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Remote work is more popular today than ever before. This is no surprise as it provides employers with the opportunity to attract quality talent from afar. As long as they have the right tools in place, including top-rated HR software, they can create productive and profitable remote workforces.
Remote work saves workers time and money on commuting and office clothing while keeping their morale and productivity levels high. Since being a remote worker means you can pick up and move just about anywhere while still keeping your job, it can be difficult to choose where to go.
Ideally, you’d live in a place with an affordable cost of living, high earning potential, reliable internet connection, low taxes, a low unemployment rate and various entertainment options. To make your search a bit easier, Forbes Advisor researched the best cities for remote workers in 2023.
Key Takeaways
- With low taxes, great access to arts and entertainment, and a great living wage—Miami is the top-ranking city for remote workers.
- Florida has three cities in the top 10 for remote workers, making it a great state for remote workers.
- Omaha, has the best earning potential for remote employees with Miami, and Ogden, Utah, as runners-up.
- Spokane, Washington, has the best combination of internet speeds and availability of free Wi-Fi hotspots across the U.S.
- If you’re looking for a city with great entertainment, New York, Miami and Chicago made the top of our list.
Top 10 Best Cities for Remote Workers in the U.S.
The following table shows the top 10 best cities for remote workers in the United States. Miami holds the number one spot for multiple reasons. Not only is it known for warm weather and beautiful beaches, its living and housing costs are very reasonable. It also offers a low unemployment rate of 2.1% plus many entertainment and dining attractions. We can’t forget its impressive internet speeds and widespread access to free Wi-Fi.
While many people associate the city with the Indy 500, Indianapolis is also a great place for remote workers. It earned a fairly high score in every category of our study, thanks to its low cost of living, friendly environment, fast internet connection and abundance of Wi-Fi hotspots. Indianapolis’ median household income of $67,330 means you can earn a good living without having to step foot into an office every day.
The third best city for remote workers is Omaha, which is known for its vibrant culture, diverse population and the world-class Henry Doorly Zoo. It boasts an incredibly low unemployment rate of 2% and is also highly affordable with a medium home cost of $231,100 and an average rent cost of $8,336. Plus it offers speedy internet and many Wi-Fi hotspots throughout town.
Cities with the most earning potential for remote workers
At the end of the day, most people want to earn as much as possible. The good news is you can enjoy the freedom of remote work while still making a good living. In the table below, you’ll find the top 10 best cities for the most earning potential for remote workers. Omaha takes the cake with the number one spot. Miami and Ogden, UT are right behind Omaha in the second and third spots.
Cities with the best internet access for remote workers
Reliable internet access is not an option if you’re working remotely; it’s a necessity. That’s why we ranked the cities with the best internet access for remote workers. Spokane is number one, thanks to its lightning-fast average internet download speeds of 451 Mbps. Richmond gets second place while Austin comes in third with average internet download speeds of 505.60 Mbps and 425.90 Mbps, respectively.
Cities with the best lifestyle amenities for remote workers
These days, more and more people are making work-life balance a priority. A remote position often comes with flexibility. Depending on your employer, you can start and end your workday whenever you’d like, as long as you do your job.
This type of control of your work schedule can give you more time to make memories with your family and enjoy nearby entertainment and dining options. The chart below shows the cities with the best lifestyle amenities for remote workers who wish to take full advantage of the freedom that remote work brings.
New York City is ranked number one. From Central Park, the Statue of Liberty and the Metropolitan Museum of Art to Broadway shows and five-star restaurants, it offers countless attractions for remote workers. Behind the Big Apple are the bustling cities of Miami and Chicago. While the Magic City is a great spot for beaches and nightlife, the Windy City is the place to be for iconic neighborhoods, deep-dish pizza and outdoor concerts.
The Best 100 U.S. Metro Areas for Remote Workers
To close out our study, we found the top 100 U.S. metro areas for remote workers. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach area leads the way. It offers a fairly high median household income as well as a friendly place for workers, low unemployment rate and a fair living wage. Other top contenders on our list include the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson area and the Omaha-Council Bluffs area.
Conclusion
Now that you know the best cities for remote workers, it’s up to you to choose the right one for your unique lifestyle and preferences. No matter which route you take, be sure to treat your remote job as a traditional in-office job and follow your employer’s work-from-home policy. By doing so, you can thrive in your career and enjoy life at the same time.
Methodology
To determine which cities are best for remote workers, Forbes Advisor analyzed the following 11 key metrics:
- 10%—Median household income, Census American Community Survey
- 10%—Worker Friendliness, Oxfam Best States to Work in America 2022
- 10%—Cost of Living, MIT Living Wage Calculator
- 10%—Unemployed Rate, Census American Community Survey
- 10%—Annual Taxes, Census American Community Survey
- 7%—Average Internet Download Speeds, HighSpeedInternet
- 7%—Number of Free Wi-Fi Hotspots, WiFiMap.io
- 9%—Arts and Entertainment Establishments per 100,000 businesses, Census County Business Patterns
- 9%—Food and Drink Establishments per 100,000 businesses, Census County Business Patterns
- 9%—Rent Affordability, MIT Living Wage Calculator
- 9%—Median Home Price, Census American Community Survey
