Kaesong, North Korea 🇰🇵
#2144
,
Nomad Score:
14%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
2%
Weight: 150
Extremely limited market economy; most goods are scarce and prices are artificially controlled, making cost of living data unreliable and generally very high for foreigners.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
1%
Weight: 80
Accommodation options are extremely limited and primarily state-controlled; foreigners usually stay in designated guesthouses with high costs relative to local standards.
🍎 Food & Groceries
3%
Weight: 40
Food availability is limited with few options for foreigners; imported goods are expensive and local groceries are scarce.
🚌 Transportation Cost
10%
Weight: 20
Public transportation is very cheap but limited; however, foreigners have restricted access and must rely on arranged transport.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
0%
Weight: 15
No entertainment options available for foreigners; strict controls and lack of venues.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
0%
Weight: 10
No accessible gyms for foreigners; fitness facilities are virtually non-existent.
💱 Currency Stability
1%
Weight: 30
North Korean won is highly unstable and non-convertible; foreign currencies are used unofficially.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
0%
Weight: 100
Internet access is extremely limited, slow, and heavily censored; no reliable access for foreigners.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
0%
Weight: 40
No coworking spaces exist.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
0%
Weight: 30
No cafes with WiFi accessible to foreigners.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
0%
Weight: 30
No digital nomad friendly cafes.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
0%
Weight: 100
No digital nomads present due to strict travel and work restrictions.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
1%
Weight: 25
Local SIM cards are available but only for residents; foreigners have limited access.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
10%
Weight: 30
Strict government controls and surveillance limit personal freedom and work-life balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
45%
Weight: 15
Rural areas have decent air and environmental quality; however, industrial pollution exists in some regions.
🧼 Cleanliness
30%
Weight: 10
Urban areas show mixed cleanliness; infrastructure is aging and maintenance is inconsistent.
🗨️ Language Barrier
5%
Weight: 30
Korean is the only language; English is rarely spoken, making communication very difficult for foreigners.
💨 Air Quality
40%
Weight: 15
Air quality varies; some industrial pollution but generally better than major industrialized cities.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
10%
Weight: 25
Not suitable for families due to lack of amenities and restrictions.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
10%
Weight: 20
Healthcare facilities are basic and outdated; not suitable for foreigners.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
90%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is state-provided and free for locals; foreigners have limited access and may pay high fees.
🏥 Healthcare
10%
Weight: 20
Overall healthcare system is underdeveloped and lacks modern equipment.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
32%
Weight: 80
Continental climate with cold winters and hot summers; significant seasonal variation with some rainy periods.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
70%
Weight: 10
Low risk of major natural disasters; occasional flooding and droughts occur.
🏞️ Green Spaces
60%
Weight: 10
Surrounded by rural and agricultural land; some parks but limited urban green spaces.
❄️ Air Conditioning
2%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is rare and generally unavailable in most buildings.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
75%
Weight: 10
Distinct four seasons with cold winters and warm summers.
🔊 Noise Pollution
60%
Weight: 10
Generally low noise pollution due to limited traffic and industrial activity.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
50%
Weight: 20
Rich traditional Korean culture but heavily state-controlled and isolated from global influences.
🌃 Nightlife
0%
Weight: 15
No nightlife options for foreigners.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
65%
Weight: 15
Access to rural landscapes and mountains; limited tourist infrastructure.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
10%
Weight: 10
No formal language schools for foreigners; learning Korean independently is difficult.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
20%
Weight: 10
Tours are highly controlled and limited; only government-approved experiences available.
🎳 Indoors Fun
0%
Weight: 10
No indoor entertainment venues accessible to foreigners.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
15%
Weight: 25
Very limited food options for foreigners; mostly traditional Korean meals with scarce variety.
🧠 Yoga Studios
0%
Weight: 10
No yoga studios available.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
0%
Weight: 15
No accessible fitness facilities for foreigners.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
20%
Weight: 15
Limited fresh produce available; diet is basic and lacks variety.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
50%
Weight: 20
UTC+9; moderate overlap with Asia-Pacific but less convenient for Europe and Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
0%
Weight: 25
No networking opportunities for digital nomads.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
0%
Weight: 20
No local remote job market or opportunities.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
0%
Weight: 20
No freelance ecosystem present.
🏢 Coworking Quality
0%
Weight: 30
No coworking spaces.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
0%
Weight: 15
No startup ecosystem.
💳 Local Payment Services
0%
Weight: 10
No accessible local payment services for foreigners.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
0%
Weight: 15
No adoption or legal framework for blockchain or cryptocurrencies.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
1%
Weight: 30
Very limited international flights; mostly restricted to select countries.
🚇 Public Transit
10%
Weight: 20
Limited and state-controlled public transit; foreigners have restricted access.
🚶 Walkability
30%
Weight: 20
Small city size allows walking but infrastructure is basic.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
0%
Weight: 15
No ride-sharing services available.
🚲 Cycling
20%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure; bicycles used mainly by locals.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
10%
Weight: 15
Very limited intercity travel options; mostly by train or bus with restrictions.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
0%
Weight: 10
No rental services for scooters or bikes.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
10%
Weight: 20
Mobile network exists but is restricted and heavily monitored; foreigners have limited access.
🔒 VPN Reliability
0%
Weight: 20
VPN use is illegal and heavily blocked.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
20%
Weight: 15
Frequent power outages and unreliable electricity supply.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
0%
Weight: 10
No public WiFi available.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
1%
Weight: 40
Extremely difficult to obtain tourist or business visas; strict government controls.
📊 Tax Friendliness
0%
Weight: 30
No tax system applicable for foreigners; no incentives or clarity.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
0%
Weight: 15
No freedom of speech; strict censorship and surveillance.
🏛️ Political Stability
90%
Weight: 20
Highly stable government regime but authoritarian.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
0%
Weight: 15
Foreigners cannot open local bank accounts.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
0%
Weight: 10
No possibility for foreigners to register businesses independently.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No digital nomad visa or equivalent.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
0%
Weight: 50
Not friendly for digital nomads due to restrictions and lack of infrastructure.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
0%
Weight: 25
No events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
0%
Weight: 20
No online community presence for digital nomads.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
80%
Weight: 100
Low crime rate due to strict government control; however, personal freedoms are limited.
♀️ Female Friendly
10%
Weight: 50
Traditional gender roles and restrictions; not particularly female-friendly for foreigners.
✊ Racial Tolerance
5%
Weight: 50
Highly homogeneous society with limited exposure to foreigners; racial tolerance is unknown but likely low.