💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
81%
Weight: 150
Generally low cost of living compared to global standards, with affordable daily expenses.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
79%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are quite affordable, especially for long-term stays in local neighborhoods.
🍎 Food & Groceries
85%
Weight: 40
Local markets and eateries offer inexpensive fresh produce and meals.
🚌 Transportation Cost
87%
Weight: 20
Public transport and taxis are very cheap, making commuting affordable.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
62%
Weight: 15
Limited entertainment options but affordable where available.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
70%
Weight: 10
Gyms are available at reasonable prices but not widespread.
💱 Currency Stability
43%
Weight: 30
Iraqi dinar experiences moderate fluctuations; some instability due to regional factors.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
51%
Weight: 100
Internet is available but often slow and unreliable compared to global standards.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
24%
Weight: 40
Very limited coworking spaces; most digital nomads work from cafes or home.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
55%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi but connection quality varies.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
38%
Weight: 30
Few cafes cater specifically to digital nomads; seating and power outlets limited.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
17%
Weight: 100
Not a popular destination for digital nomads currently.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
80%
Weight: 25
SIM cards are easy to obtain with reasonable data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
60%
Weight: 30
Cultural emphasis on family and social life supports balance, but work infrastructure is limited.
🌳 Environmental Quality
50%
Weight: 15
Moderate environmental quality; some pollution and waste management issues.
🧼 Cleanliness
42%
Weight: 10
City cleanliness is inconsistent; some areas well-maintained, others less so.
🗨️ Language Barrier
35%
Weight: 30
Kurdish and Arabic are primary languages; English proficiency is low outside younger population.
💨 Air Quality
40%
Weight: 15
Air pollution can be moderate to high, especially during dry seasons.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
50%
Weight: 25
Basic family amenities available but limited international schools and child-focused activities.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
38%
Weight: 20
Healthcare facilities are basic; limited advanced medical services.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
75%
Weight: 25
Healthcare costs are low but quality is variable.
🏥 Healthcare
40%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare available; serious conditions require travel to larger cities.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
78%
Weight: 80
Hot summers and mild winters; generally sunny but can be very hot in peak summer.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
70%
Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters like earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
45%
Weight: 10
Limited public parks and green areas within the city.
❄️ Air Conditioning
65%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is common in newer buildings but less so in older structures.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
55%
Weight: 10
Distinct seasons with hot summers and cool winters, moderate seasonal changes.
🔊 Noise Pollution
40%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels in busy areas; traffic and construction contribute.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
72%
Weight: 20
Rich Kurdish culture with traditional music, dance, and festivals.
🌃 Nightlife
30%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; mostly cafes and small local gatherings.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
68%
Weight: 15
Surrounded by mountains and natural beauty, good for hiking and outdoor activities.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
40%
Weight: 10
Few formal language schools; opportunities mainly informal or self-study.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
55%
Weight: 10
Some cultural tours available but limited infrastructure for tourists.
🎳 Indoors Fun
35%
Weight: 10
Few indoor entertainment venues like cinemas or malls.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
70%
Weight: 25
Traditional Kurdish and Middle Eastern cuisine is flavorful and affordable.
🧠 Yoga Studios
15%
Weight: 10
Very limited or no dedicated yoga studios.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
40%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms available but limited variety of fitness options.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
60%
Weight: 15
Fresh fruits and vegetables widely available; processed food less common.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
65%
Weight: 20
UTC+3 time zone is moderately favorable for Europe and Asia remote work.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
20%
Weight: 25
Few professional networking events or communities for digital nomads.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
25%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is limited; most rely on international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
28%
Weight: 20
Small freelance community; limited platforms or support locally.
🏢 Coworking Quality
20%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces exist; quality and amenities are basic.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
30%
Weight: 15
Emerging but small startup ecosystem with limited funding and support.
💳 Local Payment Services
35%
Weight: 10
Cash is dominant; digital payment services are limited and not widely adopted.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
20%
Weight: 15
Very low adoption and awareness of blockchain or crypto technologies.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
50%
Weight: 30
Sulaymaniyah International Airport offers regional flights but limited global connections.
🚇 Public Transit
35%
Weight: 20
Public transit is minimal; mostly informal minibuses and taxis.
🚶 Walkability
40%
Weight: 20
Some walkable areas but infrastructure is inconsistent.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
30%
Weight: 15
Limited availability of ride-sharing apps; taxis are common alternative.
🚲 Cycling
20%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is almost non-existent.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
55%
Weight: 15
Buses and taxis available for intercity travel but infrastructure is basic.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
10%
Weight: 10
No formal scooter or bike rental services.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
70%
Weight: 20
Good mobile coverage in urban areas with 4G widely available.
🔒 VPN Reliability
60%
Weight: 20
VPNs generally work but occasional restrictions and slowdowns occur.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
45%
Weight: 15
Frequent power outages and voltage fluctuations are common.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
35%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is limited and often unreliable.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
50%
Weight: 40
Tourist visas are obtainable but process can be bureaucratic and slow.
📊 Tax Friendliness
40%
Weight: 30
Tax system is complex with limited incentives for freelancers or remote workers.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
30%
Weight: 15
Restrictions exist; sensitive topics can be censored or discouraged.
🏛️ Political Stability
55%
Weight: 20
Relatively stable compared to other parts of Iraq but regional tensions persist.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
35%
Weight: 15
Banking procedures are bureaucratic and require local documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
30%
Weight: 10
Business registration is possible but involves complex paperwork and delays.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No digital nomad visa program currently available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
25%
Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and community support for digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
10%
Weight: 25
Very few or no organized nomad events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
20%
Weight: 20
Minimal online presence or forums dedicated to digital nomads in Sulaymaniyah.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
60%
Weight: 100
Generally safe city with low violent crime, but caution advised due to regional instability.
♀️ Female Friendly
30%
Weight: 50
Cultural norms may restrict female independence; safety and social freedom limited.
✊ Racial Tolerance
50%
Weight: 50
Moderate tolerance; some ethnic and religious sensitivities exist.