Abha, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
#1403
,
Nomad Score:
58%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Generally affordable compared to major Saudi cities like Riyadh or Jeddah, with lower prices for daily expenses.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
73%
Weight: 80
Moderate rental prices, especially for furnished apartments suitable for short to medium stays.
🍎 Food & Groceries
78%
Weight: 40
Local markets and supermarkets offer affordable groceries; dining out is reasonably priced with a mix of traditional and international options.
🚌 Transportation Cost
80%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but taxis and ride-hailing apps are affordable; fuel prices are low.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
62%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife and entertainment options; cultural events and parks are mostly free or low cost.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
65%
Weight: 10
Gyms are available but fewer in number; membership fees are moderate.
💱 Currency Stability
90%
Weight: 30
Saudi Riyal is pegged to the US dollar, providing high currency stability.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
74%
Weight: 100
Good 4G and fiber internet coverage in urban areas; speeds suitable for remote work.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
41%
Weight: 40
Few coworking spaces exist; limited options compared to larger Saudi cities.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
60%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi but connectivity quality can vary.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
55%
Weight: 30
Limited number of cafes catering specifically to digital nomads; mostly traditional cafes.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
23%
Weight: 100
Not a well-known destination for digital nomads; very low community presence.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
85%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase prepaid SIM cards with good data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
70%
Weight: 30
Relaxed lifestyle with slower pace; cultural norms encourage family and social time.
🌳 Environmental Quality
75%
Weight: 15
Mountainous region with cleaner air and pleasant surroundings compared to urban Saudi Arabia.
🧼 Cleanliness
78%
Weight: 10
City is generally clean with active municipal services.
🗨️ Language Barrier
40%
Weight: 30
Arabic is dominant; English is understood in business and tourism but limited outside these sectors.
💨 Air Quality
72%
Weight: 15
Better air quality due to elevation and greenery, though occasional dust storms can occur.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
60%
Weight: 25
Safe environment with family-oriented culture but limited entertainment for children.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
68%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare facilities available; more advanced care requires travel to larger cities.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
75%
Weight: 25
Healthcare costs are moderate, especially for expatriates with insurance.
🏥 Healthcare
69%
Weight: 20
Adequate for minor and routine care; limited specialized services locally.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
83%
Weight: 80
Mild mountain climate with cooler temperatures than much of Saudi Arabia; generally sunny and pleasant.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
85%
Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
79%
Weight: 10
Abha is known for its parks and natural greenery, uncommon in the region.
❄️ Air Conditioning
70%
Weight: 15
Widely available in accommodations and public places; less critical due to cooler climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
60%
Weight: 10
Some seasonal variation with cooler winters and mild summers, but limited compared to temperate zones.
🔊 Noise Pollution
75%
Weight: 10
Relatively quiet city with low noise pollution.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
75%
Weight: 20
Rich local heritage with traditional Asir culture; conservative but welcoming.
🌃 Nightlife
20%
Weight: 15
Very limited nightlife options due to cultural and legal restrictions.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
87%
Weight: 15
Excellent opportunities for hiking, mountain exploration, and enjoying natural scenery.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
45%
Weight: 10
Few formal language schools; Arabic learning mostly informal or self-directed.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
70%
Weight: 10
Some cultural tours and local experiences available, focusing on traditional crafts and nature.
🎳 Indoors Fun
40%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options such as cinemas or malls.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
68%
Weight: 25
Good variety of traditional Saudi and Middle Eastern cuisine; fewer international options.
🧠 Yoga Studios
35%
Weight: 10
Very limited availability of yoga or wellness studios.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
55%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms and fitness centers available but not widespread.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
60%
Weight: 15
Fresh produce available; healthy eating is possible but not a strong local focus.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
72%
Weight: 20
UTC+3 is convenient for Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia but less so for the Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
30%
Weight: 25
Limited professional networking events or communities for digital nomads.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
40%
Weight: 20
Local job market focused on traditional sectors; remote work opportunities mostly external.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
32%
Weight: 20
Small freelance community; limited local support or platforms.
🏢 Coworking Quality
38%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces with basic amenities; not highly developed.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
40%
Weight: 15
Emerging but small startup ecosystem; more activity in larger Saudi cities.
💳 Local Payment Services
65%
Weight: 10
Growing digital payment infrastructure but cash still widely used.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
40%
Weight: 15
Limited adoption and regulatory clarity; cautious environment.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
67%
Weight: 30
Abha Regional Airport connects to major Saudi cities; limited international direct flights.
🚇 Public Transit
25%
Weight: 20
No formal public transit system; reliance on taxis and private cars.
🚶 Walkability
50%
Weight: 20
Some walkable areas but infrastructure is car-oriented.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
70%
Weight: 15
Uber and local ride-hailing apps operate reliably.
🚲 Cycling
30%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure; terrain is hilly.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
60%
Weight: 15
Good road connections and domestic flights to other Saudi cities.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
20%
Weight: 10
Very limited or no scooter/bike rental services.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
80%
Weight: 20
Strong 4G coverage throughout the city and surrounding areas.
🔒 VPN Reliability
65%
Weight: 20
VPNs work but some restrictions and slower speeds may occur.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
85%
Weight: 15
Stable electricity supply with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
45%
Weight: 10
Limited public WiFi hotspots; mostly available in malls and cafes.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
50%
Weight: 40
Tourist visas available but no specific digital nomad visa; bureaucratic processes can be slow.
📊 Tax Friendliness
75%
Weight: 30
No personal income tax, favorable for freelancers and remote workers.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
20%
Weight: 15
Strict regulations on speech and expression; limited freedom compared to Western norms.
🏛️ Political Stability
78%
Weight: 20
Stable government with low risk of political unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
40%
Weight: 15
Challenging for foreigners without residency; requires significant documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
55%
Weight: 10
Improving processes but still bureaucratic and time-consuming.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No digital nomad visa currently available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
30%
Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and community support for digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
15%
Weight: 25
Very few or no organized events for digital nomads.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
20%
Weight: 20
Minimal online presence or forums specific to Abha digital nomads.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
80%
Weight: 100
Low crime rates; considered safe for foreigners.
♀️ Female Friendly
30%
Weight: 50
Conservative cultural norms; restrictions on women's freedoms and dress code.
✊ Racial Tolerance
50%
Weight: 50
Generally tolerant but some social conservatism and cultural differences exist.