St. Augustine Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 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!. |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 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). |
| 🛣️ Highway Access |
Direct access to I-95 and US-1. |
| 🚉 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. |
BUSINESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 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. |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 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). |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING ST. AUGUSTINE