Culture and Attractions
- Street Art
- Murals on Lincoln Blvd and Ocean Park Blvd by local artists
- Cooking Classes
- The Gourmandise School (at Santa Monica Place)
- Art Galleries
- William Turner Gallery, Robert Berman Gallery (at Bergamot)
- Historic Buildings
- The Georgian Hotel (Art Deco), Sovereign Hotel
- Local Heritage
- Tongva Park (honoring the indigenous Tongva people)
- Must-See Landmarks
- Santa Monica Pier, Pacific Park (Ferris wheel), Third Street Promenade
- Museums & Art Venues
- Bergamot Station Arts Center (Multiple galleries), Eames House (Pacific Palisades)
- Historical Sites
- Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome (Inside the Pier), Route 66 End of the Trail sign
- Religious Sites
- St. Monica Catholic Community, First Presbyterian Church
- Annual Events
- Twilight Concert Series (Summer), Glow Santa Monica, LA Marathon (finish line)
- Cultural Districts
- Montana Avenue (Upscale boutique district), Main Street (Artsy/Local)
- Theater Venues
- City Garage Theatre, BroadStage (Santa Monica College)
- Local Markets
- Santa Monica Farmers Market (nationally renowned, Arizona Ave & 2nd St)
- Music Scene
- McCabe’s Guitar Shop (Live folk/acoustic), Harvelle's Blues Club
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
- National Parks Nearby
- Channel Islands National Park (2 hours via Ventura ferry)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Marvin Braude Bike Trail (22-mile beach path to Torrance)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Palisades Park (Cliiftop views of the Pacific and Pier)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Malibu Lagoon State Beach (15 mins North)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Dockweiler Beach (15 mins South; only beach in LA allowing fires)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- FedEx Office (Wilshire), UPS Store (Main St), USPS (7th St)
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple Store (Third St Promenade), Dr. iPhone (Wilshire)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Santa Monica College student lounge, local recreation centers
- Language Classes
- Santa Monica College (Community Ed), Beverly Hills Lingual Institute
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Santa Monica Public Library (Main Branch on Santa Monica Blvd)
- Community Centers
- Virginia Avenue Park, Annenberg Community Beach House
- Gaming Lounges
- World 8 (Nearby in LA), various VR lounges in Westwood
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- No local casinos; nearest is Larry Flynt's Lucky Lady (Gardena, 30 min drive)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $16,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $660,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $11,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $440,000 in surrounding LA)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $15,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $900,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $9,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $570,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $14,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $1,120,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $8,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $680,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 21% (Federal) + 8.84% (California State)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% for residents; up to 30% for non-residents (treaty dependent)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for citizens/residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 37% (Federal) + 13.3% (California)
- VAT
- No VAT, but Sales Tax is 10.25% in Santa Monica
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, highly complex 'GILTI' and Subpart F rules apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, approx. 1.2% of assessed value annually (Proposition 13)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Documentary Transfer Tax (approx. $1.10 per $1,000 of value)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No, very high tax burden compared to international standards; complex for non-residents
Essentials
- City
- Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California, United States
- Population
- 91,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 250-500 Mbps (Starry, Frontier, and Spectrum 1Gbps available)
- Currency & Banking
- US Dollar (USD). Major banks: Wells Fargo, Chase, Bank of America at 4th St.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable (Highly regulated, though many prefer filtered for taste)
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- T-Mobile (best mid-band 5G), AT&T, Verizon (Best coverage). Available at Santa Monica Place Mall
- Banking for Expats
- Wise, Revolut, or Charles Schwab (for ATM fee rebates)
- Accommodation
- Apartments.com, Westside Rentals, Blueground (furnished), Airbnb
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and Apple Pay accepted everywhere; some shops are cashless
- Short Term Rentals
- Sonder (The Pivot), Blueground Santa Monica, or Airbnb (30-day minimum rule strictly enforced)
- Budget Accommodation
- HI Santa Monica (1436 2nd St), rates approx. $60-$85 for dorms
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Downtown Santa Monica / Ocean Ave (Walking distance to Pier and Promenade)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Ocean Park or Mid-City (More residential, better cafes, quieter than the Pier)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- WeWork (The Water Garden or 520 Broadway) - approx. $29/day or $300/mo
- Best Cafe for Work
- Bodega Wine Bar (daytime coffee/wifi), 10 Speed Coffee, or Groundwork on Main St
- Networking Events
- Silicon Beach Networking Mixers, Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce events
- Social Events for Expats
- Meetup.com 'Los Angeles Digital Nomads' group, Santa Monica Run Club
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Lyft, and Waymo (autonomous driving car service widely available)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Santa Monica Bike Center (2nd St), Lime and Bird e-scooters (approx. $1 + $0.39/min)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Santa Monica State Beach (central), Will Rogers State Beach (quieter, 10 mins north)
- Top Regional Airline
- Southwest Airlines (from LAX or Burbank)
- Top International Airline
- United, Delta, American (Major hubs at LAX)
- Highway Access
- I-10 (Santa Monica Freeway) starts here; Pacific Coast Highway (PCH)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Expo Line / Metro E Line (Downtown Santa Monica Station connects to DTLA)
- Public Transport Passes
- TAP Card ($1.75 per ride with 2-hour free transfers)
- Regional Travel
- Big Blue Bus (local Santa Monica/Westside), Metro (greater LA), Amtrak from Union Station
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Providence Saint John's Health Center or UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Love Yoga (Montanta Ave), Hot 8 Yoga (2nd St), Exhale at Fairmont
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Equinox (506 Santa Monica Blvd), Gold's Gym (Venice border), OrangeTheory
- Laundry Services
- Main St. Laundromat, Fluff & Fold services like Rinse (app-based pick up)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats, DoorDash, Postmates
- Best Local Dish to Try
- California Fish Tacos at Blue Plate Oysterette or Bay Cities 'Godmother' Sub
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Butcher's Daughter (2nd St), Flower Child, Erin McKenna's Bakery
- Best Dessert Spots
- Sidecar Doughnuts (Wilshire Blvd), Sweet Rose Creamery (Main St)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Trader Joe's (multiple locations), Santa Monica Farmers Market (Wed/Sat)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon (Same-day delivery available), Walmart.com
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart (Whole Foods, Erewhon, Ralphs delivery)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Main St (The Victorian, JuneShine) and Wilshire Blvd (The Bungalow)
- Local Brewery
- Santa Monica Brew Works (Colorado Ave)
- Wine Bars
- Esters Wine Shop & Bar (7th St), Bodega Wine Bar
- Street Food Stalls
- Santa Monica Pier Food Court, Churros on the Promenade
- Popular International Cuisine
- Sugarfish (Sushi), Cassia (French-Asian), Chulita (Modern Mexican)