents, walking distance to UofL Health, St. James Court neighborhood

Cons: Some blocks require safety awareness, older housing stock, limited dining options within the neighborhood

St. Matthews

A suburban area east of downtown with shopping, dining, and safe neighborhoods. It is centrally located for commutes to both downtown and Eastpoint hospitals.

Pros: Safe and convenient, good shopping and dining, centrally located, moderate rents

Cons: Suburban feel, car-dependent, limited nightlife, less character than Highlands or NuLu

When choosing where to live, prioritize keeping your commute under 30 minutes whenever possible. Louisville is car-dependent with a limited bus system (TARC). The city is relatively compact, and most commutes within the I-265 Gene Snyder loop take 15 to 25 minutes. Traffic is manageable compared to larger cities. If you are unfamiliar with the area, connect with other travel nurses who have worked in Louisville through Facebook groups or online forums to get firsthand recommendations on neighborhoods.

Average Housing Costs

Housing costs in Louisville are slightly below 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: $700 to $1,100 per month
• One-bedroom apartment: $850 to $1,350 per month
• Furnished apartment (travel nurse friendly): $1,100 to $1,700 per month

Louisville offers very affordable housing for travel nurses. Your stipend will go far, especially in neighborhoods like Old Louisville and the South End. The Highlands and NuLu command higher rents but offer the best walkability and nightlife. Be aware that Derby week in May creates massive demand for short-term housing.

Many travel nurses in Louisville 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 Louisville, KY 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 Louisville

Every city has its own quirks and considerations when it comes to finding and securing travel nurse housing. Here are tips specific to Louisville that will help you avoid common pitfalls, stretch your housing stipend further, and settle in more quickly.

1. Kentucky Derby impacts housing — The first Saturday in May brings the Kentucky Derby and two weeks of events. Short-term housing prices spike dramatically. If your assignment overlaps, book housing well in advance.

2. Bourbon is a way of life — Louisville is on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Take a day off to tour distilleries like Bulleit, Angel’s Envy, and Rabbit Hole, all located in or near the city.

3. Four distinct seasons — Louisville has hot, humid summers and cold winters with occasional snow. Pack for all four seasons depending on the timing of your assignment.

4. The food scene is underrated — Louisville has one of the most underrated food scenes in the South, with excellent farm-to-table restaurants, hot brown sandwiches, and bourbon-infused everything.

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

Louisville has a below-average cost of living that offers excellent value for travel nurses. Groceries are at or below the national average. Gas prices are moderate. Dining out is very affordable with an impressive food scene for a city its size. Kentucky has a state income tax, but the overall low cost of living more than compensates.

When budgeting for your Louisville assignment, factor in all of your regular expenses beyond rent. Kroger is the dominant grocery chain with good prices. Louisville’s restaurant scene offers excellent value, especially along Bardstown Road and in NuLu. Bourbon tastings and distillery tours are affordable entertainment unique to the area. 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. Louisville has plenty to offer whether you prefer outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, or simply relaxing and recharging between shifts.

• Bourbon Trail — Tour world-famous bourbon distilleries in and around Louisville. Angel’s Envy, Bulleit, Rabbit Hole, and Evan Williams are all in the city, with Maker’s Mark and Woodford Reserve a short drive away.
• Louisville Waterfront Park — A beautifully designed park along the Ohio River with walking paths, playgrounds, and views of the Big Four Bridge pedestrian crossing to Indiana.
• Churchill Downs — Even outside of Derby season, you can tour the historic racetrack and visit the Kentucky Derby Museum. On race days, general admission is affordable and exciting.
• Louisville Mega Cavern — An underground adventure park in a former limestone mine beneath Louisville, offering zip lines, bike tours, and seasonal events.

Take full advantage of your time in Louisville. 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

Louisville, Kentucky offers travel nurses an affordable and welcoming city with strong hospital systems, a world-class bourbon and food scene, and a quality of life that continues to attract new residents and travel nurses alike. With Norton Healthcare, UofL Health, and Baptist Health Louisville and a below 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 Louisville, 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 Louisville assignments, our pay calculator can help you break down the numbers and understand your true compensation.

We wish you the best on your Louisville assignment. It is a great place to be a travel nurse.