Geoarbitrage 2.0: How Remote and In-Person Movers Are Redefining Work and Home in 2025

A New Geography of Work

Five years after the pandemic reshaped the American labor market, geoarbitrage—the strategy of relocating from high-cost-of-living areas to more affordable communities- has evolved from a financial tactic to a full-scale lifestyle movement.

As of 2025, more than 32 million Americans (22 percent of the workforce) work remotely, according to Neat’s State of Remote Work 2025. Yet the modern migration map reveals a deeper trend: people aren’t just moving to save money - they’re moving to experience a better quality of life.

That was the case for Ken Sharp and his family who recently relocated from Austin, Texas to Noblesville, Indiana, through the MakeMyMove program. For nearly 20 years, Austin was their home. It was the place where their daughter was born, where they built friendships and weathered the seasons (or lack thereof) together. But over time, the city changed - traffic worsened, the cost of living skyrocketed and their family felt too far away.

“In Austin, we were in a small house and couldn’t really move up,” Ken said. “Here, our real estate dollars go so much further. We finally have room to breathe.”

What Is Geoarbitrage?

Geoarbitrage (also called geographic arbitrage) involves remote workers strategically relocating from a high-cost-of-living area to places with much lower living expenses. For example, a remote worker making $100,000 in Los Angeles or New York City can stretch that income far further in Bloomington, Indiana, or Columbus, Georgia. But in 2025, geoarbitrage isn’t limited to digital nomads and tech employees not only has hybrid work added nuance but educators, healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs and manufacturing workers are seeking in-person opportunities in communities where their salaries stretch farther while supporting both their career and wellbeing.

The Massive Financial Benefits of Geoarbitrage

The math behind geoarbitrage is simple - the lower your cost of living, the further your income can stretch and the easier it becomes to bank meaningful savings or raise your overall quality of life.

According to 2025 data from NerdWallet, a household earning $150,000 in the Washington, D.C. metro area would need to earn only around $99,150 in Indianapolis, Indiana, to maintain the same standard of living. That’s a 51% difference in cost, or more than $50,000 in annual purchasing power reclaimed simply by changing zip codes.

Those numbers aren’t just theoretical. More Americans are turning data into decisions, using geoarbitrage to design lives that balance financial security with personal fulfillment.

For Ayenna, that balance came after she decided to leave Atlanta. Despite a stable remote job, she was exhausted by rising rent, traffic, and the constant pressure of city life.

"I was living in the Atlanta area and it has become so overpopulated, there’s too much traffic and construction and things of that nature," Ayenna says. "The cost of living was skyrocketing, too as far as home and rental prices and I wasn’t happy there."

Her “happy place” turned out to be Lincoln County, Kansas, a small community just west of Salina, Kansas, where her income stretched further and her days felt calmer. The move meant starting over in a place where she didn’t have family nearby but what she found in return was freedom and peace of mind.

From her loft apartment in downtown Lincoln, Ayenna starts each morning walking her dog, Gabriel, next to a senior center where residents give them a friendly wave. Errands that once took hours in Atlanta are now measured in minutes since the grocery store, bank and post office are all within a few blocks.

According to NerdWallet’s 2025 comparison, a household earning $90,000 in Atlanta would need only about $77,000 in nearby Salina to maintain the same standard of living and in Lincoln County, that difference stretches even further, especially when it comes to housing.

"I would like to get a home with a backyard for my doggie,” says Ayenna.

Beyond Remote Work: Joining the Local Workforce

Geoarbitrage once meant keeping a big-city salary while living somewhere cheaper. But in 2025, a growing share of movers are taking local jobs - choosing communities that offer stability, affordability and meaningful work.

Across the Midwest and South, workforce relocation programs are filling roles in healthcare, education and manufacturing - industries hungry for talent.

That was the case for mover Sam. He relocated to Jasper, Indiana and started as a remote worker until he was hired by a local company, Kimball Electronics, where he now manages quality engineering in their medical division. “It was the right opportunity at the right time,” he said. “There’s real industry here - Toyota, MasterBrand Cabinets, Kimball - and they need skilled workers.”

These programs also help communities fill essential roles to help build long-term population stability, while newcomers contribute to civic life - volunteering, buying homes and enrolling children in local schools.

When Incentives Meet Community

Relocation programs like MakeMyMove have transformed geoarbitrage from an individual lifestyle choice into a community-building movement. Through relocation incentives, communities are offering more than cash - they’re offering connection. Packages often include memberships to coworking spaces, passes to local events, or introductions to small business networks and volunteer opportunities. These benefits aren’t just financial perks; they’re invitations to participate, to belong and to build a life surrounded by community.

That was the case for Marissa Huber-East, who moved with her husband and two children from Florida to Bloomington, Indiana.

“Our daily life fits who we are and what we value, and the people and community here in Bloomington make it so special,” said Marissa Huber-East, who returned to Bloomington, Indiana, after nearly two decades away. “It’s such a small thing, but that familiarity - the sense of being part of something - means everything.”

Communities benefit just as much as the movers who choose them. New residents bring energy, skills and a fresh sense of optimism and in return, they find places eager to welcome them home. From Indiana to Kentucky to Kansas, these programs are rewriting what it means to move for opportunity.

In a recent SFGATE article, Evan Hock, Co-Founder and COO of MakeMyMove said that each remote worker generates more than $80,000 on average to their new location’s economy.

What’s Next for Geoarbitrage

As remote and hybrid work stabilizes, geoarbitrage is shifting from novelty to norm. Workers are no longer chasing cheaper rent—they’re pursuing richer lives.

That was the case for Justin and Millie who relcoated from Georgia to McCordsville, Indiana, earlier this year. Even though as they say, they’ve “lived all over,” when they moved into their new home in McCordsville, they fell in love with the area. “Millie has a soft spot for the cornfields,” Justin said with a laugh. “She loves that rural, open feel. I’m drawn more to the rolling hills and wooded areas. Here, we get the best of both worlds: cornfields just a few blocks away and Geist Reservoir right on our route into Fishers. No matter the season, it’s beautiful.”

Millie added that their daily lives have been enriched by small-town amenities. “There’s a coffee shop called Coffee at the Crossing that kind of sealed the deal for me,” she said. “And we’re less than a quarter mile from walking trails. With our Great Dane, Seamus, that was non-negotiable.”

The next chapter of geoarbitrage will be defined by stories of families thriving in affordable towns, of professionals finding purpose close to home and of communities re-energized by newcomers who came not just to live but to bring value to their new home.