💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Generally affordable compared to many global cities, with low prices for daily expenses.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
65%
Weight: 80
Reasonably priced apartments, though quality and availability can vary.
🍎 Food & Groceries
78%
Weight: 40
Local markets and eateries offer inexpensive fresh produce and meals.
🚌 Transportation Cost
80%
Weight: 20
Public transport and taxis are cheap, but limited in coverage.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
60%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options exist but are limited; prices are generally low.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
55%
Weight: 10
Gyms are available but not widespread; membership fees are moderate.
💱 Currency Stability
42%
Weight: 30
Iraqi dinar experiences moderate volatility, impacting purchasing power.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
58%
Weight: 100
Internet is improving but still inconsistent with occasional slowdowns.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
32%
Weight: 40
Very limited coworking spaces; mostly small local offices.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
45%
Weight: 30
Some cafes offer WiFi but connectivity and comfort vary widely.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
30%
Weight: 30
Few cafes cater specifically to digital nomads or remote workers.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
21%
Weight: 100
Not a popular destination for digital nomads currently.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
70%
Weight: 25
SIM cards are easy to obtain with valid ID.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
50%
Weight: 30
Work culture is traditional; limited emphasis on flexible schedules.
🌳 Environmental Quality
40%
Weight: 15
Urban pollution and dust affect overall environmental quality.
🧼 Cleanliness
38%
Weight: 10
City cleanliness is inconsistent; some areas have waste management issues.
🗨️ Language Barrier
35%
Weight: 30
Arabic and Kurdish are dominant; English is not widely spoken.
💨 Air Quality
37%
Weight: 15
Air pollution and dust storms reduce air quality significantly.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
40%
Weight: 25
Limited family-oriented amenities and activities.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
40%
Weight: 20
Healthcare facilities are basic; advanced care requires travel.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
70%
Weight: 25
Healthcare services are generally affordable but limited in quality.
🏥 Healthcare
42%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare available; specialized treatment options are scarce.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
79%
Weight: 80
Hot and dry climate with long sunny periods; summers can be very hot.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
65%
Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters like earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
30%
Weight: 10
Few public parks or green areas within the city.
❄️ Air Conditioning
75%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is common in most buildings due to hot climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
40%
Weight: 10
Limited seasonal changes; mostly hot summers and mild winters.
🔊 Noise Pollution
45%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels; some areas affected by traffic and construction.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
68%
Weight: 20
Rich Kurdish and Iraqi cultural heritage with historical sites.
🌃 Nightlife
25%
Weight: 15
Nightlife is very limited due to cultural and security factors.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
50%
Weight: 15
Nearby mountains and countryside offer some outdoor activities.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
40%
Weight: 10
Limited formal language schools; informal opportunities exist.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
55%
Weight: 10
Some cultural tours and historical sites available for exploration.
🎳 Indoors Fun
35%
Weight: 10
Few indoor entertainment venues; limited cinemas and malls.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
65%
Weight: 25
Traditional Kurdish and Iraqi cuisine is flavorful and affordable.
🧠 Yoga Studios
20%
Weight: 10
Very few yoga or wellness studios available.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
40%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms exist but lack variety and modern equipment.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
55%
Weight: 15
Fresh produce is available; processed healthy options are limited.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
60%
Weight: 20
UTC+3 time zone is moderately convenient for Europe and Asia.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
30%
Weight: 25
Limited professional networking events for expats or nomads.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
25%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small and underdeveloped.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
28%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is minimal and informal.
🏢 Coworking Quality
25%
Weight: 30
Existing coworking spaces lack modern amenities and community.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
30%
Weight: 15
Emerging but very small startup ecosystem.
💳 Local Payment Services
35%
Weight: 10
Cash dominates; digital payment options are limited.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
20%
Weight: 15
Very low adoption and regulatory clarity around crypto.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
55%
Weight: 30
Erbil International Airport has regional connections but limited global flights.
🚇 Public Transit
20%
Weight: 20
Public transit infrastructure is minimal and unreliable.
🚶 Walkability
40%
Weight: 20
Some neighborhoods are walkable but overall infrastructure is lacking.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
30%
Weight: 15
Ride-sharing apps are limited or non-existent; taxis are common.
🚲 Cycling
25%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is almost non-existent and unsafe.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
40%
Weight: 15
Bus services available but limited; road travel is common.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
15%
Weight: 10
No formal scooter or bike rental services.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
60%
Weight: 20
Mobile coverage is good in urban areas with 4G available.
🔒 VPN Reliability
55%
Weight: 20
VPNs work but may be subject to occasional restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
40%
Weight: 15
Frequent power outages and unstable electricity supply.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
30%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is scarce and often unreliable.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
45%
Weight: 40
Visa process can be bureaucratic and slow for many nationalities.
📊 Tax Friendliness
60%
Weight: 30
Low personal income tax rates but complex regulations.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
30%
Weight: 15
Limited freedom of speech with government restrictions.
🏛️ Political Stability
35%
Weight: 20
Regionally volatile with occasional security concerns.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
40%
Weight: 15
Banking procedures are bureaucratic and require local documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
45%
Weight: 10
Business registration is possible but involves complex paperwork.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No digital nomad visa or similar programs available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
20%
Weight: 50
Overall infrastructure and community for nomads is very limited.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
15%
Weight: 25
Almost no organized nomad events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
20%
Weight: 20
Very small online presence for digital nomads in Erbil.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
40%
Weight: 100
Improved security in Erbil but regional risks remain.
♀️ Female Friendly
30%
Weight: 50
Conservative culture; women may face social restrictions.
✊ Racial Tolerance
40%
Weight: 50
Moderate tolerance but some ethnic and religious sensitivities exist.