Forum
Analytics
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Generally affordable compared to Western standards, with low prices for food and transportation.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
65%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are moderate but can vary; modern apartments in central areas are pricier.
🍎 Food & Groceries
78%
Weight: 40
Local markets offer fresh produce at low prices; imported goods are more expensive.
🚌 Transportation Cost
80%
Weight: 20
Public transport is inexpensive, though limited; taxis and ride-sharing are affordable.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
52%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife and entertainment options; costs are low but choices are fewer.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
60%
Weight: 10
Gyms available but not widespread; membership fees are reasonable.
💱 Currency Stability
43%
Weight: 30
Iraqi dinar experiences moderate fluctuations; some inflation concerns persist.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
57%
Weight: 100
Internet is improving but still inconsistent; average speeds around 10-20 Mbps.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
31%
Weight: 40
Few coworking spaces exist; limited infrastructure for digital nomads.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
45%
Weight: 30
Some cafes offer WiFi but quality and reliability vary.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
30%
Weight: 30
Very limited number of cafes catering specifically to digital nomads.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
22%
Weight: 100
Not a common destination for digital nomads; low community presence.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
75%
Weight: 25
SIM cards are easy to obtain with valid ID; affordable plans available.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
50%
Weight: 30
Cultural norms emphasize family and social life, but work infrastructure is limited.
🌳 Environmental Quality
40%
Weight: 15
Urban pollution and dust can affect air quality; some green areas exist.
🧼 Cleanliness
38%
Weight: 10
City cleanliness is moderate; waste management systems are developing.
🗨️ Language Barrier
35%
Weight: 30
Arabic and Kurdish are dominant; English is not widely spoken outside business and younger generations.
💨 Air Quality
39%
Weight: 15
Air pollution and dust storms are common, impacting air quality negatively.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
45%
Weight: 25
Limited family-oriented amenities but safe neighborhoods exist.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
40%
Weight: 20
Healthcare facilities are basic; private clinics offer better services but limited options.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
70%
Weight: 25
Healthcare costs are low compared to Western countries.
🏥 Healthcare
42%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare available but lacks advanced medical services.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
75%
Weight: 80
Hot and dry summers with mild winters; generally sunny and favorable for outdoor activities.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
68%
Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters like earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
40%
Weight: 10
Limited parks and green areas within the city.
❄️ Air Conditioning
70%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is common in homes and businesses due to hot climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
35%
Weight: 10
Mostly hot and dry climate with mild winters; limited seasonal changes.
🔊 Noise Pollution
40%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels; traffic and construction contribute.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
78%
Weight: 20
Rich cultural heritage with ancient history and Kurdish traditions.
🌃 Nightlife
25%
Weight: 15
Nightlife is limited due to cultural and social norms.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
55%
Weight: 15
Nearby mountains and natural sites offer outdoor activities but infrastructure is limited.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
30%
Weight: 10
Few formal language schools for foreigners; immersion possible but challenging.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
60%
Weight: 10
Some cultural and historical tours available, though tourism infrastructure is developing.
🎳 Indoors Fun
35%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options such as cinemas or malls.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
70%
Weight: 25
Traditional Kurdish and Iraqi cuisine is flavorful and affordable.
🧠 Yoga Studios
20%
Weight: 10
Very few yoga studios or wellness centers.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
45%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms and fitness centers available but not widespread.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
60%
Weight: 15
Fresh produce is available; healthy eating is possible but limited by local cuisine.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
65%
Weight: 20
UTC+3 time zone is convenient for Europe, Middle East, and parts of Asia.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
30%
Weight: 25
Limited professional networking events for digital nomads or expats.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
25%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most opportunities come from abroad.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
28%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is minimal and underdeveloped.
🏢 Coworking Quality
25%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces exist and those available have basic amenities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
30%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem but still in early stages.
💳 Local Payment Services
40%
Weight: 10
Cash is dominant; digital payment options are limited but growing.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
20%
Weight: 15
Very low adoption and awareness of blockchain and cryptocurrencies.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
55%
Weight: 30
Erbil International Airport connects to regional hubs but limited direct flights globally.
🚇 Public Transit
25%
Weight: 20
Public transportation is minimal and underdeveloped.
🚶 Walkability
40%
Weight: 20
Some areas are walkable but city infrastructure favors cars.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
35%
Weight: 15
Ride-sharing apps exist but are not widespread or fully reliable.
🚲 Cycling
20%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is almost non-existent.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
40%
Weight: 15
Limited bus services; domestic flights available but costly.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
15%
Weight: 10
No significant scooter or bike rental services.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
65%
Weight: 20
Good mobile coverage in urban areas; 4G widely available.
🔒 VPN Reliability
50%
Weight: 20
VPNs generally work but occasional restrictions and slowdowns occur.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
40%
Weight: 15
Frequent power outages and voltage fluctuations are common.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
30%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is scarce and often unreliable.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
45%
Weight: 40
Visa on arrival for some nationalities; process can be bureaucratic.
📊 Tax Friendliness
50%
Weight: 30
Low personal income tax but complex regulations for foreigners.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
30%
Weight: 15
Limited freedom of speech with government oversight.
🏛️ Political Stability
35%
Weight: 20
Relative stability in Erbil compared to other parts of Iraq but regional tensions persist.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
30%
Weight: 15
Difficult for foreigners due to documentation and bureaucracy.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
40%
Weight: 10
Process is improving but still slow and complex.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
25%
Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and community support for digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
15%
Weight: 25
Very few or no organized events for digital nomads.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
20%
Weight: 20
Minimal online presence or forums related to digital nomads in Erbil.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
50%
Weight: 100
Erbil is safer than many parts of Iraq but caution is advised.
♀️ Female Friendly
30%
Weight: 50
Conservative cultural norms may pose challenges for female travelers.
✊ Racial Tolerance
40%
Weight: 50
Generally tolerant but some ethnic and religious sensitivities exist.