01
Mobile
AL · 412k metro
Mobile tops the list of SF exits. $1,302 median rent, $1,844 less than SF every month, 225 pleasant days, OutdoorScore 59.
$1,302
median rent / month
225
pleasant days a year
59
OutdoorScore (0 to 100)
San Francisco isn't losing people because they suddenly hate the city. They're leaving because the math turned: median rent is $3,146, the state taxes income harder than almost anywhere else, and the lifestyle premium gets harder to defend every year.
This list ranks the cities a Bay Area remote worker is most likely to land happily in. Affordability does most of the work, with weather, things to do, and parks rounding it out, because what made SF good in the first place still matters.
the ranking
- see the full dispatch for Mobile
02
LAPhoto by Chad Populis on Pexels
New Orleans
LA · 962k metro
New Orleans sits at number two. $1,612 rent ($1,534 less than SF), 235 pleasant days, OutdoorScore 55. The math starts making sense again.
see the full dispatch for New Orleans$1,612
median rent / month
235
pleasant days a year
55
OutdoorScore (0 to 100)
03
SCPhoto by Alex Reynolds on Unsplash
Greenville
SC · 975k metro
Greenville earns the third slot: $1,551 rent, $1,595 less than SF, 202 pleasant days, OutdoorScore 69.
see the full dispatch for Greenville$1,551
median rent / month
202
pleasant days a year
69
OutdoorScore (0 to 100)
04
SCPhoto by Jenny Gregg on Pexels
Spartanburg
SC · 383k metro
Spartanburg brings $1,434 rent against SF's $3,146. That's $1,712 a month, with 191 pleasant days and OutdoorScore 68.
see the full dispatch for Spartanburg$1,434
median rent / month
191
pleasant days a year
68
OutdoorScore (0 to 100)
05
NMPhoto by Stephanie Klepacki on Unsplash
Albuquerque
NM · 924k metro
Albuquerque is the city former Bay Area folks talk about and then quietly move to. $1,489 median rent, $1,657 less than SF, 205 pleasant days, OutdoorScore 81.
see the full dispatch for Albuquerque$1,489
median rent / month
205
pleasant days a year
81
OutdoorScore (0 to 100)
06
OHPhoto by Michael Bowman on Unsplash
Dayton
OH · 808k metro
Dayton runs $1,321 a month at the median, roughly $1,825 less than SF. 171 pleasant days, OutdoorScore of 62.
see the full dispatch for Dayton$1,321
median rent / month
171
pleasant days a year
62
OutdoorScore (0 to 100)
07
Evansville
IN · 271k metro
Evansville pairs $1,075 rent with 184 pleasant days and OutdoorScore 54. $2,071 a month saved versus SF.
see the full dispatch for Evansville$1,075
median rent / month
184
pleasant days a year
54
OutdoorScore (0 to 100)
08
FLPhoto by Kevin Dunlap on Unsplash
Pensacola
FL · 530k metro
Pensacola closes the rent gap by $1,394 a month against SF. 226 pleasant days, OutdoorScore 69.
see the full dispatch for Pensacola$1,752
median rent / month
226
pleasant days a year
69
OutdoorScore (0 to 100)
09
NCPhoto by Tai's Captures on Unsplash
Hickory
NC · 370k metro
Hickory comes in toward the bottom of the top ten, but the deal still lands: $1,434 rent ($1,712 under SF), 189 pleasant days, OutdoorScore 64.
see the full dispatch for Hickory$1,434
median rent / month
189
pleasant days a year
64
OutdoorScore (0 to 100)
10
GAPhoto by Brad Huchteman on Unsplash
Atlanta
GA · 6.3M metro
Atlanta rounds out the ten. $1,814 median rent versus SF's $3,146, 204 pleasant days, OutdoorScore 67. The numbers do their own talking.
see the full dispatch for Atlanta$1,814
median rent / month
204
pleasant days a year
67
OutdoorScore (0 to 100)
how we ranked
We rank by 45% affordability, 20% weather, 15% activity, 15% parks, and 5% flight access. Cap: median rent under $2,200 a month so the move actually changes your finances.
common questions
- Why San Francisco specifically?
- It's the metro most overrepresented in the remote-worker exit data, and the rent gap to almost anywhere else in the country is dramatic enough to anchor a useful list.
- Where's LA / NYC / Boston?
- Each has its own ranking coming. The dynamics differ enough (state tax in NY, sprawl in LA, weather in Boston) that lumping them together would water down the recommendations.
also worth your time
find your own top 10
run your numbers