All cities / California
California cities for digital nomads
3 cities in California compared for people who work from anywhere, every number with its source and date. More California cities are added as the site grows.
Riverside is the cheapest California city near downtown at $1,700 for a 1-bedroom, San Diego the most expensive at $2,660. San Diego has the most walkable downtown.
Riverside
$1,7001-bed near downtownInland Empire prices well below coastal California, with Metrolink trains toward Los Angeles.
- Walk
- 13.3 /20
- Internet
- 5 Gbps
- Breweries
- 7
Anaheim
$2,4801-bed near downtownOrange County base with strong fiber coverage, priced like the coast and laid out for cars.
- Walk
- 14.4 /20
- Internet
- 5 Gbps
- Breweries
- 14
San Diego
$2,6601-bed near downtownBeach city with the highest home prices on this list and a trolley that covers the core.
- Walk
- 15.5 /20
- Internet
- 5 Gbps
- Breweries
- 80
California side by side
| City | 1 bed, near downtown | 1 bed, metro-wide | Walk /20 | No-car homes | Transit fare | Fastest internet | Airbnb night | Breweries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside | $1,700 | $1,705 | 13.3 | 5.9% | $1.75 | 5 Gbps | $235 | 7 |
| Anaheim | $2,480 | $2,610 | 14.4 | 5.1% | $2.00 | 5 Gbps | $377 | 14 |
| San Diego | $2,660 | $2,335 | 15.5 | 7% | $3.00 | 5 Gbps | $296 | 80 |
Head to head
ZIP codes near downtown
HUD publishes rent by ZIP code; these are the ZIPs within 2 miles of each downtown, each with its own page.
- 92501 Riverside, $1,600
- 92504 Riverside, $1,700
- 92506 Riverside, $1,790
- 92507 Riverside, $1,950
- 92509 Riverside, $1,650
- 92801 Anaheim, $2,480
- 92802 Anaheim, $2,480
- 92804 Anaheim, $2,480
- 92805 Anaheim, $2,480
- 92806 Anaheim, $2,720
- 92831 Anaheim, $2,590
- 92832 Anaheim, $2,480
- 92833 Anaheim, $2,480
- 92101 San Diego, $3,380
- 92102 San Diego, $2,230
- 92103 San Diego, $2,660
- 92104 San Diego, $2,410
- 92113 San Diego, $1,850
- 92118 San Diego, $3,500
- 92132 San Diego, $2,330
- 92134 San Diego, $3,300
- 92135 San Diego, $3,500
Questions people ask
What is the cheapest city in California for digital nomads?
Of the 3 California cities on Nomading USA, Riverside has the lowest 1-bedroom rent near downtown at $1,700 a month, and San Diego the highest at $2,660, on HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents as of October 2026.
Which California city is the most walkable?
San Diego, with 15.5 out of 20 on the EPA National Walkability Index within 2 miles of downtown; the others are Anaheim 14.4, Riverside 13.3.
Other states: none with three cities yet.