Forum
Analytics
Raleigh, United States 🇺🇸
#53
,
Nomad Score:
69%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
61%
Weight: 150
Moderate cost of living compared to major US cities; more affordable than NYC or San Francisco but pricier than smaller towns.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
54%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are moderate but rising due to growth; decent options for apartments but not the cheapest in the US.
🍎 Food & Groceries
68%
Weight: 40
Grocery prices are reasonable with many affordable options; dining out ranges from budget to mid-range.
🚌 Transportation Cost
57%
Weight: 20
Public transit is limited; most rely on cars, which increases transportation costs.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
65%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are diverse and moderately priced, including theaters, music venues, and sports.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
71%
Weight: 10
Affordable gym memberships with many chain gyms and boutique fitness studios.
💱 Currency Stability
98%
Weight: 30
US Dollar is one of the most stable and widely accepted currencies globally.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
87%
Weight: 100
High-speed fiber internet widely available with average speeds around 200-400 Mbps.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
79%
Weight: 40
Several coworking spaces and startup hubs available, especially downtown and in tech corridors.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
83%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer reliable WiFi and comfortable work environments.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
76%
Weight: 30
Good number of cafes catering to remote workers with power outlets and good seating.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
52%
Weight: 100
Growing but still relatively low compared to major nomad hubs; more popular among tech professionals.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
92%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase prepaid SIM cards with good coverage.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
78%
Weight: 30
Strong emphasis on work-life balance with many outdoor activities and family-friendly culture.
🌳 Environmental Quality
73%
Weight: 15
Generally good air and water quality; urban green initiatives improving environment.
🧼 Cleanliness
79%
Weight: 10
City is clean with well-maintained public spaces and low litter levels.
🗨️ Language Barrier
99%
Weight: 30
English is the primary language; no language barrier for English speakers.
💨 Air Quality
70%
Weight: 15
Generally good air quality but occasional spikes due to traffic and seasonal pollen.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
80%
Weight: 25
Excellent schools, parks, and family-oriented activities.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
84%
Weight: 20
High-quality healthcare facilities and hospitals with advanced medical services.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
32%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is expensive without insurance; costs can be prohibitive for uninsured nomads.
🏥 Healthcare
81%
Weight: 20
Excellent healthcare infrastructure but affordability is a concern.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
74%
Weight: 80
Mild to warm climate with hot summers and mild winters; occasional humidity and thunderstorms.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
56%
Weight: 10
Moderate risk of hurricanes and tornadoes; generally manageable with good infrastructure.
🏞️ Green Spaces
82%
Weight: 10
Abundant parks, trails, and greenways within the city and surrounding areas.
❄️ Air Conditioning
91%
Weight: 15
Most buildings and public spaces are well air-conditioned, essential for hot summers.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
67%
Weight: 10
Four distinct seasons with mild winters and hot summers; some enjoy seasonal changes.
🔊 Noise Pollution
65%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels; quieter in residential and suburban areas.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
75%
Weight: 20
Rich cultural scene with museums, theaters, music festivals, and diverse communities.
🌃 Nightlife
70%
Weight: 15
Vibrant nightlife with bars, live music venues, and clubs, though not as intense as larger cities.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
80%
Weight: 15
Close to lakes, hiking trails, and nature reserves; good for outdoor enthusiasts.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
63%
Weight: 10
Limited formal language schools but some community classes and meetups available.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
69%
Weight: 10
Moderate availability of local tours and cultural experiences, especially food and history tours.
🎳 Indoors Fun
72%
Weight: 10
Good indoor entertainment options including museums, theaters, and escape rooms.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
78%
Weight: 25
Diverse food scene with Southern cuisine, international options, and growing foodie culture.
🧠 Yoga Studios
74%
Weight: 10
Several yoga studios offering a variety of classes and styles.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
76%
Weight: 15
Wide range of gyms, fitness centers, and specialized studios.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
79%
Weight: 15
Good availability of organic markets, health food stores, and vegan/vegetarian restaurants.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
71%
Weight: 20
Eastern Time Zone is favorable for working with both European and US clients.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
77%
Weight: 25
Active tech and startup community with frequent networking events and meetups.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
68%
Weight: 20
Growing remote job market, especially in tech, education, and creative industries.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
65%
Weight: 20
Moderate freelance community with coworking spaces supporting independent workers.
🏢 Coworking Quality
78%
Weight: 30
Modern coworking spaces with good amenities and community events.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
79%
Weight: 15
Strong startup ecosystem supported by universities and venture capital.
💳 Local Payment Services
85%
Weight: 10
Wide acceptance of digital payments, credit cards, and mobile wallets.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
62%
Weight: 15
Growing interest but still early-stage adoption among businesses and services.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
73%
Weight: 30
Raleigh-Durham International Airport offers good domestic and some international connections.
🚇 Public Transit
41%
Weight: 20
Limited public transit options; mostly bus-based with low coverage and frequency.
🚶 Walkability
58%
Weight: 20
Downtown is walkable but suburban sprawl limits walkability in many areas.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
89%
Weight: 15
Uber and Lyft widely available and reliable.
🚲 Cycling
64%
Weight: 10
Growing bike lanes and trails but cycling infrastructure still developing.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
67%
Weight: 15
Good highway access and bus services; limited rail options.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
53%
Weight: 10
Some electric scooter and bike rentals downtown but limited coverage.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
86%
Weight: 20
Strong 4G and expanding 5G coverage across the city and suburbs.
🔒 VPN Reliability
90%
Weight: 20
Reliable internet infrastructure supports stable VPN connections.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
84%
Weight: 15
Generally reliable power with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
69%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in some public spaces but not widespread.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
31%
Weight: 40
US visa process is complex and expensive for most digital nomads.
📊 Tax Friendliness
42%
Weight: 30
Moderate to high tax rates; complex tax regulations for foreigners.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
95%
Weight: 15
Strong protections for freedom of speech.
🏛️ Political Stability
83%
Weight: 20
Stable political environment with low risk of unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
56%
Weight: 15
Requires US address and documentation; can be challenging for short-term nomads.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
74%
Weight: 10
Relatively straightforward process with online options available.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available in the US.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
59%
Weight: 50
Moderate friendliness; good infrastructure but visa and cost challenges.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
63%
Weight: 25
Some meetups and events but not a major nomad hub.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
67%
Weight: 20
Active online groups for Raleigh-based remote workers and freelancers.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
76%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low violent crime rates but some property crime in certain areas.
♀️ Female Friendly
79%
Weight: 50
Safe and welcoming environment for women with supportive communities.
✊ Racial Tolerance
71%
Weight: 50
Diverse population with ongoing efforts toward inclusivity.