Transportation
- Highway Access
- Direct access to I-95 and US-1.
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and Lyft are widely available.
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Drifters St. Augustine ($30/day) or Gotcha electric bike share.
- Best Beach Nearby
- St. Augustine Beach (4 miles from downtown) or Anastasia State Park.
- Top Regional Airline
- Silver Airways (operating via Jacksonville International Airport).
- Top International Airline
- Delta, American Airlines, United (via JAX Airport, 50 mins away).
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Jacksonville Amtrak Station (45 miles north).
- Public Transport Passes
- Sunshine Bus Company ($2 per ride or $30 monthly pass).
- Regional Travel
- Greyhound bus or RedCoach for travel to Miami, Orlando, or Atlanta.
Essentials
- City
- St. Augustine, Florida, United States
- Population
- 15,000 (City limits), ~450,000 (St. Johns County)
- Internet Speed
- Average 200-400 Mbps (Xfinity and AT&T Fiber available)
- Currency & Banking
- US Dollar ($). Local banks include Wells Fargo and Bank of America.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, though many locals prefer filtered water due to sulfur taste.
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T. Prepaid plans from $40/month.
- Banking for Expats
- Chase, Wise (formerly TransferWise), or Revolut for easy USD accounts.
- Accommodation
- Vacation rentals (Airbnb/VRBO) and historic B&Bs; limited long-term apartments.
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, credit cards and Apple Pay accepted almost everywhere.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, VRBO, and local agencies like Coastal Realty.
- Budget Accommodation
- Pirate Haus Inn (approx. $80-$120/night); Saint Augustine Beach House.
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Historic District (near St. George Street) for walkability and sites.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Lincolnville or Anastasia Island (Davis Shores) for a quieter, local feel.
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Kookaburra Beachside (laptop friendly) or GrowHub ($250/mo for dedicated space).
- Best Cafe for Work
- Relampago Coffee Lab (high-speed Wi-Fi, 74 Spanish St) or Crucial Coffee.
- Networking Events
- St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce 'Before Hours' networking events.
- Social Events for Expats
- St. Augustine Digital Nomads Facebook Group; trivia nights at Sarbez!.
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Flagler Health+ (400 Health Park Blvd).
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Discovery Yoga (West King St) and The Yoga Room ($20/drop-in).
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Anastasia Fitness ($55/mo) or YMCA of Florida's First Coast.
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry Station (1440 US-1) - wash/fold services around $1.50/lb.
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- DoorDash and UberEats.
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Datil Pepper Wings or Minorcan Clam Chowder (very spicy).
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Present Moment Cafe (Raw/Vegan) and Buho Mexican (Veggie-friendly).
- Best Dessert Spots
- Hyppo Gourmet Ice Pops ($5) and Cousteau's Waffle and Milkshake Bar.
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- ALDI (US-1) and the St. Augustine Amphitheatre Farmers Market.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon (Same-day/Next-day delivery available in most areas).
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart and Publix Delivery.
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Historic District (St. George St) and the 'A1A' strip at the beach.
- Local Brewery
- Old Coast Ales and Bog Brewing Company.
- Wine Bars
- Bin 39 and Carrera Wine Cellar.
- Street Food Stalls
- The Marina Munch food truck court (2495 S Dixie Hwy).
- Popular International Cuisine
- Llama Restaurant (Peruvian) and Collage (Global).
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Castillo de San Marcos National Monument ($15 entry).
- Museums & Art Venues
- Lightner Museum ($17 entry) housed in the former Alcazar Hotel.
- Historical Sites
- Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park.
- Religious Sites
- Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine and Mission Nombre de Dios.
- Annual Events
- Nights of Lights (Nov-Jan) and the Celtic Music & Heritage Festival.
- Cultural Districts
- Aviles Street (Oldest Street in the US) and Lincolnville.
- Theater Venues
- Limelight Theatre and The St. Augustine Amphitheatre (The Amp).
- Local Markets
- St. Augustine Farmers Market (Saturdays 8:30am-12:30pm).
- Music Scene
- Prohibition Kitchen and Colonial Oak Music Park.
- Street Art
- West King Street district murals.
- Cooking Classes
- Chef's Garden and local culinary tours.
- Art Galleries
- Butterfield Garage Art Gallery and Lost Art Gallery.
- Historic Buildings
- Flagler College (formerly the Ponce de Leon Hotel).
- Local Heritage
- Spanish Colonial and Gilded Age architecture.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Anastasia State Park (beaches, dunes, and marshes).
- National Parks Nearby
- Fort Matanzas National Monument (Free ferry access).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Palatka-to-St. Augustine State Trail (19 miles).
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Top of the St. Augustine Lighthouse ($15) for panoramic ocean views.
- Birdwatching Locations
- St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (Rookery).
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- St. Johns County Beaches (with specific seasonal permits).
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- UPS Store (Coble Dr) and FedEx Office (US-1).
- Tech Repair Services
- uBreakiFix on US-1.
- Table Tennis Spots
- The Players Community Center (Ponte Vedra/Nocatee area).
- Language Classes
- St. Johns River State College (ESL and Spanish courses).
- Libraries & Study Spots
- St. Johns County Public Library (Main Branch, Seahage Dr).
- Community Centers
- Willie Galimore Community Center (Lincolnville).
- Gaming Lounges
- The Video Game Rescue (Jacksonville, 30 mins away).
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- bestbet Jacksonville (Greyhound and Poker, 40 mins away).
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,500 per m² ($450,000 for 700 sq ft).
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,200 per m² ($300,000 for 700 sq ft).
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,000 per m² ($550,000 for 900 sq ft).
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,800 per m² ($350,000 for 900 sq ft).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $5,800 per m² ($700,000 for 1200 sq ft).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,500 per m² ($420,000 for 1200 sq ft).
- Corporate Tax
- 5.5% (Florida state) plus 21% (Federal).
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% for US residents; up to 30% for non-residents.
- Tax System
- Federal worldwide income for citizens/residents; Florida has no state income tax.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 37% (Federal Personal Income Tax).
- VAT
- 6.5% (Sales Tax in St. Johns County).
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, complex US GILTI and Subpart F rules apply.
- Property Tax
- Yes, approx. 1.25% of assessed value annually.
- Property Transaction Tax
- Documentary stamp tax on deeds: $0.70 per $100.
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No state income tax in Florida is a major draw for US-based nomads.