Essentials
- City
- Bend, Oregon, United States
- Population
- Approximately 105,000
- Internet Speed
- High-speed fiber available, average 200-500 Mbps (BendBroadband, CenturyLink)
- Currency & Banking
- US Dollar (USD). Major banks: Chase, Wells Fargo, Mid Oregon Credit Union
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high quality from the Ponderosa pine watershed
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- Verizon (best coverage for mountains), AT&T, T-Mobile. Available at Best Buy or carrier stores
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut (USD accounts), Wise, or local First Interstate Bank
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Furnished Finder (30+ days), or local property managers like Deschutes Property Management
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and Apple/Google Pay accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and VRBO (strict city zoning laws apply), roughly $150-$300/night
- Budget Accommodation
- Bunk+Brew Historic Lucas House (Hostel), approx. $45-$65/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Old Mill District or Downtown (near Drake Park)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Westside (near Newport Ave) or Northwest Crossing (NWX) for walkability and cafes
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Haven Coworking ($35 day pass, overlooking the river) or Bendvibe
- Best Cafe for Work
- Lone Pine Coffee Roasters or Thump Coffee (NWX location)
- Networking Events
- Bend OutdoorWorx (outdoor industry focus) or Tech Alliance of Central Oregon
- Social Events for Expats
- Bend Digital Nomads Meetup or 'Bend Oregon Expats' Facebook Group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and Lyft are widely available; Enviro Shuttle for airport runs
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Cog Wild (mountain bikes) or Wheel Fun Rentals (cruisers)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Elk Lake (mountain beach) or The Cove at Sunriver (water park/river beach)
- Top Regional Airline
- Alaska Airlines (servicing Redmond Municipal Airport - RDM)
- Top International Airline
- Delta or United (connecting via Seattle, SFO, or Denver)
- Highway Access
- US-97 (North-South) and US-20 (East-West)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Hawthorne Station (bus hub); closest Amtrak is Chemult (1 hour away)
- Public Transport Passes
- CET (Cascades East Transit), $1.50 per ride or $30 monthly pass
- Regional Travel
- Shuttle to Portland ($75+) or CET Bus to Mt. Bachelor ($10 round trip)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- St. Charles Medical Center - Bend
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Namaste Yoga or Groove Yoga (hot yoga)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Bend Hoops or The Athletic Club of Bend (premium, $150+/mo)
- Laundry Services
- Mudslingers Drive-Thru or Midtown Laundromat
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- DoorDash, UberEats, and Bend Take Out
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Ocean Rolls from Sparrow Bakery
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Active Culture or Aiyara Thai Food
- Best Dessert Spots
- Bontà Gelato or Goody's Chocolates
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Grocery Outlet Bargain Market or WinCo Foods
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon (Prime offers 1-2 day delivery in Bend)
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart (Safeway, Fred Meyer, Whole Foods)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Downtown (Bond St & Wall St) or the Box Factory
- Local Brewery
- Deschutes Brewery Public House or Crux Fermentation Project
- Wine Bars
- The Wine Shop and Beer Tasting Bar on Wall St
- Street Food Stalls
- The Lot (Food truck pod with heated seating and beer taps)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Wild Rose Northern Thai Eats (High-end Thai)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint (dormant volcano in city center)
- Museums & Art Venues
- High Desert Museum (wildlife and history)
- Historical Sites
- Deschutes Historical Museum (old Reid School building)
- Religious Sites
- St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
- Annual Events
- WinterFest (February) or Bend Summer Festival (July)
- Cultural Districts
- Old Mill District (historic timber mills converted to shops)
- Theater Venues
- Tower Theatre (historic 1940s venue)
- Local Markets
- Bend Farmers Market (Wednesdays, May-Oct at Brooks Park)
- Music Scene
- Hayden Homes Amphitheater (outdoor concerts by the river)
- Street Art
- Tin Pan Alley art installations downtown
- Cooking Classes
- Kindred Creative Kitchen
- Art Galleries
- Mockingbird Gallery or Peterson Contemporary Art
- Historic Buildings
- The O'Kane Building (Downtown)
- Local Heritage
- Loggers heritage and the 'Last Blockbuster' on US-20
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Tumalo Falls (15 min drive)
- National Parks Nearby
- Crater Lake National Park (approx. 2 hours south)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Deschutes River Trail (runs through the whole city)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Top of Mt. Bachelor (accessible by chairlift in summer)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Shevlin Park (Great Horned Owls and local raptors)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated fire pits at Wanoga Sno-Park (permit required)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- FedEx Office Print & Ship Center on SW Century Dr
- Tech Repair Services
- iPhone Repair Bend or Experimax Bend
- Table Tennis Spots
- The Domino Room (sometimes hosts events/tables)
- Language Classes
- Central Oregon Community College (COCC) Continuing Ed
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Deschutes Public Library (Downtown Branch)
- Community Centers
- Bend Senior Center / Larkspur Community Center
- Gaming Lounges
- Vector Volcano (Classic Arcade)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Indian Head Casino (approx. 1 hour north in Warm Springs)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $7,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $288,000 / ~$500k total list price)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $5,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $232,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $408,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $5,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $312,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $520,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $5,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $400,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Federal 21% + Oregon State Corporate Tax 6.6-7.6%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% for residents (taxed as income); 30% for non-residents
- Tax System
- Federal worldwide income basis; Oregon has NO sales tax
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- Federal 37% + Oregon state approx. 9.9%
- VAT
- 0% (Oregon has no sales tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, US GILTI and Subpart F rules apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, approx. 1.05% of assessed value annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- None in Oregon (no transfer tax), but recording fees apply
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No state sales tax; high income tax but business-friendly for LLCs