A examine by The Excellent Rug analyzed the biggest U.S. cities to determine the highest ten costliest metropolis facilities for distant work. The examine relies on metrics akin to inhabitants knowledge, the variety of co-working areas and cafes per capita, common web speeds by state (distributed throughout cities), common month-to-month lease costs for metropolis middle residences, common hourly desk costs in co-working areas, and the prices of meals and occasional.
The information was then normalized to prioritize affordability and fascinating metrics, akin to increased counts of co-working areas and cafes, quicker web speeds, and decrease prices. An index rating was calculated primarily based on these components, with increased scores indicating the very best cities for distant work and decrease scores indicating the much less favorable ones.
Findings summed up
| Metropolis/State | Inhabitants | Variety of co-working areas per capita | Variety of cafes per capita | Common web velocity/mbps | Common price of leases within the metropolis central | Common price for a desk per hour | Common meal price | Common espresso price | Index Rating |
| San Jose, CA | 1,015,785 | 1.477 | 13.68 | 93 | $2,597 | $30 | $20.00 | $6.00 | 24.2 |
| San Diego, CA | 1,381,069 | 4.417 | 27.80 | 93 | $2,333 | $101 | $22.00 | $5.43 | 26.9 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 3,928,864 | 3.767 | 15.70 | 93 | $2,158 | $23 | $25.00 | $5.39 | 28.7 |
| San Francisco, CA | 852,469 | 7.625 | 48.33 | 93 | $2,894 | $27 | $25.00 | $5.55 | 33.6 |
| New York, NY | 8,491,079 | 3.733 | 13.03 | 397.7 | $3,864 | $22 | $30.00 | $5.83 | 34.1 |
| Chicago, IL | 2,722,389 | 3.747 | 21.12 | 324.9 | $1,863 | $12 | $25.00 | $5.22 | 51.8 |
| Boston, MA | 655,884 | 7.776 | 43.76 | 401.2 | $3,501 | $34 | $24.00 | $5.74 | 52.4 |
| Indianapolis, IN | 848,788 | 4.830 | 13.43 | 331 | $1,093 | $30 | $25.00 | $4.78 | 57.3 |
| Columbus, OH | 835,957 | 4.187 | 18.30 | 278.3 | $1,117 | $26 | $20.00 | $4.88 | 57.8 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 853,382 | 3.750 | 15.35 | 322.3 | $1,304 | $41 | $18.00 | $5.10 | 58.5 |
San Jose, CA, tops the rating with a rating of 24.2. Providing the fewest co-working areas per capita at 1.47, and the best espresso prices. San Jose is the least reasonably priced metropolis for distant work regardless of its tech-driven setting.
San Diego, CA, ranks second with a rating of 26.9. Though it provides a significantly increased variety of co-working areas per capita at 4.42, the town nonetheless stays costly because of the excessive common price for a desk per hour at $101, the best on this record. Hire costs are additionally vital, although barely extra reasonably priced than San Jose, averaging $2,333 within the metropolis middle.
Los Angeles, CA, is available in third with a rating of 28.7. Whereas the rental prices within the metropolis middle common $2,158—decrease than San Jose and San Francisco—the town nonetheless presents a problem for affordability. The supply of coworking areas per capita is at 3.77, which is sort of common in comparison with different cities, however meal prices attain a excessive of $25.00, making it one other dear choice for these working remotely.
San Francisco, CA, ranks fourth with a rating of 33.6, providing essentially the most cafes per capita at 48.33, greater than every other metropolis on the record. Nevertheless, the typical rental price within the metropolis middle is $2,894, the third highest total, and the common espresso price is $5.55. Though co-working areas per capita are comparatively excessive at 7.6, the general excessive residing bills hold San Francisco among the many least reasonably priced choices.
New York, NY, ranks fifth with an index rating of 34.1. Regardless of providing one of many quickest common web speeds at 397.7 Mbps, the town has the best rental prices on the record, averaging $3,864 within the metropolis middle. Meal prices additionally attain an common of $30.00, making New York one of many priciest cities for distant work.
Chicago, IL, ranks sixth with a rating of 51.8. Whereas rental costs drop to $1,863 within the metropolis middle, considerably decrease than these in California and New York, Chicago nonetheless presents challenges with reasonable co-working house availability (3.75 per capita) and meal prices that stay excessive at $25.00. Nevertheless, espresso prices listed here are barely extra affordable, at $5.22, in comparison with different main cities.
Boston, MA, scores 52.4 and ranks on the seventh place. Boston provides the best quantity of co-working areas per capita at 7.7. The town additionally has a giant variety of cafes per capita at 43.76. Nevertheless, rental prices within the metropolis middle are the second-highest on the record at $3,501, and the price for a desk per hour is $34, contributing to Boston’s rank as one of many priciest cities.
Indianapolis, IN, ranks eighth with a rating of 57.3, providing a extra reasonably priced life-style for distant staff. The typical lease within the metropolis middle is $1,093, one of many lowest on the record, and espresso prices are additionally extra budget-friendly at $4.78. Nevertheless, Indianapolis has fewer co-working areas per capita (4.83), and whereas meal prices stay excessive at $25.00, the general affordability is considerably higher than in lots of different cities.
Columbus, OH, takes the ninth spot with a rating of 57.8. Columbus provides one of many decrease common rental prices at $1,117, making it a pretty choice for budget-conscious distant staff. The variety of coworking areas per capita is 4.187, and the price of espresso is reasonable at $4.88, making Columbus one of many extra reasonably priced cities on this record.
Jacksonville, FL, rounds off the rating with a rating of 58.5. The town stands out for its comparatively reasonably priced rental prices, averaging $1,304 within the metropolis middle, and has the bottom common meal price at $18.00. With 3.75 co-working areas per capita, Jacksonville provides an excellent steadiness between value and distant work services, making it one of many extra budget-friendly cities on the record.
A spokesperson from The Excellent Rug commented: “Whereas affordability is essential for distant staff, components like co-working availability, web velocity, and the price of on a regular basis requirements akin to meals and occasional additionally play a big function. Cities with increased rents and fewer co-working areas create monetary challenges for distant staff, even in locations with vibrant work cultures. Balancing these components is vital for making a metropolis really remote-work-friendly.”