Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
#142
,
Nomad Score:
58%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
61%
Weight: 150
Moderately affordable compared to Western cities, but higher than many Southeast Asian or South American destinations.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
54%
Weight: 80
Rental prices in Jeddah are mid-range; decent apartments can be found but luxury options are expensive.
🍎 Food & Groceries
68%
Weight: 40
Local food and groceries are reasonably priced, with many affordable options, especially traditional markets.
🚌 Transportation Cost
72%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but taxis and ride-hailing apps are affordable.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
50%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are growing but still limited; prices can be high for international-standard venues.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
65%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are moderately priced, with many modern facilities available.
💱 Currency Stability
87%
Weight: 30
Saudi Riyal is pegged to the US dollar, providing strong currency stability.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
79%
Weight: 100
Good broadband and 5G coverage in urban areas, suitable for remote work.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
53%
Weight: 40
Growing number of coworking spaces but still limited compared to global hubs.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
67%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer WiFi, though the ambiance varies and some have restrictions on laptop use.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
58%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to remote workers but not widespread; cultural norms may limit laptop use in some places.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
32%
Weight: 100
Jeddah is not yet a popular destination for digital nomads.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
89%
Weight: 25
Easy to obtain SIM cards with good data plans for foreigners.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
60%
Weight: 30
Work culture is improving but still traditional; weekends on Friday-Saturday can aid balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
51%
Weight: 15
Urban pollution and dust storms affect air quality; coastal location improves some aspects.
🧼 Cleanliness
64%
Weight: 10
City is generally clean, with ongoing government efforts to improve sanitation.
🗨️ Language Barrier
47%
Weight: 30
Arabic is dominant; English is widely understood in business and tourist areas but can be a barrier.
💨 Air Quality
43%
Weight: 15
Frequent dust and sandstorms reduce air quality, especially in certain seasons.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
60%
Weight: 25
Safe environment with good schools but limited entertainment options for children.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
75%
Weight: 20
High-quality private healthcare facilities available, though public options vary.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
62%
Weight: 25
Private healthcare can be expensive without insurance; public healthcare is more affordable but less accessible.
🏥 Healthcare
70%
Weight: 20
Overall good healthcare infrastructure with modern hospitals and clinics.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
78%
Weight: 80
Hot desert climate with very hot summers and mild winters; mostly sunny year-round.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
85%
Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
42%
Weight: 10
Limited green parks and public gardens within the city.
❄️ Air Conditioning
91%
Weight: 15
Widespread and reliable air conditioning due to hot climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
21%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; mostly hot and dry year-round.
🔊 Noise Pollution
52%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels; traffic and construction contribute to noise pollution.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
74%
Weight: 20
Rich cultural heritage with Islamic traditions and growing openness to tourism.
🌃 Nightlife
35%
Weight: 15
Nightlife is limited due to cultural and legal restrictions.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
60%
Weight: 15
Coastal beaches and Red Sea offer outdoor activities; desert excursions available.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
50%
Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Arabic exist but limited formal language schools for foreigners.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
67%
Weight: 10
Growing tourism sector with cultural tours and Red Sea diving experiences.
🎳 Indoors Fun
48%
Weight: 10
Indoor entertainment options are limited but improving with new malls and cinemas.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
73%
Weight: 25
Diverse food options with strong Middle Eastern cuisine and increasing international choices.
🧠 Yoga Studios
39%
Weight: 10
Few yoga studios due to cultural conservatism but some private classes available.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
61%
Weight: 15
Gyms and fitness centers are available, mostly gender-segregated.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
65%
Weight: 15
Healthy food options are available but not widespread; traditional diets are often rich in fats and carbs.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
76%
Weight: 20
UTC+3 time zone is convenient for Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
49%
Weight: 25
Limited formal networking events for digital nomads; business networking more common.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
38%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most opportunities come from international companies.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
35%
Weight: 20
Freelance culture is nascent with limited local support or communities.
🏢 Coworking Quality
51%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are functional but lack variety and community feel.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
56%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem supported by government initiatives but still developing.
💳 Local Payment Services
68%
Weight: 10
Mobile payment and banking apps are growing but cash is still widely used.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
40%
Weight: 15
Regulations are cautious; crypto use is limited and not officially encouraged.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
77%
Weight: 30
King Abdulaziz International Airport offers good connectivity regionally and internationally.
🚇 Public Transit
33%
Weight: 20
Public transit infrastructure is minimal; metro under development but not operational yet.
🚶 Walkability
41%
Weight: 20
City is car-centric with limited pedestrian-friendly areas.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
74%
Weight: 15
Uber and local ride-hailing services are widely available and affordable.
🚲 Cycling
25%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is almost non-existent; hot climate discourages biking.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
63%
Weight: 15
Good road network and domestic flights available; limited train services.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
20%
Weight: 10
Very limited availability of scooter or bike rentals.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
83%
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 government controls.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
85%
Weight: 15
Stable electricity supply with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
55%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is available in malls and some public spaces but not widespread.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
67%
Weight: 40
Tourist visas are easier to obtain now; digital nomad visa not available.
📊 Tax Friendliness
80%
Weight: 30
No personal income tax, favorable for freelancers and remote workers.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
21%
Weight: 15
Strict regulations and censorship limit freedom of expression.
🏛️ Political Stability
79%
Weight: 20
Stable government with low risk of political unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
44%
Weight: 15
Opening bank accounts can be bureaucratic and requires residency or sponsorship.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
57%
Weight: 10
Business registration is improving but still involves complex procedures.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
39%
Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and community for digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
28%
Weight: 25
Few to no regular digital nomad events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
35%
Weight: 20
Small online presence for digital nomads in Jeddah.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
76%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low crime rates, especially in expat areas.
♀️ Female Friendly
33%
Weight: 50
Conservative cultural norms limit freedom and safety for women compared to Western standards.
✊ Racial Tolerance
50%
Weight: 50
Moderate tolerance; expats generally accepted but some social segregation exists.