Best Cities for Remote Workers in California

California ranks #50 out of 50 for remote workers — a state where remote workers may face some headwinds. Remote work fundamentally changes the relocation calculus: when your salary comes from elsewhere, what matters is how far it stretches locally and how good daily life feels. With a cost-of-living index of 113, California is above average — remote workers from lower-cost areas won't see a purchasing power advantage.

The high work-from-home rate of 13.6% suggests an established remote work culture with coworking spaces and digital infrastructure already in place. Broadband coverage is excellent at 95.9%, so reliable internet shouldn't be a concern.

The 11% tax burden is above average, which can offset some of the cost-of-living advantages for higher-earning remote professionals. Housing affordability (score: 7/100) is a concern — the median home costs $833,000, which may require a strong remote salary to afford comfortably.