Travel Nurse Housing in St. Augustine, Florida: Complete Guide
St. Augustine is the oldest city in America, founded in 1565 on Florida’s northeast coast. With Spanish colonial architecture, beautiful beaches, and no state income tax, it offers travel nurses a unique blend of history and coastal living.
Flagler Health+ serves the St. Augustine area.
Whether you are heading to St. Augustine 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. St. Augustine 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
St. Augustine 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.
Flagler Hospital — A community hospital with emergency, surgical, and comprehensive medical services serving St. Johns County.
Travel nurse demand in St. Augustine is generally moderate to strong, with ED, med-surg, ICU, and telemetry being among the most frequently requested specialties. Contract availability tends to be strong year-round, though demand typically peaks during winter snowbird season and summer 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 St. Augustine 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 St. Augustine.
Downtown St. Augustine
The historic district with St. George Street, Spanish colonial architecture, and the Castillo de San Marcos.
Pros: Walkable, historic, restaurants, cultural attractions, character
Cons: Tourist crowds, limited parking, higher rents, older housing
St. Augustine Beach
A laid-back beach community about 15 minutes from downtown.
Pros: Beach lifestyle, restaurants, more affordable, relaxed vibe
Cons: Tourist traffic in summer, car-dependent for hospital, seasonal pricing
World Golf Village Area
A newer residential area near I-95 with modern development.
Pros: Newer housing, affordable, practical, highway access, close to hospital
Cons: Suburban, less character, car-dependent, farther from beach and downtown
When choosing where to live, prioritize keeping your commute under 30 minutes whenever possible. Car required. St. Augustine is spread between the historic district, the beach, and I-95 corridor. If you are unfamiliar with the area, connect with other travel nurses who have worked in St. Augustine through Facebook groups or online forums to get firsthand recommendations on neighborhoods.
Average Housing Costs
Housing costs in St. Augustine 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
St. Augustine is popular year-round. The historic district is expensive. The beach and World Golf Village areas offer more practical options.
Many travel nurses in St. Augustine 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 St. Augustine, FL 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 St. Augustine
Every city has its own quirks and considerations when it comes to finding and securing travel nurse housing. Here are tips specific to St. Augustine that will help you avoid common pitfalls, stretch your housing stipend further, and settle in more quickly.
-
No state income tax — Florida’s no income tax advantage maximizes your take-home pay.
-
Oldest city in America — Founded in 1565, St. Augustine has over 460 years of history to explore.
-
Jacksonville is 40 minutes north — Additional hospital opportunities and big-city amenities are accessible in Jacksonville.
-
Hurricane awareness — St. Augustine’s coastal location requires hurricane season preparation.
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
St. Augustine’s cost of living is above average, driven by tourism and the desirable coastal location.
When budgeting for your St. Augustine assignment, factor in all of your regular expenses beyond rent. Publix and Winn-Dixie are the main grocery stores. The farmers market in the historic district is excellent. 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. St. Augustine has plenty to offer whether you prefer outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, or simply relaxing and recharging between shifts.
- Castillo de San Marcos — A 17th-century Spanish stone fortress and the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States.
- St. George Street — A pedestrian street in the historic district with shops, restaurants, and colonial architecture.
- St. Augustine Beach — A wide Atlantic beach with good surfing, fishing piers, and a relaxed community.
- St. Augustine Lighthouse — Climb 219 steps to the top of this 1874 lighthouse for panoramic views of the city and coast.
Take full advantage of your time in St. Augustine. 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
St. Augustine, Florida offers travel nurses America’s oldest city with 460 years of Spanish colonial history, Atlantic beaches, no state income tax, and travel nursing at Flagler Hospital in one of Florida’s most charming and historic communities. With Flagler Hospital 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 St. Augustine, 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 St. Augustine assignments, our pay calculator can help you break down the numbers and understand your true compensation.
We wish you the best on your St. Augustine assignment. It is a great place to be a travel nurse.