Vegheads, rejoice!
Dining out is no longer limited to meat-shaped soy entrees and underwhelming salads. These 10 cities take “veggie friendly" to a whole new level. Meat-free eating has never tasted so good.
Spread out across the country, the 10 best cities in America for vegetarians offer the most vegetarian, vegan and organic dining options per capita. Translation? It's all about options.
From hands-on Ethiopian cuisine to a beloved vegetarian restaurant that's been around since long before being veggie became trendy, Richmond has endless options for residents who choose not to eat meat.
Better yet, the average one-bedroom rent falls below the national average ($1,142). A one-bedroom in Richmond will only set you back about $1,085 per month.
Meatless meals are easy to come by in Portland, where you'll find no fewer than 132 vegetarian restaurants and 88 vegan eateries.
With one of the country's strongest vegan scenes, you'll never want for “cheesy" vegan pizza, vegan ramen or coconut milk fro-yo. Ready to move? Expect to pay about $1,552 for a one-bedroom in Portland.
Surprised that the home of Disney World is a haven for herbivores? Orlando's dining scene is finally starting to get the attention it deserves, and this multicultural melting pot offers plenty for vegetarians.
It'll cost a bit above the national average to move in next to Mickey. A one-bedroom apartment in Orlando will cost around $1,328.
With a strong vegan scene and a slew of outstanding vegetarian dining options, you'll find plenty of plant-based fuel to power your ski sessions on SLC's four nearby mountains.
Rent prices fall in the middle of our top 10 list, with a one-bedroom price tag in Salt Lake City coming in around $1,260 a month.
Dripping with Southern charm and antebellum beauty, this quaint Georgia city serves up vegetarian food with a side of soul. Start your day with soaked chia porridge, tuck into a roasted veggie panini for lunch, then end the evening with eggplant jambalaya.
The lowest rent on our list sweetens the deal. A one-bedroom in Savannah will only set you back around $1,027 per month.
The 'burgh boasts an eclectic assortment of plant-based eats, along with enough vegan eateries to keep up with the trend currently sweeping the nation.
Once you're worked your way through Pittsburgh's 76 vegetarian and 36 vegan cafes, rest your head at a one-bedroom apartment for around $1,282 per month.
There are plenty of veggies among the University of Michigan's 44,000 students, and fortunately, they'll find an abundance of tasty study snacks, from vegan nacho dip to buffalo wraps and chili mac.
Expect to pay around $1,331 for a one-bedroom pad in Ann Arbor.
The second big university city on our list caters to its active, veggie-loving residents with an impressive assortment of plant-based eats befitting of the town's eco-conscious rep.
Unfortunately, you'll need a good job to live this close to the Rocky Mountains. A one-bedroom here in Boulder is just three bones shy of $2K per month.
It's no surprise that the crunchy home of UC Berkeley is second on our list. Hungry co-eds and earthy locals alike appreciate plentiful plant-based treats like vegan buffalo bacon fried chicken ranch sandwiches and candy covered glazed cinnamon buns.
Just save up your pennies for rent. You can expect to pay around $3,106 for a one-bedroom, making Berkeley the priciest city on our list.
The best city for vegetarians in America is located in the heart of the Lowcountry. From Southern grit bowls to gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, herbivores will find a lot to love in this charming coastal city.
Ready for more good news? Living here won't break the bank. You can find a one-bedroom around Charleston for about $1,091.
Hungry for more meat-free eats around the country? Consider our top 50 cities for more inspired vegetarian dining.
Rank | City, State | Vegetarian Businesses per Resident |
|---|---|---|
1 | Charleston, SC | 1 per 2,141 |
| 2 | Berkeley, CA | 1 per 2,308 |
| 3 | Boulder, CO | 1 per 2,329 |
| 4 | Ann Arbor, MI | 1 per 2,641 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh, PA | 1 per 2,653 |
| 6 | Savannah, GA | 1 per 2,663 |
| 7 | Salt Lake City, UT | 1 per 2,674 |
| 8 | Orlando, FL | 1 per 2,721 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | 1 per 2,768 |
| 10 | Richmond, VA | 1 per 2,948 |
| 11 | Cambridge, MA | 1 per 2,990 |
| 12 | Richardson, TX | 1 per 2,994 |
| 13 | Seattle, WA | 1 per 3,084 |
| 14 | West Palm Beach, FL | 1 per 3,149 |
| 15 | Burbank, CA | 1 per 3,177 |
| 16 | Gainesville, FL | 1 per 3,226 |
| 17 | Costa Mesa, CA | 1 per 3,252 |
| 18 | Rochester, NY | 1 per 3,467 |
| 19 | Las Vegas, NV | 1 per 3,667 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | 1 per 3,712 |
| 21 | Grand Rapids, MI | 1 per 3,824 |
| 22 | Cincinnati, OH | 1 per 3,863 |
| 23 | Minneapolis, MN | 1 per 3,875 |
| 24 | San Francisco, CA | 1 per 3,896 |
| 25 | Washington D.C. | 1 per 3,921 |
| 26 | Fort Collins, CO | 1 per 3,930 |
| 27 | Pasadena, CA | 1 per 3,962 |
| 28 | Tempe, AZ | 1 per 4,023 |
| 29 | Denver, CO | 1 per 4,097 |
| 30 | Scottsdale, AZ | 1 per 4,166 |
| 31 | Madison, WI | 1 per 4,184 |
| 32 | Miami, FL | 1 per 4,371 |
| 33 | Eugene, OR | 1 per 4,445 |
| 34 | Cleveland, OH | 1 per 4,536 |
| 35 | Knoxville, TN | 1 per 4,684 |
| 36 | Chattanooga, TN | 1 per 4,842 |
| 37 | Austin, TX | 1 per 4,875 |
| 38 | New Orleans, LA | 1 per 4,916 |
| 39 | Wilmington, NC | 1 per 4,960 |
| 40 | Boise, ID | 1 per 5,035 |
| 41 | San Diego, CA | 1 per 5,277 |
| 42 | Tampa, FL | 1 per 5,280 |
| 43 | Springfield, MO | 1 per 5,399 |
| 44 | New Haven, CT | 1 per 5,459 |
| 45 | Athens, GA | 1 per 5,465 |
| 46 | Syracuse, NY | 1 per 5,736 |
| 47 | Columbia, MO | 1 per 5,796 |
| 48 | Glendale, CA | 1 per 5,972 |
| 49 | Reno, NV | 1 per 6,070 |
| 50 | Orange, CA | 1 per 6,111 |
If you're just looking for the cities with the most vegetarian-related businesses without any population consideration, here's how the top 10 would have shaken out.
Rank | City, State | Total Vegetarian Businesses |
|---|---|---|
1 | New York, NY | 481 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | 428 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | 347 |
| 4 | San Diego, CA | 269 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | 235 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | 234 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | 227 |
| 8 | Houston, TX | 203 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | 195 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | 177 |
| 10 | Washington D.C. | 177 |
We took cities with populations more than 100,000 according to the U.S. Census Bureau and used 8 million commercially available business listings to add up the vegetarian-related businesses in each city in the following categories – vegetarian, vegan and organic. We then divided each city's population by this total to determine a ratio of the number of businesses for each resident.
The rent information included in this article is based on January 2019 multifamily rental property inventory on ApartmentGuide.com and Rent.com and is used for illustrative purposes only. The data contained herein does not constitute financial advice or a pricing guarantee for any apartment.
Brian Carberry has more than 15 years of experience as a content creator and award-winning journalist. He is currently the managing editor of Apartment Guide and Rent.com, based in Atlanta, and his work has been featured on CNN, Search Engine Land, Campaign Monitor, Randstad and a number of other organizations around the world. In his free time, Brian enjoys sports, cooking (followed by eating) and debating the correct pronunciation of "gif."