Forum
Analytics
Santa Monica, United States 🇺🇸
#1271
,
Nomad Score:
64%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
21%
Weight: 150
Santa Monica is an expensive city with high costs for daily expenses compared to many other cities globally.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
15%
Weight: 80
Housing and rentals are very costly, with limited affordable options for digital nomads.
🍎 Food & Groceries
32%
Weight: 40
Food prices are above average, especially for dining out and organic groceries.
🚌 Transportation Cost
47%
Weight: 20
Public transit is available but limited; rideshares and parking costs add up.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
38%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are plentiful but tend to be pricey.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
45%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are moderately expensive but with many high-quality options.
💱 Currency Stability
98%
Weight: 30
USD is one of the most stable currencies globally.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
89%
Weight: 100
High-speed fiber internet is widely available with reliable connections.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
76%
Weight: 40
Several coworking spaces exist, though not as dense as in larger metro areas.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
83%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer free WiFi with good connectivity.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
79%
Weight: 30
A good number of cafes cater to remote workers with power outlets and comfortable seating.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
64%
Weight: 100
Santa Monica is moderately popular among digital nomads, especially those working in tech.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
88%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase prepaid SIM cards with good data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
71%
Weight: 30
Good balance with access to beaches and outdoor activities, but work culture can be demanding.
🌳 Environmental Quality
78%
Weight: 15
Generally good environmental quality with coastal breezes and efforts to maintain green spaces.
🧼 Cleanliness
75%
Weight: 10
Public areas and streets are well-maintained and clean.
🗨️ Language Barrier
97%
Weight: 30
English is the primary language, minimal language barrier for most digital nomads.
💨 Air Quality
63%
Weight: 15
Air quality is decent but can be affected by regional smog and traffic pollution.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
72%
Weight: 25
Good amenities and schools, but high living costs can be a barrier.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
91%
Weight: 20
Access to high-quality healthcare facilities and specialists.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
24%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is expensive without insurance; costs can be prohibitive for nomads.
🏥 Healthcare
87%
Weight: 20
Excellent healthcare infrastructure and services.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
92%
Weight: 80
Mild Mediterranean climate with warm summers and mild winters, mostly sunny.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
51%
Weight: 10
Moderate risk of earthquakes and occasional wildfires in the region.
🏞️ Green Spaces
74%
Weight: 10
Several parks and beach areas provide good green spaces.
❄️ Air Conditioning
85%
Weight: 15
Most buildings and accommodations have reliable air conditioning.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
43%
Weight: 10
Limited seasonal changes due to mild climate.
🔊 Noise Pollution
54%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels, especially near busy streets and nightlife areas.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
79%
Weight: 20
Diverse cultural scene with art, music, and film influences.
🌃 Nightlife
68%
Weight: 15
Good nightlife options but quieter compared to downtown LA.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
86%
Weight: 15
Excellent access to beaches, hiking trails, and outdoor activities.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
60%
Weight: 10
Limited language schools but good for English learners and some Spanish classes.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
72%
Weight: 10
Variety of local tours and experiences, especially related to beach and city culture.
🎳 Indoors Fun
65%
Weight: 10
Museums, galleries, and cinemas available but less extensive than larger cities.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
80%
Weight: 25
Diverse and high-quality food options with many health-conscious choices.
🧠 Yoga Studios
83%
Weight: 10
Numerous yoga studios with a variety of styles and classes.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
77%
Weight: 15
Wide range of gyms, fitness centers, and outdoor workout spots.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
85%
Weight: 15
Abundant availability of organic, vegan, and health-focused food outlets.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
62%
Weight: 20
PST time zone is favorable for North American clients but less so for Europe or Asia.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
74%
Weight: 25
Good networking events, especially in tech and creative industries.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
71%
Weight: 20
Strong local job market with many remote-friendly companies.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
68%
Weight: 20
Moderate freelance community with some platforms and meetups.
🏢 Coworking Quality
75%
Weight: 30
High-quality coworking spaces with good amenities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
70%
Weight: 15
Growing startup ecosystem, though overshadowed by nearby Silicon Valley.
💳 Local Payment Services
84%
Weight: 10
Wide availability of digital payment options and banking services.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
63%
Weight: 15
Moderate adoption with some local crypto meetups and businesses accepting crypto.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
79%
Weight: 30
Close to LAX, a major international airport with extensive flight options.
🚇 Public Transit
56%
Weight: 20
Limited public transit options; reliance on cars is common.
🚶 Walkability
73%
Weight: 20
Santa Monica is fairly walkable, especially near the beach and downtown.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
90%
Weight: 15
Uber and Lyft widely available and reliable.
🚲 Cycling
71%
Weight: 10
Good bike lanes and rental options, especially near the coast.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
64%
Weight: 15
Limited train options; mostly reliant on buses and cars for intercity travel.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
78%
Weight: 10
Multiple scooter and bike rental services available throughout the city.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
87%
Weight: 20
Strong 4G and growing 5G coverage across the city.
🔒 VPN Reliability
91%
Weight: 20
VPN services work reliably with no major restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
84%
Weight: 15
Generally reliable power supply with occasional outages during extreme weather.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
69%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in some areas but not widespread or always reliable.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
32%
Weight: 40
US visa process is complex and expensive for many nationalities.
📊 Tax Friendliness
35%
Weight: 30
High taxes and complex regulations can be challenging for freelancers and nomads.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
96%
Weight: 15
Strong protections for freedom of speech.
🏛️ Political Stability
78%
Weight: 20
Generally stable political environment with occasional social tensions.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
41%
Weight: 15
Bank account opening can be difficult for non-residents without US credit history.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
62%
Weight: 10
Moderate ease with some bureaucratic hurdles and costs.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available in the US.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
65%
Weight: 50
Moderately friendly with good infrastructure but high costs and visa challenges.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
67%
Weight: 25
Regular meetups and events for digital nomads and remote workers.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
73%
Weight: 20
Active online communities and social media groups for local nomads.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
70%
Weight: 100
Generally safe but some concerns with petty crime in certain areas.
♀️ Female Friendly
75%
Weight: 50
Relatively safe and inclusive environment for women.
✊ Racial Tolerance
69%
Weight: 50
Diverse population with ongoing efforts toward inclusion, though some tensions exist.