Pyongyang, North Korea 🇰🇵
#2143
,
Nomad Score:
14%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
12%
Weight: 150
Extremely limited market economy; most goods are scarce and expensive due to sanctions and import restrictions.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
5%
Weight: 80
Accommodation is state-controlled with very limited options for foreigners; prices are not market-driven but access is highly restricted.
🍎 Food & Groceries
10%
Weight: 40
Food availability is limited and often rationed; imported goods are rare and expensive.
🚌 Transportation Cost
23%
Weight: 20
Public transport is heavily subsidized but limited; private transport options are nearly non-existent for foreigners.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
3%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are extremely limited and controlled by the state; no commercial entertainment venues for foreigners.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
0%
Weight: 10
No accessible gyms for foreigners; fitness facilities are rare and not available for digital nomads.
💱 Currency Stability
10%
Weight: 30
North Korean won is highly unstable and non-convertible; foreign currency use is tightly controlled.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
1%
Weight: 100
Internet access is extremely restricted, slow, and monitored; only limited access for foreigners.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
0%
Weight: 40
No coworking spaces exist; no infrastructure for remote work.
☕ 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 due to travel restrictions and lack of infrastructure.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
10%
Weight: 30
Strict state control over daily life; no work-life balance for foreigners.
🌳 Environmental Quality
50%
Weight: 15
Relatively low pollution due to limited industrial activity, but data is scarce.
🧼 Cleanliness
60%
Weight: 10
Public areas in Pyongyang are kept clean as part of state image, but overall infrastructure is aging.
🗨️ Language Barrier
5%
Weight: 30
Korean is the only language; English is rarely spoken, making communication very difficult.
💨 Air Quality
40%
Weight: 15
Air quality is moderate; less industrial pollution but some coal use contributes to smog.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
10%
Weight: 20
Healthcare facilities are basic and outdated; not suitable for foreigners.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
70%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is state-provided and free in theory, but quality is very low.
🏥 Healthcare
10%
Weight: 20
Overall healthcare system is inadequate for foreigners and lacks modern treatments.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
32%
Weight: 80
Cold winters and hot summers with significant seasonal variation; not ideal for year-round outdoor activities.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
75%
Weight: 10
Low risk of major natural disasters like earthquakes or hurricanes.
🏞️ Green Spaces
40%
Weight: 10
Some parks and green areas in Pyongyang, but limited access and development.
❄️ Air Conditioning
10%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is rare and not commonly available in public or private spaces.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
65%
Weight: 10
Distinct four seasons with cold winters and warm summers.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
30%
Weight: 20
Unique and highly controlled cultural environment with limited exposure to global influences.
🌃 Nightlife
0%
Weight: 15
No nightlife for foreigners; all entertainment is state-controlled and limited.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
45%
Weight: 15
Some natural areas outside the city, but access is restricted.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
10%
Weight: 10
No formal language schools for foreigners; Korean language learning is difficult due to isolation.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
20%
Weight: 10
Tours are highly controlled and scripted; limited authentic local experiences.
🎳 Indoors Fun
5%
Weight: 10
Very limited indoor entertainment options for foreigners.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
15%
Weight: 25
Limited variety and availability of food; mostly traditional Korean cuisine with few options.
🧠 Yoga Studios
0%
Weight: 10
No yoga studios or wellness centers available.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
0%
Weight: 15
No accessible fitness facilities for foreigners.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
20%
Weight: 15
Limited fresh produce; diet is basic and often lacks variety.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
50%
Weight: 20
UTC+9 time zone is moderately favorable for Asia-Pacific but less so for Europe or Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
0%
Weight: 25
No networking opportunities for digital nomads or international professionals.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
0%
Weight: 20
No local remote job market or freelance ecosystem.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
0%
Weight: 20
No freelance ecosystem exists.
🏢 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
5%
Weight: 10
Cash-based economy with limited electronic payment options; foreign cards not accepted.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
0%
Weight: 15
No known adoption or legal framework for blockchain or cryptocurrencies.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
2%
Weight: 30
Very limited international flights; mostly restricted to a few countries.
🚇 Public Transit
20%
Weight: 20
Basic metro and bus system exists but limited and not foreign-friendly.
🚶 Walkability
40%
Weight: 20
City center is walkable but infrastructure is aging.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
0%
Weight: 15
No ride-sharing services available.
🚲 Cycling
10%
Weight: 10
Cycling is uncommon and infrastructure is minimal.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
10%
Weight: 15
Limited train and bus services; travel is highly regulated.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
0%
Weight: 10
No scooter or bike rental services.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
15%
Weight: 20
Mobile coverage exists but is limited and monitored; foreigners have restricted access.
🔒 VPN Reliability
0%
Weight: 20
VPN use is illegal and blocked; no reliable VPN access.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
30%
Weight: 15
Frequent power outages and unstable electricity supply.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
0%
Weight: 10
No public WiFi available for foreigners.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
1%
Weight: 40
Extremely difficult to obtain a visa; strict controls and limited duration.
📊 Tax Friendliness
0%
Weight: 30
No tax system applicable to foreigners; no incentives for digital nomads.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
0%
Weight: 15
No freedom of speech; strict government censorship and surveillance.
🏛️ Political Stability
70%
Weight: 20
Highly stable regime but authoritarian and repressive.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
0%
Weight: 15
Foreigners cannot open 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 friendly or accessible to digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
0%
Weight: 25
No events or meetups for digital nomads.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
0%
Weight: 20
No online community or presence for nomads in Pyongyang.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
60%
Weight: 100
Physically safe from crime for foreigners under strict supervision, but surveillance is pervasive.
♀️ Female Friendly
10%
Weight: 50
Gender roles are traditional; foreigners face restrictions and limited freedoms.
✊ Racial Tolerance
5%
Weight: 50
Very limited exposure to foreigners; societal attitudes are unknown but likely low tolerance.