💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Saint-Étienne is more affordable than major French cities like Paris or Lyon, offering reasonable prices for daily expenses.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
75%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are relatively low compared to larger French cities, making it easier for digital nomads to find affordable housing.
🍎 Food & Groceries
73%
Weight: 40
Grocery prices are moderate with good access to local markets and supermarkets.
🚌 Transportation Cost
78%
Weight: 20
Public transport is affordable with a well-integrated tram and bus network.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
65%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are reasonably priced but somewhat limited compared to larger cities.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
70%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are affordable with several local fitness centers available.
💱 Currency Stability
95%
Weight: 30
Euro is a stable currency with low volatility.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
81%
Weight: 100
Good broadband infrastructure with fiber-optic available in many parts of the city.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
62%
Weight: 40
Limited but growing number of coworking spaces; not as abundant as in larger French cities.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
74%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer free WiFi, suitable for casual work sessions.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
60%
Weight: 30
Few cafes specifically catering to digital nomads, but general cafe culture is welcoming.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
43%
Weight: 100
Saint-Étienne is not a well-known digital nomad hotspot, attracting fewer remote workers.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
85%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase local SIM cards with good data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
80%
Weight: 30
French labor laws and local culture support a healthy work-life balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
68%
Weight: 15
Moderate environmental quality; some industrial areas affect air quality.
🧼 Cleanliness
65%
Weight: 10
City is generally clean but some neighborhoods show signs of neglect.
🗨️ Language Barrier
52%
Weight: 30
French is dominant; English proficiency is moderate but limited outside tourist areas.
💨 Air Quality
59%
Weight: 15
Air quality can be moderate to poor due to industrial activity and traffic.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
70%
Weight: 25
Good schools and family services, suitable for nomads with children.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
87%
Weight: 20
High-quality healthcare services available with well-equipped hospitals and clinics.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
84%
Weight: 25
Public healthcare is affordable and accessible for residents and long-term visitors.
🏥 Healthcare
86%
Weight: 20
Comprehensive healthcare system with good emergency and specialist care.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
41%
Weight: 80
Temperate oceanic climate with frequent rain and cool temperatures, less ideal for sun seekers.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
89%
Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
70%
Weight: 10
Several parks and green areas, though not extensive compared to larger cities.
❄️ Air Conditioning
35%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is uncommon in residential buildings due to mild summers.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
72%
Weight: 10
Distinct seasons with mild summers and cool winters, though winters can be damp.
🔊 Noise Pollution
60%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels; quieter than larger metropolitan areas.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
76%
Weight: 20
Rich industrial heritage with museums and cultural events, though less vibrant than major cities.
🌃 Nightlife
51%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; more subdued compared to larger urban centers.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
74%
Weight: 15
Close to natural parks and hiking areas in the Loire region.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
63%
Weight: 10
Some language schools and cultural centers offer French classes.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
60%
Weight: 10
Limited tourist infrastructure but some local tours and cultural experiences available.
🎳 Indoors Fun
62%
Weight: 10
Museums, theaters, and cinemas provide indoor entertainment options.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
70%
Weight: 25
Good local cuisine with traditional French restaurants and affordable dining.
🧠 Yoga Studios
58%
Weight: 10
Few yoga studios available, mostly small independent ones.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
67%
Weight: 15
Several gyms and sports centers, but limited variety.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
65%
Weight: 15
Availability of organic markets and health food stores is moderate.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
80%
Weight: 20
Central European Time zone is favorable for communication with most of Europe.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
50%
Weight: 25
Limited professional networking events for digital nomads and freelancers.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
48%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most opportunities come from outside the city.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
53%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is small but slowly growing.
🏢 Coworking Quality
60%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are functional but lack some amenities found in larger cities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
55%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem with some support but limited scale.
💳 Local Payment Services
78%
Weight: 10
Good availability of local and international payment options including contactless and mobile payments.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
50%
Weight: 15
Limited local adoption and infrastructure for blockchain and crypto.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
54%
Weight: 30
Closest major airport is Saint-Étienne–Bouthéon Airport with limited flights; Lyon airport nearby offers better connectivity.
🚇 Public Transit
76%
Weight: 20
Efficient tram and bus network covers the city well.
🚶 Walkability
73%
Weight: 20
City center is compact and walkable with pedestrian-friendly streets.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
65%
Weight: 15
Uber and local ride-sharing services operate but with limited availability compared to bigger cities.
🚲 Cycling
68%
Weight: 10
Some cycling infrastructure exists but not extensive.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
70%
Weight: 15
Good train connections to Lyon and other French cities; regional buses also available.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
55%
Weight: 10
Limited availability of electric scooter and bike rentals.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
83%
Weight: 20
Strong 4G and growing 5G coverage throughout the city.
🔒 VPN Reliability
90%
Weight: 20
Reliable internet infrastructure supports stable VPN connections.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
87%
Weight: 15
Stable and reliable electricity supply with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
60%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is available in some public spaces but not widespread.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
50%
Weight: 40
Standard French visa process applies; no special digital nomad visa currently.
📊 Tax Friendliness
42%
Weight: 30
France has relatively high taxes, which can be challenging for freelancers and remote workers.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
92%
Weight: 15
Strong protections for freedom of speech under French law.
🏛️ Political Stability
85%
Weight: 20
Stable political environment with occasional protests but generally peaceful.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
60%
Weight: 15
Opening a bank account can be bureaucratic and requires residency proof.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
65%
Weight: 10
Business registration is straightforward but involves some administrative steps.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available in France as of May 2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
55%
Weight: 50
Moderately friendly to nomads but lacks specialized infrastructure and community.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
40%
Weight: 25
Few digital nomad-specific events or meetups in the city.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
45%
Weight: 20
Limited online presence for digital nomads based in Saint-Étienne.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
70%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with some areas requiring caution, typical for a mid-sized city.
♀️ Female Friendly
72%
Weight: 50
Safe and welcoming environment for female travelers and workers.
✊ Racial Tolerance
60%
Weight: 50
Moderate racial tolerance; some social challenges exist but generally peaceful.