Travel Nurse Housing in Palm Springs, California: Complete Guide
Palm Springs is a desert resort city in California’s Coachella Valley, known for mid-century modern architecture, natural hot springs, and year-round sunshine. Travel nurses find growing demand and an affordable alternative to coastal California.
Desert Regional Medical Center is the primary hospital. Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage is a major facility.
Whether you are heading to Palm Springs 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. Palm Springs 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
Palm Springs 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.
Desert Regional Medical Center — A Level I trauma center in downtown Palm Springs with comprehensive emergency and medical services.
Eisenhower Health — A major medical center in Rancho Mirage with a strong reputation for cardiac care and comprehensive services.
Travel nurse demand in Palm Springs is generally growing, 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 season (November-April) when desert population swells. 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 Palm Springs 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 Palm Springs.
Downtown Palm Springs
The walkable Palm Canyon Drive area with restaurants, shops, and mid-century architecture.
Pros: Walkable, dining, mid-century character, close to hospital, mountain views
Cons: Hot summers, higher rents for the area, tourist crowds
Cathedral City
A more affordable city immediately east of Palm Springs.
Pros: More affordable, close to hospitals, diverse, practical
Cons: Less character, car-dependent, hot summers
Rancho Mirage
An upscale community near Eisenhower Health with golf courses and resorts.
Pros: Close to Eisenhower, upscale, golf courses, quieter
Cons: Higher rents, car-dependent, older community, very hot summers
When choosing where to live, prioritize keeping your commute under 30 minutes whenever possible. Car required. The Coachella Valley is spread out along Highway 111 and I-10. If you are unfamiliar with the area, connect with other travel nurses who have worked in Palm Springs through Facebook groups or online forums to get firsthand recommendations on neighborhoods.
Average Housing Costs
Housing costs in Palm Springs 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: $1,000 to $1,600 per month
- One-bedroom apartment: $1,200 to $1,900 per month
- Furnished apartment (travel nurse friendly): $1,500 to $2,400 per month
Palm Springs is more affordable than coastal California. Winter season increases rental demand. Summer rates are significantly cheaper. Heat makes summer contracts challenging.
Many travel nurses in Palm Springs 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 Palm Springs, CA 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 Palm Springs
Every city has its own quirks and considerations when it comes to finding and securing travel nurse housing. Here are tips specific to Palm Springs that will help you avoid common pitfalls, stretch your housing stipend further, and settle in more quickly.
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Summer heat is extreme — June through September temperatures regularly exceed 110-120°F. This is not an exaggeration.
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Winter is perfect — November through April offers 70-85°F temperatures and sunshine nearly every day.
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Mid-century modern architecture — Palm Springs is the global capital of mid-century modern design with annual Modernism Week.
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Coachella and Stagecoach festivals — April brings massive music festivals that impact housing and traffic in the valley.
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
Palm Springs is more affordable than coastal California, making it an attractive option for travel nurses who want California living at a lower cost.
When budgeting for your Palm Springs assignment, factor in all of your regular expenses beyond rent. Ralphs, Trader Joe’s, and Walmart are available. The Palm Springs VillageFest street fair every Thursday evening is a community highlight. 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. Palm Springs has plenty to offer whether you prefer outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, or simply relaxing and recharging between shifts.
- Joshua Tree National Park — Otherworldly desert landscapes with unique rock formations and Joshua trees, about 45 minutes east.
- Palm Springs Aerial Tramway — The world’s largest rotating tramcar takes you from the desert floor to an alpine forest at 8,516 feet.
- Indian Canyons — Hiking through palm oases in ancient canyons on the Agua Caliente tribal land.
- Mid-Century Modern Architecture Tours — Self-guided or organized tours of the valley’s incredible collection of mid-century homes and buildings.
Take full advantage of your time in Palm Springs. 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
Palm Springs, California offers travel nurses a California desert resort city with growing healthcare demand, Joshua Tree access, year-round sunshine, iconic mid-century architecture, and an affordability advantage over coastal California. With Desert Regional Medical Center and Eisenhower Health 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 Palm Springs, 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 Palm Springs assignments, our pay calculator can help you break down the numbers and understand your true compensation.
We wish you the best on your Palm Springs assignment. It is a great place to be a travel nurse.