Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
#142
,
Nomad Score:
57%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
61%
Weight: 150
Moderately affordable compared to Western cities; some imported goods and services can be pricey.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
54%
Weight: 80
Rental prices vary; decent apartments in central areas are moderately priced but can be expensive in premium locations.
🍎 Food & Groceries
68%
Weight: 40
Local food is affordable; imported groceries and dining at international restaurants are more expensive.
🚌 Transportation Cost
72%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but affordable; taxis and ride-hailing services are reasonably priced.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
43%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are growing but still limited; costs for cinemas, events, and dining out can be high.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
59%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are moderately priced but vary widely depending on facilities and location.
💱 Currency Stability
87%
Weight: 30
Saudi Riyal is pegged to the US dollar, providing strong currency stability.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
75%
Weight: 100
Good broadband and 5G coverage in urban areas; speeds are generally reliable for remote work.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
51%
Weight: 40
Limited but growing number of coworking spaces, mostly concentrated in business districts.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
63%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer WiFi, though quality and speed can vary.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
50%
Weight: 30
Few cafes specifically cater to digital nomads; quiet work-friendly spots are limited.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
32%
Weight: 100
Not a well-known digital nomad hub; relatively low community presence.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
60%
Weight: 30
Work culture is evolving; long working hours common but improving with reforms.
🌳 Environmental Quality
41%
Weight: 15
Urban pollution and dust storms affect air quality; limited green initiatives.
🧼 Cleanliness
67%
Weight: 10
Public areas and streets are generally clean due to strict regulations.
🗨️ Language Barrier
48%
Weight: 30
Arabic is primary; English is widely spoken in business and tourist areas but can be a barrier elsewhere.
💨 Air Quality
39%
Weight: 15
Frequent dust storms and urban pollution reduce air quality significantly.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
74%
Weight: 20
High-quality healthcare facilities available, especially private hospitals.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
62%
Weight: 25
Public healthcare is affordable; private care can be expensive without insurance.
🏥 Healthcare
70%
Weight: 20
Good overall healthcare infrastructure with modern hospitals and clinics.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
86%
Weight: 80
Hot desert climate with very hot summers and mild winters; mostly sunny and dry.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
89%
Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
37%
Weight: 10
Limited green parks and recreational areas within the city.
❄️ Air Conditioning
91%
Weight: 15
Widespread use of air conditioning in homes, offices, and public spaces.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
21%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; consistently hot climate year-round.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
78%
Weight: 20
Rich cultural heritage with Islamic and Arabian traditions; growing openness to international influences.
🌃 Nightlife
29%
Weight: 15
Nightlife is limited due to cultural and legal restrictions; recent reforms are slowly expanding options.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
55%
Weight: 15
Coastal location offers beaches and Red Sea activities; desert excursions available.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
50%
Weight: 10
Arabic language courses available but not widespread; English is dominant in business.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
64%
Weight: 10
Growing tourism sector with cultural tours, historical sites, and Red Sea diving.
🎳 Indoors Fun
47%
Weight: 10
Shopping malls and cinemas provide indoor entertainment; limited variety compared to global cities.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
73%
Weight: 25
Diverse food options including traditional Saudi cuisine and international restaurants.
🧠 Yoga Studios
38%
Weight: 10
Few yoga studios; wellness culture is emerging but still niche.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
56%
Weight: 15
Gyms and fitness centers available but not widespread; women-only facilities exist.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
61%
Weight: 15
Increasing availability of healthy and organic food options in supermarkets and restaurants.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
79%
Weight: 20
UTC+3 timezone is convenient for Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
49%
Weight: 25
Limited formal networking events for digital nomads; business networking is more traditional.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
35%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most opportunities come from international companies.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
38%
Weight: 20
Freelancing is growing but still limited by regulations and market size.
🏢 Coworking Quality
50%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are functional but lack variety and community feel.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
57%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem supported by government initiatives and investment.
💳 Local Payment Services
64%
Weight: 10
Good availability of digital payment options and mobile wallets.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
32%
Weight: 15
Regulatory environment is cautious; crypto use is limited and not widely accepted.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
76%
Weight: 30
King Abdulaziz International Airport offers good connectivity to Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
🚇 Public Transit
28%
Weight: 20
Public transit infrastructure is minimal; metro under construction but not operational yet.
🚶 Walkability
31%
Weight: 20
City layout and hot climate limit walkability; car use is dominant.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
70%
Weight: 15
Popular ride-hailing apps like Uber and Careem widely used and reliable.
🚲 Cycling
25%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is very limited; hot climate discourages cycling.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
63%
Weight: 15
Good road network and domestic flights; train services are limited.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
19%
Weight: 10
Very limited availability of scooter or bike rentals.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
80%
Weight: 20
Strong 4G and expanding 5G coverage throughout the city.
🔒 VPN Reliability
67%
Weight: 20
VPNs work reliably but some restrictions and occasional slowdowns exist.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
85%
Weight: 15
Stable and reliable electricity supply with minimal outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
42%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is limited mostly to malls and airports; not widespread.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
56%
Weight: 40
Tourist visas are easier to obtain now; work visas require sponsorship.
📊 Tax Friendliness
83%
Weight: 30
No personal income tax; favorable for freelancers and remote workers.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
21%
Weight: 15
Strict regulations on speech and online content; limited freedom compared to Western standards.
🏛️ Political Stability
79%
Weight: 20
Stable government with strong control; low risk of political unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
44%
Weight: 15
Banking requires residency or sponsorship; process can be bureaucratic for foreigners.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
60%
Weight: 10
Government initiatives have simplified business registration but still requires local partner or sponsorship.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available as of 2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
37%
Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and community for digital nomads; improving but still nascent.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
25%
Weight: 25
Few organized events or meetups specifically for digital nomads.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
33%
Weight: 20
Small online presence of digital nomads based in Jeddah.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
78%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low crime rates; cultural norms promote public safety.
♀️ Female Friendly
40%
Weight: 50
Improving rights and access for women but still conservative; some restrictions remain.
✊ Racial Tolerance
52%
Weight: 50
Diverse expatriate population; some social and cultural challenges persist.