30 Cities Where You Can Thrive Without a Full-Time Job

The advent of the internet has produced a new class of remote workers empowered by the increasing ease with which they can earn a living almost anywhere in America — provided there’s a decent internet connection. However, remote work has also resulted in nearly limitless choices surrounding where to live. Unlike past generations that might have spent their entire careers working full time for a single employer in the same city, today’s army of freelancers is able to choose their home base wherever they please and pursue work in a variety of locations.

So, if you work from home, what are the best cities for freelancers? A recent study by Neighborhoods.com answered this question by analyzing several factors across more than 150 cities, including:

• Median rent
• Projected cost of state and federal income taxes based on an income of $52,074, which is the national median for freelancers
• A combined walkability, bike and transit score that gauges how hard it is to get around

The study results yielded a list of 30 cities that offer a combination of cheap housing, low taxes and convenient transportation, along with fast internet and plenty of coffee shops where you can work. Freelancers in these top cities can thrive without the rigid schedule of a full-time job — but they might need to pick up a few side hustles to maintain their lifestyle.

Last updated: Oct. 6, 2020

30. Chattanooga, Tennessee

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,131
• Federal and state income taxes: $8,739
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 28

29. Tucson, Arizona

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $875
• Federal and state income taxes: $10,089
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 43

28. Arlington, Texas

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,043
• Federal and state income taxes: $8,739
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 38

27. St. Paul, Minnesota

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,238
• Federal and state income taxes: $11,220
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 57

26. Salt Lake City

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,292
• Federal and state income taxes: $11,317
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 57

25. Irving, Texas

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,302
• Federal and state income taxes: $8,739
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 38

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24. Henderson, Nevada

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,125
• Federal and state income taxes: $8,739
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 30

23. Ann Arbor, Michigan

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,299
• Federal and state income taxes: $10,780
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 56

22. Wilmington, North Carolina

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $972
• Federal and state income taxes: $11,122
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 34

21. Sacramento, California

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,421
• Federal and state income taxes: $10,536
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 49

20. St. Petersburg, Florida

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $965
• Federal and state income taxes: $8,739
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 45

19. Pittsburgh

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,111
• Federal and state income taxes: $10,859
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 56

18. Dallas

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,225
• Federal and state income taxes: $8,739
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 44

17. Garland, Texas

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $969
• Federal and state income taxes: $8,739
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 35

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16. Reno, Nevada

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,142
• Federal and state income taxes: $8,739
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 38

15. Austin, Texas

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,200
• Federal and state income taxes: $8,739
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 42

14. Tacoma, Washington

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,305
• Federal and state income taxes: $8,739
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 50

13. Knoxville, Tennessee

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $829
• Federal and state income taxes: $8,739
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 28

12. Houston

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,115
• Federal and state income taxes: $8,739
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 45

11. Cincinnati

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,006
• Federal and state income taxes: $11,004
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 43

10. Tampa, Florida

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,120
• Federal and state income taxes: $8,739
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 46

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9. Hialeah, Florida

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,251
• Federal and state income taxes: $8,739
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 53

8. San Antonio

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $911
• Federal and state income taxes: $8,739
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 39

7. Las Vegas

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $977
• Federal and state income taxes: $8,739
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 40

6. Orlando, Florida

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,290
• Federal and state income taxes: $8,739
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 43

5. Scottsdale, Arizona

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,237
• Federal and state income taxes: $10,089
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 37

4. Tempe, Arizona

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $965
• Federal and state income taxes: $10,089
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 57

3. Fort Lauderdale, Florida

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,516
• Federal and state income taxes: $8,739
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 51

2. Vancouver, Washington

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,327
• Federal and state income taxes: $8,739
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 45

1. Spokane, Washington

• Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $903
• Federal and state income taxes: $8,739
• Combined walkability, bike and transit score: 44

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All data used to conduct this ranking was sourced from Neighborhoods.com and is accurate as of Dec. 16, 2019.

About the Author

Joel Anderson

Joel Anderson is a business and finance writer with over a decade of experience writing about the wide world of finance. Based in Los Angeles, he specializes in writing about the financial markets, stocks, macroeconomic concepts and focuses on helping make complex financial concepts digestible for the retail investor.

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