Other Services and Amenities
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Monterey Public Library (625 Pacific St)
- Community Centers
- Old Town Monterey Community Center
- Gaming Lounges
- Virtual Reality Monterey (685 Cannery Row)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Marina Club Casino (6 miles north in Marina, CA)
- Parcel Delivery Service
- FedEx Office (542 Lighthouse Ave), UPS Store (Monterey)
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple Store at Del Monte Center
- Table Tennis Spots
- Monterey Sports Center (301 E Franklin St)
- Language Classes
- Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $10,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $420,000) - highly varying by ocean view
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $8,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $328,000) - Seaside/Marina area
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $10,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $600,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $7,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $468,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $9,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $760,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $7,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $600,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 8.84% (California State) + 21% (Federal)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% for domestic; up to 30% for non-resident aliens (treaty dependent)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for US Citizens; Federal and State level taxation
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 13.3% (California State) + 37% (Federal)
- VAT
- No VAT; Sales Tax in Monterey is 9.25%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Subpart F and GILTI rules apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, approx 1.1% to 1.25% of assessed value (Proposition 13)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Documentary Transfer Tax (approx $1.10 per $1,000 valuation)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- None (No nomad visa, standard CA income tax applies)
Essentials
- City
- Monterey, Monterey County, California, United States
- Population
- 28,270
- Internet Speed
- 600 Mbps (Xfinity High Speed), widely available 5G on major carriers
- Currency & Banking
- US Dollar ($), 1 USD ≈ 0.92 EUR
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, safe municipal supply via California American Water
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T (available at Target or specialized stores)
- Banking for Expats
- Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America; Revolut and Wise widely used
- Accommodation
- Vacation rentals, luxury hotels, and monthly furnished rentals (Median $3,200/mo)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and Apple Pay accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, VRBO (Strict 30-day minimum in many residential zones)
- Budget Accommodation
- HI Monterey Hostel ($45-$60/night for dorms, 778 Hawthorne St)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Cannery Row and Old Fisherman's Wharf
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Pacific Grove (quiet, walkable) and New Monterey (near Lighthouse Ave)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Pad (724 Abrego St) - Day pass $30, Monthly $250
- Best Cafe for Work
- Captain's + Stoker (398 E Franklin St) - Great Wi-Fi and power outlets
- Networking Events
- Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce mixers (locations vary monthly)
- Social Events for Expats
- Monterey Bay Social Club and Meetup groups like 'Monterey Bay Tech & Startups'
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Lyft (very active in the peninsula)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Mad Dogs & Englishmen ($40/2hrs, 290 Figueroa St)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Del Monte Beach (Spacious, good for sunsets)
- Top Regional Airline
- United Express, American Eagle (via Monterey Regional Airport - MRY)
- Top International Airline
- Flights via San Francisco International Airport (SFO) - 2 hours away
- Highway Access
- Highway 1 (Coastal) and Highway 68 (to Salinas/US 101)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Monterey Transit Center (201 Pearl St) for MST Buses
- Public Transport Passes
- MST GO Passes ($10/Day, $95/31-Day)
- Regional Travel
- Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) and Amtrak Thruway bus to Salinas Station
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Community Hospital of the Peninsula (CHOMP) (23625 Holman Hwy)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Union Yoga (600 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove) - $25 drop-in
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Montage Wellness Center ($85/mo) or In-Shape Health Club
- Laundry Services
- Laundromat Monterey (2240 N Fremont St) - Approx $4 per wash
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- DoorDash, UberEats, Grubhub
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Clam Chowder in a Bread Bowl (Old Fisherman's Grotto)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- El Cantaro (Vegan Mexican, 791 Lighthouse Ave)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Revival Ice Cream (463 Alvarado St) - Try the Bee's Knees flavor
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Trader Joe's (570 Munras Ave) and Grocery Outlet
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon, Target.com (Same-day delivery available)
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart, Whole Foods via Amazon Prime
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Alvarado Street (Alvarado Street Brewery, Crown & Anchor)
- Local Brewery
- Alvarado Street Brewery (1315 Dayton St - Production Taproom)
- Wine Bars
- Pierce Ranch Vineyards (434 Wave St) - $20 tasting
- Street Food Stalls
- Monterey Farmers Market at Old Capitol (Tuesdays 4 PM)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Ambrosia India Bistro (565 Munras Ave), Petra Restaurant (Jordanian)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Monterey Bay Aquarium (886 Cannery Row) - $60 admission
- Museums & Art Venues
- Monterey Museum of Art (559 Pacific St)
- Historical Sites
- Monterey State Historic Park (Custom House and Path of History)
- Religious Sites
- San Carlos Cathedral (500 Church St) - Oldest stone church in CA
- Annual Events
- Monterey Jazz Festival (September), Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance (August)
- Cultural Districts
- Cannery Row (Literary and industrial history)
- Theater Venues
- Golden State Theatre (417 Alvarado St)
- Local Markets
- Old Town Monterey Farmers Market (Tuesdays year-round)
- Music Scene
- Cibo Ristorante Italiano (Jazz and live bands nightly)
- Street Art
- Monterey Peninsula College area murals
- Cooking Classes
- Quail Lodge & Golf Club (Nearby in Carmel Valley)
- Art Galleries
- The Dali Expo (5 Custom House Plaza)
- Historic Buildings
- Colton Hall (site of California's first constitution)
- Local Heritage
- Portuguese and Italian fishing heritage (celebrated at Festa Italia)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- 17-Mile Drive (Pebble Beach), Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
- National Parks Nearby
- Pinnacles National Park (1 hour drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail (18 miles long)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Lovers Point Park (Pacific Grove) and Jacks Peak County Park
- Birdwatching Locations
- Elkhorn Slough (25 mins north in Moss Landing)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Carmel Beach (Check local seasonal fire bans)