Travel Nurse Housing in Virginia Beach, Virginia: Complete Guide

Virginia Beach is the largest city in Virginia and a popular coastal destination with miles of Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay shoreline. For travel nurses, the Hampton Roads region offers several major hospitals, military medical facilities, a moderate cost of living, and a beach lifestyle.

The Hampton Roads healthcare market includes Sentara Healthcare, Bon Secours Mercy Health, and the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. The large military presence in the region drives additional healthcare demand.

Whether you are heading to Virginia Beach 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. Virginia Beach 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

Virginia Beach 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.

Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital — A large community hospital and part of the Sentara system, one of the biggest healthcare systems in Virginia.

Sentara Norfolk General Hospital — The region’s only Level I trauma center located in nearby Norfolk, with a strong affiliation with Eastern Virginia Medical School.

Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center — A major hospital in Portsmouth with comprehensive medical and surgical services.

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth — One of the oldest military hospitals in the country, with occasional travel nurse contracts through military staffing.

Travel nurse demand in Virginia Beach 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 summer tourist season and 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 Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach.

Oceanfront

The Virginia Beach boardwalk area with beach access, restaurants, and a lively summer atmosphere.

Pros: Beach access, boardwalk restaurants, active lifestyle, tourist-season energy

Cons: Higher rents in summer, tourist crowds, noise, seasonal price fluctuations

Town Center

Virginia Beach’s urban center with high-rise apartments, restaurants, shops, and a walkable town square.

Pros: Walkable urban center, modern apartments, restaurants, close to major roads

Cons: Higher rents, commercial feel, car needed for hospital commutes, limited beach proximity

Ghent (Norfolk)

A charming neighborhood in adjacent Norfolk with walkable shops, restaurants, and proximity to Sentara Norfolk General.

Pros: Walkable character, close to Norfolk hospitals, excellent local restaurants, community feel

Cons: In Norfolk rather than Virginia Beach, street parking, older housing stock, moderate safety awareness needed

Chesapeake

A suburban city between Virginia Beach and Norfolk with affordable housing and easy access to regional hospitals.

Pros: Affordable rents, safe neighborhoods, central location, family-friendly

Cons: Suburban, car-dependent, limited nightlife, less beach access

When choosing where to live, prioritize keeping your commute under 30 minutes whenever possible. Hampton Roads is car-dependent. The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and Monitor-Merrimac bridge can create significant traffic backups. Avoid living on the opposite side of a tunnel or bridge from your hospital. If you are unfamiliar with the area, connect with other travel nurses who have worked in Virginia Beach through Facebook groups or online forums to get firsthand recommendations on neighborhoods.

Average Housing Costs

Housing costs in Virginia Beach are roughly in line with 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 $1,400 per month
• One-bedroom apartment: $1,100 to $1,700 per month
• Furnished apartment (travel nurse friendly): $1,400 to $2,100 per month

Virginia Beach offers moderate rental prices with a beach-town premium near the oceanfront. Summer months command higher rents due to tourist demand. Consider the shoulder seasons for the best housing deals.

Many travel nurses in Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach, VA 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 Virginia Beach

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

1. Virginia is a compact state — Virginia participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, simplifying licensing for travel nurses with compact licenses.

2. Bridge-tunnel traffic — The Hampton Roads region is connected by bridges and tunnels that create bottleneck traffic. Plan your housing to avoid tunnel commutes.

3. Summer is peak season — Virginia Beach transforms in summer with tourists, higher rents, and beach traffic. Plan accordingly if your assignment overlaps with June through August.

4. Military community — The heavy military presence means access to military discounts and a community accustomed to transient residents, which can make settling in easier.

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

Virginia Beach has a cost of living roughly at the national average, with housing as the main variable depending on proximity to the beach. Groceries are at national norms. Gas is moderate. Dining ranges from affordable seafood shacks to upscale beachfront restaurants.

When budgeting for your Virginia Beach assignment, factor in all of your regular expenses beyond rent. Harris Teeter and Food Lion are popular grocery chains. Virginia Beach’s seafood is fresh and affordable at local fish markets. Free beach access and the many state parks in the region keep entertainment costs low. 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. Virginia Beach has plenty to offer whether you prefer outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, or simply relaxing and recharging between shifts.

• Virginia Beach Boardwalk — Three miles of boardwalk with beach access, restaurants, street performers, and seasonal events.
• First Landing State Park — Over 2,800 acres of trails through cypress swamps and along the Chesapeake Bay shore.
• Virginia Aquarium — An excellent aquarium featuring native marine life, boat tours for dolphin watching, and a nature trail.
• Norfolk’s Ghent District — Explore the walkable shops, restaurants, and Chrysler Museum of Art in this charming Norfolk neighborhood.

Take full advantage of your time in Virginia Beach. 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

Virginia Beach, Virginia offers travel nurses a beach lifestyle with solid regional hospitals, military healthcare facilities, moderate costs, and miles of Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay shoreline to enjoy on days off. With Sentara Healthcare, Bon Secours Mercy Health, and military medical facilities and a 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 Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach assignments, our pay calculator can help you break down the numbers and understand your true compensation.

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