Abha, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
#1403
,
Nomad Score:
59%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Generally affordable compared to major global cities, with moderate prices for daily expenses.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
68%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are reasonable but can vary; modern apartments are available at mid-range prices.
🍎 Food & Groceries
75%
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 services are affordable.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
52%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are limited and can be costly due to cultural restrictions.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
60%
Weight: 10
Gyms are available with moderate membership fees, but fewer options compared to larger cities.
💱 Currency Stability
90%
Weight: 30
Saudi Riyal is pegged to the US dollar, providing strong currency stability.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
78%
Weight: 100
Good internet infrastructure with reliable high-speed broadband and 5G coverage.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
43%
Weight: 40
Limited coworking spaces; the concept is emerging but not widespread yet.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
61%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi, but the number is limited compared to larger cities.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
47%
Weight: 30
Few cafes cater specifically to digital nomads; work-friendly environments are scarce.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
32%
Weight: 100
Not a well-known destination for digital nomads; still emerging on the radar.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
65%
Weight: 30
Generally good balance with a slower pace of life, but cultural norms may affect work flexibility.
🌳 Environmental Quality
70%
Weight: 15
Clean environment with efforts to maintain green spaces; desert climate limits greenery.
🧼 Cleanliness
83%
Weight: 10
City is well-maintained and clean, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s focus on urban cleanliness.
🗨️ Language Barrier
40%
Weight: 30
Arabic is dominant; English is spoken in business and tourist areas but can be a barrier.
💨 Air Quality
55%
Weight: 15
Air quality can be affected by dust storms and desert environment.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
74%
Weight: 20
Good quality healthcare facilities available, with modern hospitals and clinics.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
68%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is affordable for residents; private care can be costly without insurance.
🏥 Healthcare
71%
Weight: 20
Accessible healthcare services with a mix of public and private providers.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
86%
Weight: 80
Warm and sunny climate most of the year; mild winters but very hot summers.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
92%
Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
50%
Weight: 10
Limited green spaces due to desert environment, but some parks and gardens exist.
❄️ Air Conditioning
90%
Weight: 15
Widespread use of air conditioning in homes and public spaces due to hot climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
35%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; mostly hot and dry with mild winters.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
78%
Weight: 20
Rich cultural heritage with traditional Saudi customs and growing openness to tourism.
🌃 Nightlife
21%
Weight: 15
Very limited nightlife options due to cultural and legal restrictions.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
63%
Weight: 15
Beautiful mountainous surroundings and natural parks for outdoor activities.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
50%
Weight: 10
Some opportunities to learn Arabic locally, but limited formal language schools.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
67%
Weight: 10
Growing tourism sector offers cultural tours and desert experiences.
🎳 Indoors Fun
45%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options; cinemas and malls are developing.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
72%
Weight: 25
Good variety of Middle Eastern cuisine with increasing international options.
🧠 Yoga Studios
38%
Weight: 10
Few yoga studios available; wellness culture is still emerging.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
55%
Weight: 15
Basic fitness centers available but limited variety and specialized facilities.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
60%
Weight: 15
Healthy food options are available but not widespread; traditional diet is meat-heavy.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
74%
Weight: 20
GMT+3 timezone is convenient for Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
40%
Weight: 25
Limited professional networking events; growing startup community but still small.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
35%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is limited; most opportunities come from international companies.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
38%
Weight: 20
Freelance culture is nascent with few dedicated platforms or communities.
🏢 Coworking Quality
40%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are basic and limited in number.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
50%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem supported by government initiatives but still small.
💳 Local Payment Services
65%
Weight: 10
Good availability of digital payment options and mobile banking.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
42%
Weight: 15
Regulatory environment cautious; limited adoption but growing interest.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
68%
Weight: 30
Abha Regional Airport connects to major Saudi cities and some international destinations.
🚇 Public Transit
25%
Weight: 20
Public transportation infrastructure is minimal; reliance on taxis and private cars.
🚶 Walkability
40%
Weight: 20
City layout is car-centric with limited pedestrian-friendly areas.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
70%
Weight: 15
Popular ride-hailing apps like Uber and Careem widely used and reliable.
🚲 Cycling
20%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is almost non-existent; hot climate discourages cycling.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
60%
Weight: 15
Good road network and domestic flights connect Abha to other cities.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
15%
Weight: 10
Very limited or no scooter/bike rental services available.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
85%
Weight: 20
Strong 4G and expanding 5G coverage throughout the city.
🔒 VPN Reliability
60%
Weight: 20
VPNs work but some restrictions and occasional slowdowns due to regulations.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
87%
Weight: 15
Stable and reliable electricity supply with minimal outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
40%
Weight: 10
Limited public WiFi hotspots; mostly available in malls and some cafes.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
65%
Weight: 40
Tourist visas are easier to obtain now; digital nomad-specific visas not yet available.
📊 Tax Friendliness
80%
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
75%
Weight: 20
Stable government with low risk of political unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
50%
Weight: 15
Opening bank accounts can be bureaucratic and requires residency or sponsorship.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
60%
Weight: 10
Improving processes for business registration but still involves paperwork and local partnerships.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa currently available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
35%
Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and community support for digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
20%
Weight: 25
Very few or no dedicated digital nomad events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
30%
Weight: 20
Small online presence for digital nomads; limited forums or groups focused on Abha.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
89%
Weight: 100
Generally very safe with low crime rates and strong law enforcement.
♀️ Female Friendly
40%
Weight: 50
Cultural restrictions affect women's freedom; improving but still limited compared to global standards.
✊ Racial Tolerance
55%
Weight: 50
Moderate tolerance; expatriates live and work here but cultural differences exist.