Essentials
- City
- Moab, Grand County, Utah, USA
- Population
- 5,300
- Internet Speed
- Average 100-200 Mbps via Emery Telcom (Fiber available in town)
- Currency & Banking
- USD ($), 1 USD = 1 USD, Local banks include Wells Fargo and Zions Bank
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high quality mountain/spring source
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- Verizon (best rural coverage), AT&T, T-Mobile; approx. $40-60/month
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut, Wise, or local Zions Bank (requires SSN or ITIN typically)
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, VRBO, Field Station Moab, and local monthly rentals ($2,000 - $4,500/month)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and mobile pay accepted everywhere except some remote outfitter stalls
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Sage Creek at Moab, Radcliffe Hotel ($150 - $400/night)
- Budget Accommodation
- Lazy Lizard Hostel ($20/bed, $50/private room), Lazy J Motel
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Main Street / Downtown Moab for walkability to restaurants and shops
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Spanish Valley (quieter, better residential internet, 5-10 mins drive to town)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Moab Hub (6 N 100 W), approx. $25/day or $250/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Moab Coffee Roasters (90 N Main St) - Reliable Wi-Fi and ample seating
- Networking Events
- Moab Chamber of Commerce Monthly Luncheons, Moab Young Professionals meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- Moab Community Dance Series, Climber/Hiker meetups at 'The Spoke'
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber/Lyft are limited; Moab Express or Moab Taxi ($15-$40 within town)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Poison Spider Bicycles ($60-$120/day for high-end MTBs)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Ken's Lake (man-made reservoir) or sandy banks of the Colorado River at Onion Creek
- Top Regional Airline
- United Express (SkyWest) flying into Canyonlands Regional Airport (CNY)
- Top International Airline
- Delta or United (via Salt Lake City SLC or Denver DEN)
- Highway Access
- US Route 191 (North-South) connects to I-70 (30 miles North)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Rocky Mountaineer (Luxury train station), Amtrak station located 30 mins away in Thompson Springs
- Public Transport Passes
- Moab Area Transit (MAT) - Free micro-transit pilot program
- Regional Travel
- Salt Lake Express (Shuttle to SLC), $80-$120 one way
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Moab Regional Hospital (450 Williams Way)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Moab Yoga (37 E Center St), drop-in classes ~$20
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Moab Recreation and Aquatic Center ($7/day), Gym 0.618 ($15/day)
- Laundry Services
- Main Street Laundromat (6 N Main St), $4.00 per load
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- DoorDash (Limited availability), Moab Food Delivery (Local service)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Prickly Pear Margaritas and Navajo Tacos at Jailhouse Cafe
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Moonflower Community Coop (Deli), Sabaku Sushi (Green River roll)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Moab Brewery (Gelato), Milt's Stop & Eat (Old-fashioned milkshakes)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- City Market (9 a.m. - 11 p.m.), Village Market
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon (Note: Prime delivery usually takes 3-4 days to Moab)
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart (via City Market)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Main Street - Woody’s Tavern and Moab Brewery
- Local Brewery
- Moab Brewery (686 S Main St)
- Wine Bars
- Castle Creek Winery (located at Red Cliffs Lodge, Hwy 128)
- Street Food Stalls
- Moab Food Truck Park (100 S Main St) featuring Quesadilla Mobilla
- Popular International Cuisine
- Thai Bella (Northern Thai), Arches Thai, Singha Thai
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Delicate Arch (Arches NP), Mesa Arch (Canyonlands NP)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Moab Museum (118 E Center St), Gallery Moab
- Historical Sites
- Rock Art at Moonflower Canyon, Wolfe Ranch cabin in Arches
- Religious Sites
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (multiple locations), St. Pius X Catholic Church
- Annual Events
- Easter Jeep Safari (March/April), Moab Music Festival (September)
- Cultural Districts
- Main Street Arts District
- Theater Venues
- Star Hall (Historic performing arts venue)
- Local Markets
- Moab Farmers' Market at Swanny Park (May-September)
- Music Scene
- Live music at The Backyard Moab or Red Cliffs Lodge
- Street Art
- Murals on the side of the Moab Information Center and various alleyways off Main
- Cooking Classes
- Occasional workshops at Moonflower Community Coop
- Art Galleries
- Tom Till Gallery (Landscape photography), Lema's Kokopelli Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- The Grand Old Ranch House (listed on National Register)
- Local Heritage
- Ute and Paiute indigenous history, Uranium mining boom history (1950s)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Dead Horse Point State Park, Sand Flats Recreation Area
- National Parks Nearby
- Arches National Park (5 mins), Canyonlands National Park (35 mins)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Mill Creek Parkway (in town paved path), Moab Canyon Pathway
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Grand View Point Overlook (Canyonlands), La Sal Mountain Loop Road
- Birdwatching Locations
- Scott M. Matheson Wetlands Preserve
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated BLM camping areas (Kane Creek, Hwy 128) - strictly enforced fire pans required
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- UPS Store (Main St), FedEx Drop Box, USPS Moab Post Office
- Tech Repair Services
- Moab Geeks (Computer and device repair)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Moab Recreation and Aquatic Center
- Language Classes
- Utah State University (USU) Moab Extension courses
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Grand County Public Library (257 E Center St) - excellent quiet workspace
- Community Centers
- The Moab Arts and Recreation Center (The MARC)
- Gaming Lounges
- Not available; most social gaming is private or at local card meetups
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None (Gambling is illegal in the State of Utah)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $8,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $340,000) - heavily impacted by nightly rental zoning
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $6,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $240,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $7,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $450,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $5,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $330,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $7,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $560,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $5,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $400,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 4.85% (Utah Flat Rate)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% for domestic; up to 30% for international owners (Federal rules)
- Tax System
- Federal + State (Utah) - Residence based
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 4.85% (Utah is a flat tax state)
- VAT
- 8.85% (Combined State and County Sales Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes (Federal US GILTI/CFC rules apply)
- Property Tax
- Yes, approx. 0.5% - 0.7% of assessed market value annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- None (Utah has no real estate transfer tax)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Low flat income tax (4.85%) and no transfer taxes; high property appreciation