Essentials
- City
- Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
- Population
- 204,000 (City), 1.25 million (Greater Metro)
- Internet Speed
- 150 Mbps average (Google Fiber and Comcast Xfinity widely available)
- Currency & Banking
- US Dollar ($). 1 USD ≈ 0.92 EUR. Major banks: Chase, Wells Fargo, Zions Bank.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high quality from mountain runoff
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T. Prepaid plans approx. $40/month for 10GB.
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut, Wise, or local credit unions like Mountain America
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Furnished Finder, or local listings on KSL Homes
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and mobile pay accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Landing (membership-based), or Sonder Downtown
- Budget Accommodation
- Bposhtels SLC (Hostel) - approx. $45/night; Quality Inn Downtown - approx. $90/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Downtown (near Temple Square and City Creek Center)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Sugar House or 9th & 9th (walkable with high-speed fiber and local cafes)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Shop Workspace ($35 day pass, $300/mo) - 350 E 400 S
- Best Cafe for Work
- Publik Coffee Roasters (West Temple location) - Spacious with fast Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- Silicon Slopes events and 'SLC Startups' Meetup group
- Social Events for Expats
- Salt Lake City Internationals Meetup and 'Young Professionals of Salt Lake City'
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and Lyft (very active 24/7)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- GREENbike (Share program $15/day) or Lime/Bird scooters
- Best Beach Nearby
- Antelope Island State Park (Great Salt Lake) - 1 hour away
- Top Regional Airline
- SkyWest (operating as Delta Connection / United Express)
- Top International Airline
- Delta Airlines (SLC is a major hub)
- Highway Access
- I-15 (North/South) and I-80 (East/West) intersection
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Salt Lake Central Station (FrontRunner and Trax light rail)
- Public Transport Passes
- UTA Farepay Card or Transit App ($5.00 for a day pass)
- Regional Travel
- FrontRunner commuter rail to Provo or Ogden; Amtrak California Zephyr
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- University of Utah Hospital (Intermountain Healthcare)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Salt Lake Power Yoga ($25 drop-in) or Centered City Yoga
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- The Front Climbing Club ($28 day pass) - High-end bouldering and gym
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry (731 S 300 E) - Clean, modern self-service or drop-off
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- DoorDash, UberEats, and Grubhub
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Funeral Potatoes (available at Garage on Beck) or Pastrami Burger at Crown Burgers
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Vertical Diner (Vegan comfort food) or Zest Kitchen & Bar
- Best Dessert Spots
- Hatch Family Chocolates (Salt Lake City Avenues)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Trader Joe's (400 S) and WinCo Foods (South Salt Lake)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon (Same-day delivery available), Walmart.com
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart, Smith's (Kroger) Delivery
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Main Street (Downtown) and the Pierpont Avenue area
- Local Brewery
- Fisher Brewing Company (320 W 800 S)
- Wine Bars
- BTG Wine Bar (404 S West Temple St)
- Street Food Stalls
- Tacos Lopez (trucks) or the food stalls at HallPass (The Gateway)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Sapa (Sushi/Vietnamese) or Red Iguana (Famous Mexican)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Temple Square and the Utah State Capitol
- Museums & Art Venues
- Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA) and Leonardo Museum
- Historical Sites
- This Is The Place Heritage Park
- Religious Sites
- Salt Lake Temple and Cathedral of the Madeleine
- Annual Events
- Sundance Film Festival (nearby in Park City/SLC) and Days of '47 Parade
- Cultural Districts
- Central Ninth and Granary District
- Theater Venues
- Eccles Theater (Broadway shows) and Capitol Theatre
- Local Markets
- Downtown Farmers Market at Pioneer Park (Saturdays, June-Oct)
- Music Scene
- The Depot and Kilby Court (indie venue)
- Street Art
- Granary District Murals (around 800 S and 400 W)
- Cooking Classes
- Harmons Cooking School (City Creek location)
- Art Galleries
- Modern West Fine Art - 412 S 700 W
- Historic Buildings
- Kearns Mansion and McCune Mansion
- Local Heritage
- Mormon Pioneer heritage and Native American (Ute, Shoshone) history
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Big Cottonwood Canyon (20 mins drive) for hiking and skiing
- National Parks Nearby
- Arches and Canyonlands (approx. 3.5 - 4 hours away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Jordan River Parkway Trail (45+ miles of paved trail)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Ensign Peak Trailhead (view of the entire valley at sunset)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Tracy Aviary in Liberty Park
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated pits at Bear Lake or nearby forest service land (check fire bans)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- UPS Store, FedEx Office, USPS (Main branch on 400 S)
- Tech Repair Services
- Bad Apple (Cell phone/laptop repair) - multiple locations
- Table Tennis Spots
- The Beerhive Pub (Downtown) or local recreation centers
- Language Classes
- Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) Continuing Education
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Salt Lake City Public Library (Main Branch) - Architectural icon
- Community Centers
- Sorrento / Salt Lake City Sports Complex
- Gaming Lounges
- Quarters Arcade Bar ($5-10 for tokens)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None (Gambling is illegal in Utah; locals drive to West Wendover, Nevada - 1.5 hours)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,800 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = $306,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,500 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = $202,500)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,200 per m² (e.g., 65 m² = $403,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,100 per m² (e.g., 65 m² = $266,500)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $5,500 per m² (e.g., 90 m² = $495,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,800 per m² (e.g., 90 m² = $342,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 4.85% (Utah State) + 21% (Federal)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- Up to 30% for non-residents (subject to treaties)
- Tax System
- Resident-based for state; Citizenship/Resident-based for Federal (Worldwide income)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 4.85% (Flat State Tax) + 37% (Federal)
- VAT
- None; Sales Tax is 7.75% in Salt Lake City
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, under US Federal 'GILTI' and Subpart F rules
- Property Tax
- Yes, approx 0.6% of assessed market value annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- None (Utah is a non-disclosure state, no transfer tax)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; standard US tax laws apply (High burden)