Islamabad, Pakistan 🇵🇰
#269
,
Nomad Score:
59%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
81%
Weight: 150
Islamabad offers a low cost of living compared to many global cities, making it affordable for digital nomads.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
79%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are reasonable, especially for shared apartments or modest studios, though luxury options are pricier.
🍎 Food & Groceries
85%
Weight: 40
Local markets and street food are very affordable; imported goods cost more but still reasonable.
🚌 Transportation Cost
87%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but inexpensive; ride-hailing services like Careem are affordable.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
72%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are limited but affordable, with cinemas and local events costing less than in Western cities.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
75%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are affordable, though high-end gyms are less common.
💱 Currency Stability
43%
Weight: 30
Pakistani Rupee has experienced volatility and depreciation, which can affect budgeting.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
68%
Weight: 100
Internet speeds are improving with 4G widely available; fiber connections exist but can be inconsistent.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
54%
Weight: 40
A few coworking spaces exist but are limited in number and amenities compared to major global hubs.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
67%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer WiFi, though connection quality varies.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
59%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to remote workers but not widespread; power outlets and comfortable seating can be limited.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
32%
Weight: 100
Islamabad is not yet a popular destination for digital nomads, with low international nomad presence.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
80%
Weight: 25
SIM cards are easy to obtain with valid ID and affordable plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
65%
Weight: 30
Generally relaxed lifestyle, but work culture can be traditional and office-centric.
🌳 Environmental Quality
60%
Weight: 15
Better air quality than many Pakistani cities, but pollution spikes occur seasonally.
🧼 Cleanliness
58%
Weight: 10
Islamabad is cleaner than many other cities in Pakistan but still faces challenges with waste management.
🗨️ Language Barrier
63%
Weight: 30
English is widely understood among educated populations, but Urdu and local languages dominate.
💨 Air Quality
55%
Weight: 15
Air quality fluctuates; winter smog and dust storms can reduce air quality significantly.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
60%
Weight: 25
Good schools and parks, but limited international schooling options.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
59%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare services are available; private hospitals offer better quality but can be costly.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
74%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is generally affordable, especially in public facilities.
🏥 Healthcare
62%
Weight: 20
Healthcare infrastructure is developing but lacks advanced specialties and consistent quality.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
78%
Weight: 80
Hot summers and mild winters; generally sunny with some seasonal variation.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
70%
Weight: 10
Low risk of major natural disasters; occasional earthquakes and flooding possible but rare.
🏞️ Green Spaces
76%
Weight: 10
Islamabad is known for its greenery and parks, offering good outdoor spaces.
❄️ Air Conditioning
71%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is common in homes and offices, essential during hot months.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
64%
Weight: 10
Distinct seasons with hot summers and cool winters, but limited spring/autumn transition.
🔊 Noise Pollution
62%
Weight: 10
Relatively quiet compared to other major cities in Pakistan.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
73%
Weight: 20
Rich cultural heritage with a mix of traditional and modern influences.
🌃 Nightlife
38%
Weight: 15
Nightlife is limited due to conservative social norms and fewer venues.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
79%
Weight: 15
Proximity to Margalla Hills and natural parks offers good outdoor activities.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
60%
Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Urdu and regional languages exist but are not widely formalized.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
67%
Weight: 10
Some cultural tours and local experiences available, though tourism infrastructure is modest.
🎳 Indoors Fun
55%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options such as malls and cinemas.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
78%
Weight: 25
Diverse local cuisine with many affordable street food and traditional restaurants.
🧠 Yoga Studios
49%
Weight: 10
Yoga is not mainstream; few dedicated studios exist.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
61%
Weight: 15
Gyms and fitness centers are available but not widespread.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
63%
Weight: 15
Healthy options are available but traditional diet tends to be heavy; organic markets limited.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
67%
Weight: 20
UTC+5 time zone is moderately favorable for communication with Europe and Asia, less so for Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
52%
Weight: 25
Limited formal networking events for digital nomads; some tech meetups exist.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
48%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most opportunities come from international platforms.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
55%
Weight: 20
Growing freelance community but infrastructure and support remain limited.
🏢 Coworking Quality
50%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are basic with limited amenities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
53%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem focused on tech but still nascent.
💳 Local Payment Services
57%
Weight: 10
Mobile payments and digital wallets exist but adoption is moderate.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
42%
Weight: 15
Regulatory uncertainty and limited adoption of crypto technologies.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
64%
Weight: 30
Islamabad International Airport offers good regional connectivity but limited direct long-haul flights.
🚇 Public Transit
39%
Weight: 20
Public transit infrastructure is minimal; reliance on private vehicles and ride-hailing.
🚶 Walkability
45%
Weight: 20
City layout favors cars; pedestrian infrastructure is limited.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
73%
Weight: 15
Careem and Uber operate reliably, providing convenient transport.
🚲 Cycling
37%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is minimal and not widely used.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
61%
Weight: 15
Bus and train services available but can be slow and less comfortable.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
28%
Weight: 10
Very limited availability of scooter or bike rentals.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
72%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage throughout the city and surrounding areas.
🔒 VPN Reliability
65%
Weight: 20
VPNs generally work well, though occasional restrictions may occur.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
56%
Weight: 15
Power outages still occur but have improved in recent years.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
43%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is scarce and often unreliable.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
47%
Weight: 40
Visa process can be bureaucratic and time-consuming for many nationalities.
📊 Tax Friendliness
50%
Weight: 30
Tax system is complex; no specific digital nomad tax incentives.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
41%
Weight: 15
Restrictions exist on media and online speech; sensitive topics can be censored.
🏛️ Political Stability
52%
Weight: 20
Political environment is volatile with occasional unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
49%
Weight: 15
Banking requires documentation and can be slow for foreigners.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
54%
Weight: 10
Business registration is possible but involves bureaucratic hurdles.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available as of May 2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
48%
Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and community for digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
31%
Weight: 25
Few if any dedicated nomad events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
45%
Weight: 20
Small online presence for nomads in Islamabad.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
57%
Weight: 100
Generally safe in Islamabad compared to other Pakistani cities, but caution advised.
♀️ Female Friendly
42%
Weight: 50
Conservative social norms can pose challenges for female travelers.
✊ Racial Tolerance
50%
Weight: 50
Moderate tolerance; foreigners generally accepted but cultural differences exist.