Moving for Remote Work? 10 Essential Factors to Consider Before Moving to a New City

Goodbye cubicle, hello freedom! The remote work revolution has unleashed a wave of liberation, allowing us to ditch the commute and work from… well, anywhere with decent WiFi. Suddenly, that dream beach town or mountain hideaway isn’t just vacation territory—it could be your new home office!

But before you start scrolling through real estate listings while daydreaming about Zoom calls from your hammock, take a breath. Moving to a new city is a big deal, especially when your paycheck depends on staying connected. After all, paradise loses its charm pretty quickly when your internet cuts out during an important presentation!

At BMS Moving & Storage, we’ve helped thousands of remote workers relocate across town, across the country, and around the world. Based on our experience, here are the 10 most essential factors to consider before making your move.

 

1. What is the cost of living compared to your current location?

Remote work’s magic trick: same salary, different zip code! This financial sleight of hand creates opportunities to dramatically boost your bottom line by trading that overpriced studio apartment for something with—gasp—actual rooms.

What to consider:

• Housing costs (because paying $2,500 for a shoebox isn’t actually normal)
• Local tax rates (some states don’t want your income—keep it!)
• Utilities and internet expenses (that fiber connection isn’t always available everywhere)
• Transportation costs (trading your subway pass for a kayak commute to your home office?)
• Food and entertainment pricing (craft beer economics vary wildly by region)
• Healthcare expenses (because remote work doesn’t make you immortal…yet)

Many remote workers are pulling off the ultimate financial hack: earning San Francisco dollars while spending Midwest pennies. It’s like giving yourself a massive raise without having to endure a single performance review!

 

2. How reliable is the internet infrastructure?

Let’s be real: your internet connection is now more important than running water. (Okay, maybe that’s a stretch, but only barely.) Before you sign that lease in a charming rural hamlet, make sure it’s not still operating on dial-up technology from 1998.

What to investigate:

• Available internet service providers (plural is good, monopoly is concerning)
• Maximum upload and download speeds (because “up to 25 Mbps” usually means “good luck getting 10”)
• Service reliability (those gorgeous mountain views won’t help when your connection drops mid-presentation)
• Data caps or usage limitations (nothing says “career limiting move” like hitting your data cap during a critical file upload)
• Pricing and contract requirements (read the fine print, or prepare to sell a kidney)
• Backup options when (not if) your primary connection fails (mobile hotspot? local café? carrier pigeon?)

Pro tip: Book an Airbnb in your dream location for a work week. If you find yourself driving 20 minutes to the local McDonald’s parking lot for a stable connection, maybe reconsider your moving plans!

 

 

3. Is there access to coworking spaces or suitable cafés?

Even dedicated remote workers occasionally need a change of scenery. Access to alternative workspaces can significantly improve your productivity and mental health.

Questions to ask:

• Are there dedicated coworking spaces in the area?
• Do local cafés welcome remote workers?
• What are the operating hours of these alternative workspaces?
• Do they provide reliable internet connections?
• Are they within comfortable commuting distance from potential housing?

The availability of these spaces can be crucial for maintaining work-life boundaries and combating the isolation that sometimes accompanies remote work.

 

4. What is the time zone relative to your team or clients?

Time zones can significantly impact your work-life balance. Consider how the location’s time zone aligns with your company’s primary working hours or your clients’ availability.

Factors to evaluate:

• Will you need to work unusual hours to align with your team?
• How will the time difference affect your participation in meetings?
• Will you have adequate overlap with colleagues for collaborative work?
• How might this impact your social life and daily routines?

Some remote workers prefer being a few hours ahead of their teams, allowing them to complete focused work before meetings begin. Others prefer being in the same time zone for maximum synchronization.

 

5. How vibrant is the local remote work community?

Moving to a city with an established remote work community can provide valuable networking opportunities and social connections.

Research points:

• Local remote work Meetup groups or organizations
• Regular events for digital nomads or remote professionals
• Industry-specific professional groups
• Social media communities focused on the area’s remote workers

These communities can provide not only friendship but also professional opportunities, skill development, and valuable local insights.

 

 

6. What is the climate and how does it align with your preferences?

That tropical paradise looks amazing on Instagram, but have you considered what 90% humidity does to both your hair and your laptop? Climate isn’t just about comfort—it’s about sanity and technology survival.

Climate considerations:

• Temperature ranges (those “perfect weather” cities usually cost 50% more in rent)
• Humidity levels (electronics and swamp-like conditions don’t mix well)
• Seasonal weather patterns (hurricane evacuation with three monitors and a standing desk is… challenging)
• Air quality (because working from home during wildfire season might require an indoor oxygen farm)
• Natural disaster risks (flood zones and home offices are a particularly bad combination)

Remember: that beautiful snowfall looks magical until you realize your internet line is buried under three feet of winter wonderland and you’ve got a deadline. And nothing tests your professional composure quite like trying to sound collected on a client call while sweating through your shirt during a heatwave!

 

7. Are there adequate healthcare facilities nearby?

Access to quality healthcare remains essential regardless of your work arrangement.

Healthcare checklist:

• Proximity of general practitioners and specialists
• Hospital quality and emergency services
• In-network providers for your insurance plan
• Availability of mental health services
• Telehealth options in the region

For those with specific health concerns, researching the specialist care available in potential locations should be a priority before relocating.

 

8. How accessible is transportation for occasional travel?

While you may work remotely most of the time, periodic travel for in-person meetings, conferences, or client visits may still be necessary.

Transportation factors:

• Distance to the nearest airport and available flight destinations
• Direct flight availability to your company’s headquarters or client locations
• Public transportation options for local travel
• Traffic conditions and commute times to transportation hubs
• Rideshare availability and reliability

Even with limited travel requirements, easy access to transportation options can significantly reduce stress when travel becomes necessary.

 

9. What are the local tax implications for remote workers?

Tax considerations can significantly impact your net income and should be thoroughly researched before any move.

Tax considerations:

• State income tax rates (some states have no income tax)
• Local income or wage taxes
• Home office deduction eligibility
• Tax implications for working in one state while your employer is in another
• International tax considerations for cross-border moves

Consulting with a tax professional familiar with remote work situations before your move can potentially save you thousands of dollars.

 

10. How does the housing market accommodate home offices?

News flash: that cute “cozy” studio apartment translates to “you’ll be working from your bed or kitchen counter forever.” Your home is now also your workplace, which means square footage just became a business expense (at least in your mind).

Home office considerations:

• Availability of housing with dedicated office space (your mental health will thank you for not working from your bedroom)
• Noise levels (nothing says “unprofessional” like your neighbor’s amateur death metal band practice during your client calls)
• Natural lighting (because looking like you’re broadcasting from a dungeon isn’t ideal for team morale)
• Local zoning laws (some places have strong opinions about home-based businesses—who knew?)
• HOA restrictions (some are run by retired people with nothing better to do than monitor how many Amazon packages you receive for “business purposes”)

When touring potential homes, don’t just check if the kitchen has granite countertops—ask yourself if you could stand to stare at those living room walls for 40+ hours a week without losing your mind. That weird paint color becomes a lot more problematic when it’s your background for every video call!

 

Making Your Remote Work Move with BMS Moving & Storage

Let’s face it: moving your home office requires more finesse than throwing your collection of novelty coffee mugs into a box and hoping for the best. At BMS Moving & Storage, we get it. Your dual-monitor setup and ergonomic chair aren’t just furniture—they’re the backbone of your livelihood.

Unlike other moving companies that offer the same cookie-cutter approach whether you’re moving Grandma’s china or your tech command center, we put you in the driver’s seat. Want us to handle everything while you finish that project deadline? Done. Prefer to pack your own custom PC but need help with everything else? No problem. We’re flexible like your new work schedule!

With locations nationwide and a century of moving expertise (yep, we’ve been moving people since before WiFi was even a twinkle in an engineer’s eye), BMS can handle your move whether you’re escaping the big city or embracing your beach town dreams. Our professional teams know the difference between regular fragile and “if-this-breaks-I-lose-my-job” fragile.

Contact BMS Moving & Storage today for a free, customized quote. We’ll handle the heavy lifting while you focus on more important things—like finding the perfect background for your Zoom calls that makes colleagues think you’ve totally got your life together in your new location.

 

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