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Guide

The complete guide to
construction crew housing

How to find, evaluate, and manage housing for traveling construction crews — without blowing your budget or losing your mind.

Why crew housing matters more than you think

Housing is one of the biggest hidden costs in construction mobilization. When you send 20-50 workers to a job site for months at a time, where they sleep directly impacts your budget, their productivity, and your ability to retain workers across projects.

Bad housing — cramped hotels, unreliable Airbnbs, apartments 45 minutes from the site — leads to tired crews, blown per diem budgets, and workers who don't come back for the next project.

Good housing — furnished homes close to the site with kitchens, laundry, and real living space — costs less, keeps crews rested, and becomes a retention tool.

Housing Options Compared

Hotels vs. Apartments vs. Furnished Homes

Hotels

The default — and most expensive — option

  • No setup time needed
  • $100-180/night per person
  • No kitchens (meal costs add up)
  • Cramped rooms, no common space
  • Limited availability in small markets
  • No laundry facilities

Apartment Leases

Cheaper per month, but inflexible

  • Lower monthly cost
  • 12-month lease minimum
  • Unfurnished — buy everything
  • Security deposits + utility setup
  • Breaking lease = penalties
  • Managing multiple landlords

Furnished Homes

Best

The sweet spot for construction crews

  • 40-60% cheaper than hotels
  • Month-to-month flexibility
  • Full kitchens save $30-50/day
  • Laundry, Wi-Fi, parking included
  • Close to job site
  • One point of contact
Cost Breakdown

The real cost of crew housing

Per diem rates only tell part of the story. Here's what a 20-person crew actually costs per month:

Cost Item

Hotels

Furnished Homes

Lodging (20 workers)

$90,000/mo

$36,000/mo

Meals (no kitchen)

$24,000/mo

$6,000/mo

Laundry

$2,400/mo

Included

Utilities & Wi-Fi

Included

Included

Total monthly cost

~$116,400

~$42,000

Savings

—

~$74,000/mo (64%)

* Estimates based on $150/night hotel rate, $40/day meal per diem, and typical furnished home pricing in Central Texas. Actual costs vary by market.

Checklist

What to look for in crew housing

Proximity to site

Under 20 min commute. Less windshield time = better rest.

Crew-appropriate

Multiple bedrooms, durable furnishings, enough parking.

All-inclusive pricing

No surprise bills. Utilities, Wi-Fi, furnishings included.

Flexible terms

Month-to-month. No penalties for project changes.

Single point of contact

One number for maintenance, logistics, scaling.

Full kitchens & laundry

Saves $30-50/day per worker on meals alone.

Need crew housing now?

MTR Bee provides furnished homes for construction crews across Texas. Tell us about your project and we'll send options within 24 hours.

or(469) 334-4691