Essentials
- City
- Richmond, Virginia, United States
- Population
- 226,604 (City); 1.3 million (Metro area)
- Internet Speed
- Average 450 Mbps (Verizon Fios and Xfinity widely available)
- Currency & Banking
- US Dollar ($). Local banks include Atlantic Union Bank and Wells Fargo.
- Tap Water
- Safe and drinkable; treated by Richmond Department of Public Utilities.
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon. Prepaid plans from $35/month at stores on Broad St.
- Banking for Expats
- Capital One (headquartered nearby), Chase, and digital options like Revolut or Wise.
- Accommodation
- Richmond Lofts, Landing (furnished apartments), and Airbnb.
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, credit cards and Apple Pay accepted almost everywhere.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Sonder (The Otis in Scott's Addition) are popular.
- Budget Accommodation
- HI Richmond Hostel ($40/night) at 7 N 2nd St.
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- The Fan District or Shockoe Slip for historic charm and walkability.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Scott's Addition (trendy, breweries, walkable) or Manchester (new builds, river access).
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Gather (Multiple locations: Scott's Addition, Arts District, Midlothian) - $250/mo for a dedicated desk.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Lift Coffee Shop (Broad St) or Sefton Coffee Co. (4th St).
- Networking Events
- CreativeMornings Richmond or RVA Tech Council events.
- Social Events for Expats
- Richmond International Professionals Meetup group.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and Lyft are dominant.
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- RVA Bike Share ($2/trip) and Lime/Bird scooters.
- Best Beach Nearby
- Virginia Beach (Approx. 1 hour 45 mins east).
- Top Regional Airline
- American Eagle / Delta Connection via RIC Airport.
- Top International Airline
- United (via Dulles) or JetBlue.
- Highway Access
- Major intersection of I-95 (North-South) and I-64 (East-West).
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Main Street Station (Shockoe Bottom) and Staples Mill Road Station (Amtrak).
- Public Transport Passes
- GRTC Pulse (Bus Rapid Transit) is currently zero-fare (free).
- Regional Travel
- Amtrak Northeast Regional to DC ($25-$60) or Megabus to NYC.
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- VCU Medical Center (1250 E Marshall St) - Level 1 Trauma Center.
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Project Yoga Richmond (donation-based) or Humble Haven Yoga.
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- The Weight Room (Scott's Addition) or local YMCAs (approx. $60/mo).
- Laundry Services
- Linden Row Cleaners or local laundromats like Pine St. Laundry.
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- DoorDash, UberEats, and Grubhub.
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Sailor Sandwich (Pastrami, knacker, swiss on rye) at Chiocca's.
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Ipanema Cafe or Harrison Street Cafe.
- Best Dessert Spots
- Shyndigz (fresh-baked cakes) or Proper Pie Co. in Church Hill.
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- ALDI on Boulevard or Kroger on Cary St.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon (major hub nearby) and Walmart.com.
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart and Whole Foods Market (via Amazon Prime).
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Scott's Addition (for breweries) or Main Street in The Fan.
- Local Brewery
- The Veil Brewing Co or Hardywood Park Craft Brewery.
- Wine Bars
- Bramble Side Bar or Jardin on Cary St.
- Street Food Stalls
- Food trucks often gather at Hardywood (Wednesday nights) and various festivals.
- Popular International Cuisine
- Peter Chang (Szechuan) or Stella's (Greek).
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Virginia State Capitol and the T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge.
- Museums & Art Venues
- Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) - Free general admission.
- Historical Sites
- St. John's Church (site of 'Give me liberty or give me death' speech).
- Religious Sites
- Cathedral of the Sacred Heart or Beth Ahabah.
- Annual Events
- Richmond Folk Festival (October) and RVA First Fridays (monthly).
- Cultural Districts
- Jackson Ward (Historically known as 'Black Wall Street').
- Theater Venues
- The Altria Theater and The Byrd Theatre ($5 movie tickets).
- Local Markets
- South of the James Farmers Market (Forest Hill Park).
- Music Scene
- The National (Live music) or The Broadberry.
- Street Art
- Richmond Mural Project (over 100 murals throughout the city).
- Cooking Classes
- Mise En Place Cooking School in Shockoe Slip.
- Art Galleries
- Quirk Gallery or 1708 Gallery.
- Historic Buildings
- The Jefferson Hotel (luxury grand hotel from 1895).
- Local Heritage
- The James River Canal Walk detailing industrial and civil rights history.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Belle Isle (James River Park System) - Hiking, rock jumping, and sunbathing.
- National Parks Nearby
- Shenandoah National Park (approx. 1.5 hours west).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Virginia Capital Trail (52 miles fully paved to Williamsburg).
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Libbie Hill Park (The 'View that named Richmond').
- Birdwatching Locations
- Dutch Gap Conservation Area (15 mins south).
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated fire rings at private campgrounds like Pocahontas State Park.
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- FedEx Office Ship Center (W Broad St) and UPS Store.
- Tech Repair Services
- Experimax (Scott's Addition) or Apple Short Pump Town Center.
- Table Tennis Spots
- The Park RVA ($15/hr) or Tang & Biscuit.
- Language Classes
- Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) continuing education.
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Richmond Public Library - Main Branch on Franklin St.
- Community Centers
- Visual Arts Center of Richmond (VisArts).
- Gaming Lounges
- The Circuit Arcade Bar ($0.25 - $0.50 per game).
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Rosie’s Gaming Emporium.
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $192,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $128,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $270,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $180,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $336,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $224,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 21% (Federal) + 6% (Virginia state rate)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- Generally 0% to 30% depending on tax treaties.
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for US Citizens; residency-based for visa holders.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 37% (Federal) + 5.75% (Virginia state rate)
- VAT
- No VAT, but 6% State/Local Sales Tax applies to most purchases.
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI) rules apply.
- Property Tax
- Yes, approx. $1.20 per $100 of assessed value annually.
- Property Transaction Tax
- Grantor tax (approx. $1 per $1000) plus recording fees.
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; standard US tax laws apply.