Travel Nurse Housing in Minneapolis, Minnesota: Complete Guide

Minneapolis, along with its twin city St. Paul, forms a vibrant metropolitan area known for its lakes, parks, thriving arts scene, and one of the best healthcare markets in the country. The Twin Cities are home to major health systems and offer travel nurses an excellent quality of life despite the cold winters.

The Twin Cities healthcare market is one of the strongest in the Midwest, anchored by Mayo Clinic Health System, Allina Health, Fairview Health Services (now part of Sanford Health), and HealthPartners. The University of Minnesota Medical Center adds academic medicine depth.

Whether you are heading to Minneapolis 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. Minneapolis 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

Minneapolis 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.

University of Minnesota Medical Center — A major academic medical center and Level I trauma center affiliated with the University of Minnesota. Known for transplant surgery, cancer care, and research.

Abbott Northwestern Hospital — The flagship of Allina Health and one of the largest hospitals in the Twin Cities. It is a Level I trauma center known for its heart institute and neuroscience programs.

Hennepin Healthcare (HCMC) — The region’s safety-net hospital and Level I trauma center serving a diverse urban population with high-volume, high-acuity patient care.

Regions Hospital (St. Paul) — A HealthPartners facility and Level I trauma center in St. Paul with strong emergency medicine and burn programs.

Travel nurse demand in Minneapolis is generally strong, with ICU, ED, med-surg, and OR being among the most frequently requested specialties. Contract availability tends to be strong year-round, though demand typically peaks during winter flu season when staff absences increase. 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 Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis.

Uptown

One of Minneapolis’s most popular neighborhoods around Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet with restaurants, boutiques, and urban lake access.

Pros: Lake access, vibrant dining and nightlife, walkable, close to Abbott Northwestern

Cons: Higher rents, parking is limited, can be noisy, gentrification concerns

Northeast (Nordeast)

A formerly blue-collar neighborhood turned arts and brewery hub with a strong community identity and diverse dining.

Pros: Excellent brewery and dining scene, strong community character, affordable, growing arts scene

Cons: Farther from south-side hospitals, limited transit options, some industrial blocks

North Loop (Warehouse District)

Minneapolis’s trendiest neighborhood with loft apartments, upscale restaurants, and proximity to Target Field and the downtown hospital campus.

Pros: Trendy dining and nightlife, modern lofts, close to HCMC and downtown, walkable

Cons: Expensive rents, noisy on game nights, limited parking, can feel commercial

St. Paul - Highland Park

A residential neighborhood in St. Paul near the Mississippi River with a walkable commercial strip and proximity to Regions Hospital.

Pros: Walkable Highland Village, safe residential streets, close to Regions Hospital, community feel

Cons: In St. Paul rather than Minneapolis, quiet nightlife, car needed for Minneapolis destinations

When choosing where to live, prioritize keeping your commute under 30 minutes whenever possible. Minneapolis has a solid light rail system (METRO Blue and Green lines) connecting downtown to the airport, Mall of America, and St. Paul. Bus service is extensive. Biking is popular in warmer months with excellent bike lane infrastructure. If you are unfamiliar with the area, connect with other travel nurses who have worked in Minneapolis through Facebook groups or online forums to get firsthand recommendations on neighborhoods.

Average Housing Costs

Housing costs in Minneapolis 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 $1,500 per month
• One-bedroom apartment: $1,100 to $1,800 per month
• Furnished apartment (travel nurse friendly): $1,400 to $2,200 per month

Minneapolis offers good value for a major metro. Furnished apartments are available, and the Uptown and North Loop areas are popular with travel nurses. Winter months may have more housing availability as demand decreases.

Many travel nurses in Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis, MN 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 Minneapolis

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

1. Winter is extreme — Minneapolis is one of the coldest major cities in the US. Subzero temperatures are common from December through February. Invest in serious winter gear including a heavy parka, insulated boots, and a car block heater.

2. The skyway system is a lifesaver — Downtown Minneapolis has an extensive skyway system connecting buildings. You can walk miles downtown without going outside in winter.

3. Chain of Lakes is spectacular — Minneapolis’s lake chain provides year-round recreation from summer swimming and paddling to winter ice skating and cross-country skiing.

4. Minnesota income tax is notable — Minnesota has one of the higher state income tax rates. Factor this into pay package evaluations.

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

Minneapolis has an above-average cost of living driven by housing costs and a higher tax burden. Groceries are at the national average. Gas is moderate. Dining out is excellent value with a thriving food scene that punches well above its weight.

When budgeting for your Minneapolis assignment, factor in all of your regular expenses beyond rent. Cub Foods, Aldi, and Hy-Vee offer competitive grocery prices. Minneapolis’s diverse food scene includes excellent Somali, Vietnamese, and Mexican restaurants in addition to the growing fine dining scene. The many lakes and parks provide free year-round recreation. 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. Minneapolis has plenty to offer whether you prefer outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, or simply relaxing and recharging between shifts.

• Chain of Lakes — Minneapolis’s interconnected urban lakes offer swimming, paddleboarding, biking, and cross-country skiing depending on the season.
• Minneapolis Institute of Art — A world-class art museum with free general admission featuring collections spanning 5,000 years from every continent.
• Brewery Tours — Minneapolis has a thriving craft beer scene with Surly, Indeed, and Bauhaus among the local favorites. Most offer taprooms and tours.
• Boundary Waters Day Trip — Drive three to four hours north to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness for some of the best canoeing and camping in the country.

Take full advantage of your time in Minneapolis. 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

Minneapolis, Minnesota offers travel nurses one of the strongest healthcare markets in the Midwest with an outstanding quality of life, beautiful urban lakes, a vibrant food and arts scene, and world-class hospitals. With University of Minnesota Medical Center, Allina Health, Hennepin Healthcare, and HealthPartners 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 Minneapolis, 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 Minneapolis assignments, our pay calculator can help you break down the numbers and understand your true compensation.

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