Forum
Analytics
Kaesong, North Korea 🇰🇵
#2144
,
Nomad Score:
12%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
5%
Weight: 150
Extremely limited market economy with state-controlled pricing; very difficult for foreigners to access goods and services.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
2%
Weight: 80
Accommodation for foreigners is highly restricted and expensive relative to local standards; options are very limited.
🍎 Food & Groceries
3%
Weight: 40
Food availability is limited and mostly state-controlled; imported goods are scarce and costly.
🚌 Transportation Cost
10%
Weight: 20
Public transportation is minimal and primarily for locals; foreigners have restricted access and limited options.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
0%
Weight: 15
No entertainment industry catering to foreigners; leisure activities are extremely limited.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
0%
Weight: 10
No accessible gyms for foreigners; fitness facilities are virtually non-existent.
💱 Currency Stability
10%
Weight: 30
North Korean won is highly unstable and non-convertible; foreign currencies are unofficially used.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
1%
Weight: 100
Internet access is heavily restricted, extremely slow, and monitored; no reliable broadband for foreigners.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
0%
Weight: 40
No coworking spaces available; digital nomad infrastructure is non-existent.
☕ 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 or spaces.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
0%
Weight: 100
No digital nomad presence or community.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
5%
Weight: 25
Local SIM cards are available but heavily restricted and monitored.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
10%
Weight: 30
Strict government control and surveillance limit personal freedom and work-life balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
35%
Weight: 15
Rural areas have decent air quality, but industrial pollution exists; limited environmental data.
🧼 Cleanliness
40%
Weight: 10
Public areas in Kaesong are relatively clean due to strict regulations, but infrastructure is basic.
🗨️ Language Barrier
5%
Weight: 30
Almost all locals speak only Korean; English is virtually non-existent outside official settings.
💨 Air Quality
30%
Weight: 15
Moderate air quality with some pollution from industry and heating; better than major North Korean cities.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
10%
Weight: 25
No facilities or infrastructure catering to families or children.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
10%
Weight: 20
Healthcare infrastructure is poor and outdated; foreigners have no access to quality medical care.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
5%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is state-provided but of very low quality; private care is unavailable.
🏥 Healthcare
10%
Weight: 20
Overall healthcare services are inadequate for foreigners and digital nomads.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
42%
Weight: 80
Continental climate with cold winters and warm summers; moderate seasonal variety but harsh winters.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
70%
Weight: 10
Low risk of major natural disasters such as earthquakes or typhoons.
🏞️ Green Spaces
50%
Weight: 10
Some parks and rural green areas around Kaesong, but limited urban green spaces.
❄️ Air Conditioning
5%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is rare and mostly unavailable in public or residential buildings.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
60%
Weight: 10
Four distinct seasons with cold winters and warm summers.
🔊 Noise Pollution
70%
Weight: 10
Generally low noise pollution due to limited traffic and industrial activity.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
20%
Weight: 20
Rich historical and cultural heritage but very restricted access and controlled cultural expression.
🌃 Nightlife
0%
Weight: 15
No nightlife scene for foreigners; strict curfews and restrictions.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
55%
Weight: 15
Access to rural landscapes and historical sites, but limited recreational infrastructure.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
5%
Weight: 10
No formal language schools for foreigners; language learning is difficult due to isolation.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
15%
Weight: 10
Tours are highly controlled and limited to government-approved itineraries.
🎳 Indoors Fun
0%
Weight: 10
No indoor entertainment options for foreigners.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
10%
Weight: 25
Very limited food options for foreigners; mostly basic Korean cuisine with scarce variety.
🧠 Yoga Studios
0%
Weight: 10
No yoga studios or wellness centers.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
0%
Weight: 15
No accessible fitness facilities for foreigners.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
10%
Weight: 15
Limited fresh produce availability; diet is basic and carb-heavy.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
50%
Weight: 20
UTC+9 time zone is moderately favorable for Asia-Pacific digital nomads but less so for Europe/Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
0%
Weight: 25
No networking events or communities for digital nomads.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
0%
Weight: 20
No local remote job market or opportunities.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
0%
Weight: 20
No freelance ecosystem or support.
🏢 Coworking Quality
0%
Weight: 30
No coworking spaces available.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
0%
Weight: 15
No startup ecosystem or entrepreneurial environment.
💳 Local Payment Services
0%
Weight: 10
No accessible local payment services for foreigners; cash and foreign currency dominate.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
0%
Weight: 15
No known adoption or legal framework for blockchain or cryptocurrencies.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
5%
Weight: 30
Nearest airport is Pyongyang Sunan International Airport with very limited international flights.
🚇 Public Transit
10%
Weight: 20
Limited and unreliable public transit options.
🚶 Walkability
40%
Weight: 20
Small city with walkable areas but limited pedestrian infrastructure.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
0%
Weight: 15
No ride-sharing services available.
🚲 Cycling
20%
Weight: 10
Some cycling possible but infrastructure is poor and unsafe.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
10%
Weight: 15
Very limited intercity travel options; restricted movement for foreigners.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
0%
Weight: 10
No scooter or bike rental services.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
10%
Weight: 20
Mobile network exists but is heavily restricted and expensive for foreigners.
🔒 VPN Reliability
0%
Weight: 20
VPN use is illegal and heavily monitored; no reliable VPN access.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
20%
Weight: 15
Frequent power outages and unstable electricity supply.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
0%
Weight: 10
No public WiFi accessible to foreigners.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
5%
Weight: 40
Very difficult to obtain a visa; strict government controls and limited tourist access.
📊 Tax Friendliness
0%
Weight: 30
No tax framework for foreigners or digital nomads.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
0%
Weight: 15
No freedom of speech; strict government censorship and surveillance.
🏛️ Political Stability
80%
Weight: 20
Highly stable government regime, though authoritarian and restrictive.
🏦 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.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No digital nomad visa or similar programs.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
0%
Weight: 50
Not at all friendly to digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
0%
Weight: 25
No events or meetups for nomads.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
0%
Weight: 20
No online community presence for digital nomads.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
65%
Weight: 100
Physically safe with low crime rates, but high government surveillance and restrictions.
♀️ Female Friendly
10%
Weight: 50
Highly restrictive society with limited freedoms for women.
✊ Racial Tolerance
5%
Weight: 50
Very homogeneous society with limited exposure to foreigners; potential for discrimination.