Working remotely is a new age phenomenon brought on by the boom of the internet. Never before has someone been able to perform so many types of jobs from the comfort of their own home and actually make a living wage off the opportunity.
However, it also complicates the general work process, though.
This is mostly due to the fact that you’re not automatically likely to make the amount of money that is standard for your area.
You can live somewhere like New York, but your employer could be in Oklahoma where the cost of living, and the expected wage, are much lower. This can leave many remote workers a bit disappointed in their wages.
However, it can also be used to your advantage. If you pick the right state to live in, you can leverage higher industry pay standards to live an exceptionally good life.
Typically, this means that you have to choose a location that has a low cost of living while still having exceptional internet quality. If you do it right, you can make more money from your couch than locals do at the most difficult labor jobs.
We found that remote workers are most interested in 4 things namely;
- Affordable cost of living
- Affordable housing and rents
- High wages/salaries
- Fast internet connections
Here are the 15 states you should be looking to move to if you’re going to start working remotely.
| # | Cost Of Living | Housing | Wage | Internet Speed |
| TX | $1,953 p/month | $425k | $28 | 125 Mbps |
| IL | $2,063 p/month | $1,653 p/month | $28 | 173 Mbps |
| OR | $3,125 p/month | $344k | $28 | 93 Mbps |
| MO | $1,729 p/month | $225k | $28 | 108 Mbps |
| NC | $1,333 p/month | $800 p/month | $28 | 24 Mbps |
| OH | $1,049 p/month | $125k | $28 | 102 Mbps |
| TN | $3,124 p/month | $170k | $28 | 132 Mbps |
| WA | $2,220 p/month | $555k | $28 | 149 Mbps |
| AZ | $1,551 p/month | $392k | $28 | 149 Mbps |
| PA | $2,117 p/month | $138k | $28 | 144 Mbps |
| CA | $3,886 p/month | $300k | $28 | 92 Mbps |
| UT | $3,114 p/month | $300k | $28 | 127 Mbps |
| NY | $3,260 p/month | $491k | $28 | 190 Mbps |
| DC | $3976 p/month | $481k | $28 | 129 Mbps |
What Does This Data Mean For Remote Workers?
The chart above doesn’t mean much without context. There are too many variables that we simply cannot cover with a reasonably detailed chart.
In some of the states depicted, you can actually live much more cheaply while enjoying the great internet infrastructure, and in some, the price is honestly a lowball if you ask locals.
So, we’ll go into more detail here on how those states really stack up against each other.
Also, keep in mind that we used the national average salary for remote workers.
Since you’re working remotely, you won’t necessarily make the average wage for your location. That can be helpful or a drawback.
Great States For High-Paying Remote Jobs
You will notice that some of the states listed are historically the most expensive places in the US to live. Take California and New York for example; no one would think that would match our low cost of living standard for this list.
However, like most states, that’s because that data is typically taken from the largest cities. That’s not a fair analysis.
In fact, those states can be some of the best spots if you have a relatively high-paying job.
They have the best internet infrastructure state-wide, they have large populations of remote workers in various industries, and if you move outside of the city to a suburb, you can find affordable housing.
Also, take into account that our housing statistics are for actual houses. Apartments outside of the city can actually be affordable even for low-budget remote workers, and you can typically ride into the city to make use of the various resources found there.
Great States For The Average Freelancer
Freelancing makes up the majority of remote jobs. There was a huge surge in remote workers who were traditionally employed during the Covid-19 pandemic, but a lot of the companies doing that only implemented it short-term.
So, if you’re one of the many freelancers looking for the perfect area to call home and maximize your profits, this section is for you.
You’ll notice that some states notorious for low-quality-of-life features are on here. Illinois stands out. However, there are caveats to that. The area around Chicago offers the same benefits as suburban New York and California, but it’s not known for its remote work.
The real attraction is southeastern Illinois. The housing is incredibly affordable, the top internet providers operate in the area, and there’s the benefit of living just outside of St. Louis.
So, you’re never far away from a large city environment with tons of networking and pitching opportunities.
There is also a substantial suburban public transport system, and you can ride around the area or into the city without having to own a car and all the costs that come with that.
Texas has a similar story, but you don’t have to worry about traveling across state borders to get to the city. If you move to Irvine, you can enjoy top-quality internet connections, a reasonable cost of living, and plenty of affordable housing.
With a short trip by car, or with the help of a bus, you can be in the city in less than twenty minutes. This is better than Illinois for another reason. Dallas is actually known for its remote work opportunities.
So, you can easily find co-op workstations, plenty of cafes and coffee shops, and a focus on facilitating nomadic remote work. Irvine is somewhat more expensive than southern Illinois, but there are more benefits to counter that.
Finally, if you’re an east coast fan, you’ll love North Carolina. The state is generally cost-effective as long as you don’t try to rent an apartment in the city, there is a variety of locales for you to explore, and the cost of living is reasonably affordable.
It’s the only place on our chart where you can enjoy the big city vibe one day, go into the remote woodlands the next, and round off your week with a beach trip. However, public transport is lacking. So, invest in a car.
What’s The Best State To Work Remotely In?
It’s not really possible to list “the best” state to work remotely in the US. Each state has its own pros and cons, and as our chart shows along with our findings, even the stats are skewed to the expensive side of things.
The key is to use our recommendations to narrow down your search, and then perform in-depth research on your top spots to find what works for you.
There are plenty of places in the US that are ripe with opportunities for remote workers of all kinds; you just have to find them.
