There are a lot of challenges to becoming a digital nomad, from financial insecurity to isolation. Add to that the decision of where to travel, and it’s enough to make your head spin.
Here at Incfile, we know how crucial the right decision can be to your career’s success. That’s why we analyzed the 100 most populated cities in the country to help you determine where to set off next.
From Ohio to Texas and everywhere in between, here is our breakdown of the best cities for digital nomads based on the cost of living, broadband strength, rental rates and several other factors.
Learn more about our methodology here.
|
Best U.S. Cities for Digital Nomads |
Worst U.S. Cities for Digital Nomads |
| 1. Toledo, Ohio | 1. Riverside, California |
| 2. Cleveland, Ohio |
2. Anchorage, Alaska |
| 3. Wichita, Kansas |
3. Irvine, California |
| 4. Cincinnati, Ohio |
4. Honolulu, Hawaii |
| 5. St. Louis, Missouri |
5. San Jose, California |
| 6. Corpus Christi, Texas |
6. Fremont, California |
| 7. El Paso, Texas |
7. Stockton, California |
| 8. Indianapolis, Indiana |
8. Scottsdale, Arizona |
| 9. Lubbock, Texas |
9. San Diego, California |
|
10. Baltimore, Maryland
|
10. Colorado Springs, Colorado |
Five Cities for Digital Nomads to Explore
Whether you're just working in coffee shops for a few weeks or setting up shop for several months, the following cities have a lot in common: plenty to do, low cost of living and high broadband strength.
Got your eye on something more permanent? Learn how to form an LLC in Ohio (our list's most popular state) with Incfile.
1. Toledo, Ohio
The best U.S. city for digital nomads is Toledo, Ohio. Though it may not be the first place on your mind when wanting to check out all that the country has to offer, don’t cross Toledo off your list just yet.
The biggest perk of Toledo: everything is super inexpensive. From rent to the overall cost of living, your dollar will go a lot further in the Glass City than anywhere else. In addition, Toledo is home to temperate weather and four distinct seasons, meaning you can get your fix of the colors of fall and the white blanket of winter — depending on when you decide to visit.
|
Cost of Living |
72.7 |
|
Walk Score |
46 |
|
Transit Score |
N/A |
|
Average Rent for a One Bedroom |
$955 |
|
Average Airbnb Price Per Night* |
$147 |
|
Average Temperatures: Hottest and Coldest Months |
75/27 |
|
Broadband Ecosystem Strength* |
17
|
*By state
2. Cleveland, Ohio
Another Ohio gem, the second best city for remote workers is Cleveland, due to its extremely low cost of living and high walkability score. Add to that a variety of museums and Lake Erie just across the way, and it’s easy to see why Cleveland is a great spot for cultural aficionados and adventure seekers alike.
|
Cost of Living |
72.6 |
|
Walk Score |
57 |
|
Transit Score |
44 |
|
Average Rent for a One Bedroom |
$1,308 |
|
Average Airbnb Price Per Night* |
$147 |
|
Average Temperatures: Hottest and Coldest Months |
73/28 |
|
Broadband Ecosystem Strength* |
17 |
*By state
3. Wichita, Kansas
If you want to become a digital nomad after college, look no further than Wichita, Kansas. Wichita is home to the lowest average rent for a one-bedroom apartment as well as the lowest Airbnb rate of all the cities we studied, making it a perfect place for recent graduates who want to explore the country (or start an LLC in Kansas) without breaking the bank.
|
Cost of Living |
82.1 |
|
Walk Score |
35 |
|
Transit Score |
20 |
|
Average Rent for a One Bedroom |
$840 |
|
Average Airbnb Price Per Night* |
$118 |
|
Average Temperatures: Hottest and Coldest Months |
81/33 |
|
Broadband Ecosystem Strength* |
26 |
*By state
4. Cincinnati, Ohio
Sensing a theme here? The fourth city in Ohio to top our list, Cincinnati, has many great features that make it a perfect place for digital nomads and remote workers.
Home to good walkability and transit scores, it’s easy to get around and explore the city. In addition, the Airbnb rates are cheap and the hottest you can expect it to get is in the mid-70s, so don’t be afraid to book your summer travel in the Glass City.
|
Cost of Living |
84.6 |
|
Walk Score |
49 |
|
Transit Score |
44 |
|
Average Rent for a One Bedroom |
$1,223 |
|
Average Airbnb Price Per Night* |
$147 |
|
Average Temperatures: Hottest and Coldest Months |
76/32 |
|
Broadband Ecosystem Strength* |
17
|
*By state
5. St. Louis, Missouri
The most walkable city on this top five list, St. Louis has plenty of perks for remote workers who want a cheap place to stay and a plethora of activities to do.
In addition, you don’t have to panic when it comes to hopping online for a meeting or losing reception on the go — Missouri has a robust broadband ecosystem, so whether you're starting an LLC in Missouri or just working your way through, you'll always be connected.
|
Cost of Living |
81.3 |
|
Walk Score |
66 |
|
Transit Score |
43 |
|
Average Rent for a One Bedroom |
$1,150 |
|
Average Airbnb Price Per Night* |
$172 |
|
Average Temperatures: Hottest and Coldest Months |
80/33 |
|
Broadband Ecosystem Strength* |
34 |
*By state
Working Remote? Don’t Make a Pit Stop in These Cities
As a digital nomad, you may hope to see as much of the country as possible. While that’s a great goal to aspire to, the reality is that some cities are a better fit than others for the remote traveler lifestyle.
From sky-high rent and cost of living to low internet strength and walking scores, the following cities in California and Alaska are best moved to the bottom of your list of places to travel (if you want to properly manage your money as a digital nomad, that is).
|
|
Riverside, California |
Anchorage, Alaska |
Irvine, California |
|
Cost of Living |
133.1 |
123.5 |
187.1 |
|
Walk Score |
43 |
31 |
43 |
|
Transit Score |
30 |
22 |
26 |
|
Average Rent for a One Bedroom |
N/A |
N/A |
$3,009 |
|
Average Airbnb Price Per Night* |
$258 |
$162 |
$258 |
|
Average Temperatures: Hottest and Coldest Months |
79/54 |
60/17 |
73/57 |
|
Broadband Ecosystem Strength*
|
25 |
49 |
25 |
*By state
Bottom line: Before you pick a place to travel, ensure that the digital nomad lifestyle is right for you. Once you’ve determined that it is — or if you’ve already been on the road for quite some time — set yourself up for success by working with Incfile. From Ohio to California, wherever you want to start a business, our state LLC guides have got you covered.
Methodology
To determine what cities were the best and worst for small businesses, the Incfile team collected the following data sets for the 100 most populated cities in the U.S. Each data set was given a weight based on importance. Then the total score was calculated, and each city was ranked. The cities with the highest scores were given the best cities for small business owners.
- Cost of Living (Source: BestPlaces)
- Weight: .16
- Walkability Score (Source: Walk Score)
- Weight: .08
- Transit Score (Source: Walk Score)
- Weight: .08
- Average Rent for a One Bedroom Apartment (Source: Rent 1, 2)
- Weight: .20
- Average Airbnb Price Per Night - By State (Source: AllTheRooms)
- Weight: .20
- Average Temperature in the Hottest Month - Fahrenheit (Source: timeanddate)
- Weight: .07
- Average Temperature in the Coldest Month - Fahrenheit (Source: timeanddate)
- Weight: .07
- Broadband Ecosystem Strength - By State (Source: BROADBANDNOW)
- Weight: .14
This study was conducted in September 2022.
Sarah Hollenbeck
Sarah is a copywriter and brand strategist who has helped companies of all sizes reach their audience with targeted content. Outside of her marketing work, Sarah is passionate about creative writing, yoga and hiking with her dog, Otis.
