Mecca, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
#146
,
Nomad Score:
43%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
32%
Weight: 150
Mecca is relatively expensive compared to other Saudi cities due to its religious significance and influx of pilgrims, driving up prices.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
28%
Weight: 80
Accommodation is costly, especially near the Grand Mosque, with limited budget options for long-term stays.
🍎 Food & Groceries
51%
Weight: 40
Food prices are moderate; local markets offer affordable groceries but dining out can be expensive in tourist areas.
🚌 Transportation Cost
64%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but affordable; taxis and ride-hailing apps are commonly used but can add up.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
15%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are very limited due to religious restrictions and cultural norms.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
40%
Weight: 10
Gyms exist but are limited and can be pricey; gender-segregated facilities are common.
💱 Currency Stability
87%
Weight: 30
Saudi Riyal is stable, pegged to the US dollar, providing currency stability.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
73%
Weight: 100
Good internet infrastructure with decent speeds, though some restrictions on certain websites.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
21%
Weight: 40
Very few coworking spaces available; Mecca is not a hub for digital nomads.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
35%
Weight: 30
Limited cafes with reliable WiFi; many cafes are traditional and not geared towards remote work.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
18%
Weight: 30
Few cafes cater specifically to digital nomads; cultural norms limit laptop use in public.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
5%
Weight: 100
Mecca is not a popular destination for digital nomads due to religious focus and limited amenities.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
85%
Weight: 25
Easy to obtain local SIM cards with good data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
42%
Weight: 30
Work culture is conservative; long prayer times and social norms influence daily routines.
🌳 Environmental Quality
50%
Weight: 15
Urban environment with some pollution; desert climate limits greenery.
🧼 Cleanliness
67%
Weight: 10
City is generally clean, maintained due to religious importance and pilgrim influx.
🗨️ Language Barrier
30%
Weight: 30
Arabic is dominant; limited English spoken outside tourist and religious sectors.
💨 Air Quality
41%
Weight: 15
Air quality can be poor due to dust storms and urban pollution.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
60%
Weight: 25
Family-oriented city with many religious and cultural activities.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
70%
Weight: 20
Good healthcare facilities available, especially for pilgrims; modern hospitals present.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
65%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is affordable for residents; some services may be costly for foreigners.
🏥 Healthcare
70%
Weight: 20
Overall healthcare system is reliable with access to emergency and specialist care.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
78%
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
23%
Weight: 10
Very limited green spaces due to desert environment and urban density.
❄️ Air Conditioning
85%
Weight: 15
Widespread use of air conditioning due to hot climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
10%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; consistently hot and dry.
🔊 Noise Pollution
50%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels; busy pilgrimage seasons increase noise.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
60%
Weight: 20
Rich Islamic cultural heritage; conservative social norms.
🌃 Nightlife
5%
Weight: 15
Nightlife is virtually non-existent due to religious and cultural restrictions.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
30%
Weight: 15
Limited natural outdoor activities; desert surroundings offer some exploration.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
40%
Weight: 10
Some opportunities to learn Arabic, but limited formal language schools for foreigners.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
75%
Weight: 10
Unique religious and cultural tours available, especially related to Islamic history.
🎳 Indoors Fun
20%
Weight: 10
Few indoor entertainment options; malls and religious sites dominate.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
55%
Weight: 25
Traditional Saudi cuisine prevalent; limited international food options.
🧠 Yoga Studios
5%
Weight: 10
Yoga studios are virtually non-existent due to cultural and religious norms.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
35%
Weight: 15
Some gyms and fitness centers available, mostly gender-segregated.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
40%
Weight: 15
Healthy food options are available but not widespread; traditional diet is meat and rice heavy.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
68%
Weight: 20
UTC+3 time zone is favorable for Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
20%
Weight: 25
Limited networking opportunities for digital nomads; business culture is conservative.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
15%
Weight: 20
Few local remote job opportunities; economy focused on religious tourism and oil.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
10%
Weight: 20
Freelance ecosystem is underdeveloped and not well supported.
🏢 Coworking Quality
15%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces exist and those that do are basic.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
30%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup scene in Saudi Arabia but minimal presence in Mecca.
💳 Local Payment Services
60%
Weight: 10
Modern payment services like STC Pay and Mada cards are available.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
25%
Weight: 15
Limited adoption and regulatory restrictions on cryptocurrencies.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
72%
Weight: 30
King Abdulaziz International Airport offers good connectivity to Middle East and beyond.
🚇 Public Transit
30%
Weight: 20
Limited public transit options; some bus services but no metro system.
🚶 Walkability
40%
Weight: 20
Walkability is moderate near central areas but challenging due to heat and urban layout.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
70%
Weight: 15
Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Careem are widely used and reliable.
🚲 Cycling
10%
Weight: 10
Cycling is uncommon due to hot climate and lack of infrastructure.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
65%
Weight: 15
Good intercity bus and taxi services; limited train connectivity.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
5%
Weight: 10
Scooter and bike rentals are virtually non-existent.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
80%
Weight: 20
Strong mobile network coverage with 4G and growing 5G availability.
🔒 VPN Reliability
40%
Weight: 20
VPNs work but some restrictions and occasional slowdowns due to government controls.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
85%
Weight: 15
Reliable power supply with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
30%
Weight: 10
Limited public WiFi; mostly available in malls and hotels.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
50%
Weight: 40
Tourist visas are easier to obtain recently, but specific pilgrimage visas dominate.
📊 Tax Friendliness
75%
Weight: 30
No personal income tax, favorable for freelancers and remote workers.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
10%
Weight: 15
Strict limitations on freedom of speech and expression.
🏛️ Political Stability
70%
Weight: 20
Politically stable under Saudi government, though regional tensions exist.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
35%
Weight: 15
Difficult for foreigners; requires residency and significant documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
40%
Weight: 10
Business registration is bureaucratic and challenging for foreigners.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No digital nomad visa available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
10%
Weight: 50
Not friendly for digital nomads due to cultural, legal, and infrastructure limitations.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
5%
Weight: 25
No known digital nomad events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
10%
Weight: 20
Minimal online community presence for digital nomads in Mecca.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
78%
Weight: 100
Generally safe city with strong law enforcement, especially around religious sites.
♀️ Female Friendly
20%
Weight: 50
Strict gender segregation and conservative dress codes limit female freedom.
✊ Racial Tolerance
40%
Weight: 50
Moderate tolerance; some discrimination reported but generally peaceful coexistence.