Travel Nurse Housing in Memphis, Tennessee: Complete Guide

Memphis is a city steeped in music, barbecue, and civil rights history. Home to Beale Street, Graceland, and some of the best barbecue in the world, Memphis also has a strong healthcare market anchored by major medical centers. The very low cost of living and no state income tax on wages make Memphis financially attractive for travel nurses.

Memphis’s healthcare market is dominated by Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Baptist Memorial Health Care, and the Regional One Health system. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while primarily research-focused, adds to the city’s healthcare significance.

Whether you are heading to Memphis 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. Memphis 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

Memphis 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.

Methodist University Hospital — The flagship of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare and the primary teaching hospital for UT Health Science Center. It is a Level I trauma center downtown with high patient volumes.

Baptist Memorial Hospital - Memphis — One of the largest hospitals in the Baptist system, located in East Memphis with comprehensive cardiac, oncology, and surgical programs.

Regional One Health — Memphis’s safety-net hospital and a Level I trauma center known for its burn center and trauma services. Travel nurses here gain high-acuity, high-volume experience.

Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital — A nationally ranked pediatric hospital affiliated with Methodist and located adjacent to St. Jude. Pediatric travel nurses find exceptional experience here.

Travel nurse demand in Memphis 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 winter flu 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 Memphis 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 Memphis.

Midtown Memphis

The cultural heart of Memphis with Overton Park, Cooper-Young neighborhood, and a vibrant mix of restaurants, bars, and shops. Midtown is the most walkable area and popular with young professionals.

Pros: Walkable Cooper-Young district, close to Midtown hospitals, vibrant dining and nightlife, Overton Park and the zoo

Cons: Some areas require safety awareness, limited parking near Cooper-Young on weekends, older housing stock

East Memphis

A residential area with shopping along Poplar Avenue, safer neighborhoods, and proximity to Baptist Memorial Hospital.

Pros: Safer residential streets, close to Baptist Memorial, good shopping and dining along Poplar, family-friendly

Cons: Suburban feel, car-dependent, limited nightlife, farther from downtown attractions

Downtown and South Main

Memphis’s downtown has been revitalized around the South Main Arts District with galleries, restaurants, and loft apartments. It is close to Regional One and Methodist.

Pros: Walkable to downtown hospitals, growing arts and dining scene, historic character, close to Beale Street and river

Cons: Safety concerns on some downtown blocks, limited grocery options, noise from Beale Street entertainment

Harbor Town

A planned community on Mud Island in the Mississippi River with modern apartments, river views, and a community feel. It offers a unique Memphis living experience.

Pros: River views, community atmosphere, safe, close to downtown, modern housing

Cons: Limited dining and shopping within the community, bridge access to the mainland can feel isolating, higher rents for the area

When choosing where to live, prioritize keeping your commute under 30 minutes whenever possible. Memphis is car-dependent with limited public transit. The city’s layout is relatively straightforward, and most commutes take 15 to 25 minutes. Downtown, Midtown, and East Memphis are the main corridors where hospitals and housing concentrate. If you are unfamiliar with the area, connect with other travel nurses who have worked in Memphis through Facebook groups or online forums to get firsthand recommendations on neighborhoods.

Average Housing Costs

Housing costs in Memphis are 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: $650 to $1,000 per month
• One-bedroom apartment: $750 to $1,200 per month
• Furnished apartment (travel nurse friendly): $1,000 to $1,600 per month

Memphis is one of the most affordable cities in the country for travel nurse housing. Your stipend will stretch remarkably far here, and finding quality furnished housing well below your stipend amount is very achievable.

Many travel nurses in Memphis 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 Memphis, TN 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 Memphis

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

1. No state income tax on wages — Tennessee has no state income tax on wages, which boosts your take-home pay. Combined with Memphis’s extremely low cost of living, this makes it one of the most financially rewarding markets in the country.

2. Safety awareness is important — Memphis has higher crime rates than the national average. Research neighborhoods carefully, ask other travel nurses about specific areas, and take standard urban safety precautions.

3. The barbecue is world-class — Memphis barbecue is legendary. Central BBQ, The Bar-B-Q Shop, Payne’s, and Cozy Corner are local institutions. Trying them all is essentially a requirement of your assignment.

4. Summer heat and humidity — Memphis summers are hot and humid. Prepare for temperatures in the 90s with high humidity from June through September.

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

Memphis has one of the lowest costs of living among major US cities. Groceries are well below the national average. Gas is cheap. Dining out is extremely affordable, with legendary barbecue restaurants and soul food spots offering enormous portions at low prices.

When budgeting for your Memphis assignment, factor in all of your regular expenses beyond rent. Kroger is the dominant grocery chain with good prices and selection. Take advantage of Memphis’s incredibly affordable dining scene. Barbecue, soul food, and local diners offer huge meals for under $15. The savings on food alone can significantly boost your monthly budget. 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. Memphis has plenty to offer whether you prefer outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, or simply relaxing and recharging between shifts.

• Beale Street — Memphis’s famous blues district with live music pouring out of every door. BB King’s, Rum Boogie Cafe, and Silky O’Sullivan’s are iconic stops.
• Graceland — Visit Elvis Presley’s legendary home and museum. Love it or laugh at it, it is a uniquely American experience and a Memphis must-see.
• National Civil Rights Museum — Located at the former Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, this powerful museum traces the history of the civil rights movement.
• Shelby Farms Park — One of the largest urban parks in the country at over 4,500 acres, with trails, a lake, horseback riding, zip lines, and a nature center.

Take full advantage of your time in Memphis. 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

Memphis, Tennessee offers travel nurses an extremely affordable cost of living, no state income tax on wages, world-class barbecue and music, and strong hospital systems that provide travel nurses with excellent clinical experience. With Methodist Le Bonheur, Baptist Memorial Health Care, and Regional One Health and a low 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 Memphis, 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 Memphis assignments, our pay calculator can help you break down the numbers and understand your true compensation.

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