Santa Barbara, United States 🇺🇸
#1275
34.422131, -119.702667
Nomad Score:
62%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
42%
Weight: 150
Higher than the national average, particularly in housing and dining.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
38%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are steep, especially for ocean-view properties.
🍎 Food & Groceries
55%
Weight: 40
Grocery prices are moderate, but dining out can be pricey.
🚌 Transportation Cost
60%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited, but costs are reasonable for occasional use.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
50%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are available, but prices can vary widely.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
65%
Weight: 10
Average gym memberships are reasonably priced compared to other cities.
💱 Currency Stability
85%
Weight: 30
The US dollar is stable and widely accepted.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
78%
Weight: 100
Good internet speeds available, especially in urban areas.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
62%
Weight: 40
Several coworking spaces exist, but not as many as larger cities.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
70%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer WiFi, making it easy to work remotely.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
68%
Weight: 30
A decent selection of cafes that cater to remote workers.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
45%
Weight: 100
Not a major hub for digital nomads, but some presence exists.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
75%
Weight: 30
Generally good work-life balance with a laid-back lifestyle.
🌳 Environmental Quality
80%
Weight: 15
High environmental quality with beautiful natural surroundings.
🧼 Cleanliness
75%
Weight: 10
Generally clean, with efforts made to maintain public spaces.
🗨️ Language Barrier
90%
Weight: 30
English is the primary language, making it easy for most nomads.
💨 Air Quality
70%
Weight: 15
Generally good air quality, though can vary with wildfire season.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
85%
Weight: 20
High-quality healthcare services available in the area.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
40%
Weight: 25
Healthcare can be expensive, especially without insurance.
🏥 Healthcare
85%
Weight: 20
Excellent healthcare system with many specialists and facilities.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
92%
Weight: 80
Mild, sunny weather year-round, ideal for outdoor activities.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
50%
Weight: 10
Moderate risk due to wildfires and occasional earthquakes.
🏞️ Green Spaces
80%
Weight: 10
Plenty of parks and natural areas for recreation.
❄️ Air Conditioning
85%
Weight: 15
Most places are equipped with air conditioning due to warm weather.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
60%
Weight: 10
Limited seasonal variety; mostly mild and sunny.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
70%
Weight: 20
Rich cultural scene with art galleries, festivals, and events.
🌃 Nightlife
55%
Weight: 15
Moderate nightlife options, with some bars and live music venues.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
90%
Weight: 15
Exceptional outdoor activities available, including beaches and hiking.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
40%
Weight: 10
Limited language schools and opportunities for learning.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
65%
Weight: 10
Various local tours available, but not as extensive as larger cities.
🎳 Indoors Fun
50%
Weight: 10
Some indoor activities available, but limited compared to larger urban areas.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
75%
Weight: 25
Diverse food options, particularly fresh seafood and local produce.
🧠 Yoga Studios
70%
Weight: 10
A good number of yoga studios catering to various styles.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
65%
Weight: 15
Decent fitness facilities available, though not as many as in larger cities.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
75%
Weight: 15
Many restaurants and grocery stores offer healthy options.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
60%
Weight: 20
Pacific Time can be challenging for some international collaborations.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
50%
Weight: 25
Limited networking opportunities compared to larger tech hubs.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
55%
Weight: 20
Some remote job opportunities, but not a major market.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
50%
Weight: 20
Moderate freelance opportunities, but not as robust as larger cities.
🏢 Coworking Quality
60%
Weight: 30
Quality of coworking spaces is decent, but options are limited.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
45%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup scene, but not as developed as in major cities.
💳 Local Payment Services
80%
Weight: 10
Widely accepted payment methods, including cards and mobile payments.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
40%
Weight: 15
Limited adoption and interest in blockchain and crypto.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
65%
Weight: 30
Good connectivity via Santa Barbara Airport, but limited international flights.
🚇 Public Transit
50%
Weight: 20
Public transit options exist but are not extensive.
🚶 Walkability
70%
Weight: 20
Many areas are walkable, especially downtown.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
75%
Weight: 15
Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are readily available.
🚲 Cycling
60%
Weight: 10
Cycling is possible, but infrastructure could be improved.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
55%
Weight: 15
Limited intercity travel options, primarily via car or bus.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
50%
Weight: 10
Some rental options available, but not widespread.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
80%
Weight: 20
Good mobile network coverage throughout the city.
🔒 VPN Reliability
85%
Weight: 20
Reliable VPN services available, with good internet infrastructure.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
80%
Weight: 15
Generally reliable power grid with few outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
55%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is available but not widespread.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
40%
Weight: 40
Visa process can be complex for non-US citizens.
📊 Tax Friendliness
45%
Weight: 30
Higher tax rates compared to many other countries.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
85%
Weight: 15
Strong protections for freedom of speech in the US.
🏛️ Political Stability
75%
Weight: 20
Generally stable political environment, though some tensions exist.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
50%
Weight: 15
Can be challenging for non-residents to open accounts.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
55%
Weight: 10
Moderate ease of business registration, but can be bureaucratic.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
30%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available in the US.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
50%
Weight: 50
Somewhat friendly, but lacks a strong nomad community.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
45%
Weight: 25
Limited events and meetups for digital nomads.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
50%
Weight: 20
Some online communities exist, but not very active.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
75%
Weight: 100
Generally safe, with low crime rates in most areas.
♀️ Female Friendly
80%
Weight: 50
Generally welcoming and safe for female travelers.
✊ Racial Tolerance
70%
Weight: 50
Moderately tolerant, with a diverse population.