Forum
Analytics
Abha, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
#1403
,
Nomad Score:
58%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Moderately affordable compared to major Saudi cities; daily expenses are reasonable for digital nomads.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
63%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are lower than Riyadh or Jeddah but can vary; decent apartments available at affordable rates.
🍎 Food & Groceries
78%
Weight: 40
Local markets and supermarkets offer affordable groceries; dining out is moderately priced.
🚌 Transportation Cost
80%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but taxis and ride-hailing apps are affordable.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
54%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife and entertainment options; costs are moderate when available.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
60%
Weight: 10
Gyms are available with reasonable monthly fees, though fewer premium options.
💱 Currency Stability
90%
Weight: 30
Saudi Riyal is pegged to the US Dollar, providing strong currency stability.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
75%
Weight: 100
Good 4G and fiber internet coverage in urban areas; speeds suitable for remote work.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
32%
Weight: 40
Very limited coworking spaces; digital nomads often work from cafes or home.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
67%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi, though quality and speed can vary.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
45%
Weight: 30
Few cafes explicitly cater to digital nomads; seating and power outlets limited.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
28%
Weight: 100
Not a well-known destination for digital nomads; community is very small.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
85%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase prepaid SIM cards with good coverage.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
69%
Weight: 30
Quiet city with relaxed pace; cultural norms encourage family and social time.
🌳 Environmental Quality
73%
Weight: 15
Mountainous surroundings provide cleaner air and pleasant environment.
🧼 Cleanliness
70%
Weight: 10
Public areas are generally clean, with regular municipal maintenance.
🗨️ Language Barrier
41%
Weight: 30
Arabic is dominant; English is understood in business and tourist areas but limited elsewhere.
💨 Air Quality
76%
Weight: 15
Better air quality than many Saudi cities due to elevation and greenery.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
70%
Weight: 25
Safe and quiet city with family-oriented culture and amenities.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
65%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare services are available; for specialized care, travel to larger cities may be needed.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
72%
Weight: 25
Public healthcare is affordable; private clinics are more expensive but still reasonable.
🏥 Healthcare
68%
Weight: 20
Satisfactory healthcare infrastructure but limited advanced medical facilities locally.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
84%
Weight: 80
Mild summers and cool winters due to elevation; generally sunny and pleasant.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
89%
Weight: 10
Very low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
77%
Weight: 10
Surrounded by mountains and parks; more greenery than typical Saudi cities.
❄️ Air Conditioning
80%
Weight: 15
Most buildings and transport have reliable air conditioning.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
55%
Weight: 10
Mild seasonal changes with cooler winters; limited variation compared to temperate climates.
🔊 Noise Pollution
78%
Weight: 10
Low noise pollution due to smaller population and limited nightlife.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
70%
Weight: 20
Rich local culture with traditional Saudi and Asir regional influences.
🌃 Nightlife
20%
Weight: 15
Very limited nightlife options due to cultural and legal restrictions.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
86%
Weight: 15
Excellent hiking, mountain views, and natural parks nearby.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
40%
Weight: 10
Few formal language schools; Arabic learning mostly informal or private tutoring.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
62%
Weight: 10
Some cultural tours and local experiences available but limited compared to major tourist hubs.
🎳 Indoors Fun
35%
Weight: 10
Few indoor entertainment venues; mostly malls and cafes.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
68%
Weight: 25
Good traditional Saudi and Middle Eastern cuisine; limited international variety.
🧠 Yoga Studios
25%
Weight: 10
Very few dedicated yoga studios; wellness culture is emerging but limited.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
58%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms and fitness centers available; limited variety of classes.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
60%
Weight: 15
Fresh produce and traditional healthy dishes available; fewer specialized health food stores.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
74%
Weight: 20
UTC+3 is convenient for Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia; less ideal for Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
30%
Weight: 25
Limited professional networking events or digital nomad meetups.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
42%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most remote work is international.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
31%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is nascent; limited local platforms or support.
🏢 Coworking Quality
27%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces with basic facilities; not comparable to global standards.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
35%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem but very small in Abha compared to Riyadh or Jeddah.
💳 Local Payment Services
65%
Weight: 10
Mobile payments and banking apps available but less diverse than major cities.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
30%
Weight: 15
Limited adoption and regulatory clarity; crypto use is cautious and restricted.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
55%
Weight: 30
Abha International Airport connects to major Saudi cities and some regional destinations.
🚇 Public Transit
28%
Weight: 20
Public transit options are minimal; reliance on taxis and private cars.
🚶 Walkability
40%
Weight: 20
City center is somewhat walkable but infrastructure is car-oriented.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
70%
Weight: 15
Uber and local ride-hailing apps operate reliably.
🚲 Cycling
32%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure; terrain is hilly which can be challenging.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
60%
Weight: 15
Good road connections and domestic flights to other Saudi cities.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
15%
Weight: 10
Very limited or no scooter/bike rental services available.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
83%
Weight: 20
Strong 4G coverage throughout the city and surrounding areas.
🔒 VPN Reliability
60%
Weight: 20
VPNs generally work but some restrictions and slowdowns may occur.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
87%
Weight: 15
Stable electricity supply with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
45%
Weight: 10
Limited public WiFi hotspots; mostly available in malls and some cafes.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
50%
Weight: 40
Tourist visas are easier to obtain since 2019; no specific digital nomad visa.
📊 Tax Friendliness
78%
Weight: 30
No personal income tax, favorable for freelancers and remote workers.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
30%
Weight: 15
Restrictions on speech and expression exist; caution advised.
🏛️ Political Stability
75%
Weight: 20
Stable government with low risk of political unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
40%
Weight: 15
Challenging for foreigners without residency; requires documentation and local sponsor.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
55%
Weight: 10
Process improving but still bureaucratic; easier for residents and Saudis.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No digital nomad visa currently available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
35%
Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and community support for digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
10%
Weight: 25
Almost no digital nomad events or meetups in Abha.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
25%
Weight: 20
Very small online presence for digital nomads in Abha.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
84%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low crime rates; cultural norms promote safety.
♀️ Female Friendly
40%
Weight: 50
Conservative environment; women face cultural restrictions but improving.
✊ Racial Tolerance
50%
Weight: 50
Moderate tolerance; some social conservatism and cultural homogeneity.