Mecca, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
#146
21.420847, 39.826869
Nomad Score:
51%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
52%
Weight: 150
Moderate cost of living, with some expenses being higher due to the city's religious significance.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
48%
Weight: 80
Accommodation prices can be high, especially near the holy sites, but options vary widely.
🍎 Food & Groceries
65%
Weight: 40
Food prices are reasonable, with a variety of local and international options available.
🚌 Transportation Cost
60%
Weight: 20
Public transportation is limited, but taxis and ride-sharing services are available at moderate prices.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
35%
Weight: 15
Limited entertainment options, with higher costs for activities and attractions.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
50%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are available but can be pricey compared to other cities.
💱 Currency Stability
85%
Weight: 30
The Saudi Riyal is stable, pegged to the US dollar, providing good currency stability.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
70%
Weight: 100
Decent internet speeds are available, though not as fast as in some other major cities.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
40%
Weight: 40
Limited coworking spaces, primarily catering to local businesses rather than digital nomads.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
55%
Weight: 30
Some cafes offer WiFi, but the number is limited compared to more nomad-friendly cities.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
42%
Weight: 30
Few cafes are specifically tailored for digital nomads, with limited working environments.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
20%
Weight: 100
Mecca is not a popular destination for digital nomads due to its religious focus.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
55%
Weight: 30
Work-life balance can vary, with cultural norms influencing work hours.
🌳 Environmental Quality
60%
Weight: 15
Generally good environmental quality, though urban pollution can be an issue.
🧼 Cleanliness
70%
Weight: 10
The city is generally clean, especially around religious sites, but some areas may vary.
🗨️ Language Barrier
45%
Weight: 30
Arabic is the primary language, which can pose a barrier for non-Arabic speakers.
💨 Air Quality
50%
Weight: 15
Air quality can be affected by dust and pollution, especially during certain seasons.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
75%
Weight: 20
Healthcare facilities are generally good, with access to modern medical services.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
60%
Weight: 25
Healthcare costs are reasonable, but can vary depending on the service provider.
🏥 Healthcare
70%
Weight: 20
Access to healthcare is good, with a range of public and private options available.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
80%
Weight: 80
Hot summers and mild winters, with plenty of sunny days throughout the year.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
65%
Weight: 10
Moderate risk of natural disasters, primarily related to extreme weather conditions.
🏞️ Green Spaces
30%
Weight: 10
Limited green spaces within the city, with few parks and recreational areas.
❄️ Air Conditioning
90%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is widely available and essential due to the hot climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
35%
Weight: 10
Limited seasonal variety, with a predominantly hot climate year-round.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
95%
Weight: 20
Rich cultural heritage, especially related to Islamic traditions and history.
🌃 Nightlife
20%
Weight: 15
Very limited nightlife options due to cultural and religious restrictions.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
50%
Weight: 15
Some outdoor activities available, but limited compared to other regions.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
35%
Weight: 10
Limited opportunities for language learning, primarily focused on Arabic.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
80%
Weight: 10
Rich in local experiences, especially for those interested in religious tourism.
🎳 Indoors Fun
40%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options, primarily focused on shopping and dining.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
70%
Weight: 25
Diverse food scene with a mix of traditional and modern dining options.
🧠 Yoga Studios
25%
Weight: 10
Very few yoga studios available, reflecting cultural norms.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
50%
Weight: 15
Some fitness facilities available, but not as widespread as in other cities.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
60%
Weight: 15
Growing availability of healthy food options, though traditional cuisine dominates.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
50%
Weight: 20
Time zone may not be favorable for all digital nomads, depending on their home location.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
30%
Weight: 25
Limited networking opportunities for digital nomads, primarily focused on local businesses.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
25%
Weight: 20
Few remote job opportunities available, with a focus on local employment.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
20%
Weight: 20
Minimal freelance ecosystem, with limited platforms and opportunities.
🏢 Coworking Quality
35%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces that do exist are basic and not well-equipped for digital nomads.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
30%
Weight: 15
Limited startup scene, primarily focused on local businesses and services.
💳 Local Payment Services
60%
Weight: 10
Local payment services are available, but may not be as diverse as in other countries.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
20%
Weight: 15
Very low adoption of blockchain and cryptocurrency, with regulatory restrictions.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
70%
Weight: 30
King Abdulaziz International Airport provides good connectivity to major cities.
🚇 Public Transit
40%
Weight: 20
Limited public transit options, primarily reliant on taxis and private vehicles.
🚶 Walkability
50%
Weight: 20
Some areas are walkable, but many parts of the city require transportation.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
60%
Weight: 15
Ride-sharing services are available and widely used in the city.
🚲 Cycling
20%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is minimal, making it unsafe and impractical.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
55%
Weight: 15
Intercity travel options exist but are limited compared to larger cities.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
20%
Weight: 10
Very few options for scooter or bike rentals available in the city.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
75%
Weight: 20
Good mobile network coverage throughout the city, with reliable service.
🔒 VPN Reliability
60%
Weight: 20
VPN services are generally reliable, though some restrictions may apply.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
80%
Weight: 15
Power grid is generally reliable, with few outages reported.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
30%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is limited and not widely available in public spaces.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
40%
Weight: 40
Visa processes can be complex and time-consuming for foreigners.
📊 Tax Friendliness
65%
Weight: 30
No personal income tax, but other fees and charges may apply.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
20%
Weight: 15
Limited freedom of speech, with strict regulations on expression.
🏛️ Political Stability
65%
Weight: 20
Generally stable political environment, though regional tensions exist.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
50%
Weight: 15
Opening a bank account can be bureaucratic and may require local sponsorship.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
45%
Weight: 10
Business registration can be complex and time-consuming.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
10%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available, making it difficult for long-term stays.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
25%
Weight: 50
Overall, not a nomad-friendly city due to cultural and logistical challenges.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
10%
Weight: 25
Very few events or meetups specifically for digital nomads.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
15%
Weight: 20
Minimal online community presence for digital nomads.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
75%
Weight: 100
Generally safe for residents and visitors, with low crime rates.
♀️ Female Friendly
40%
Weight: 50
Cultural norms can limit freedoms for women, though improvements are being made.
✊ Racial Tolerance
50%
Weight: 50
Cultural diversity exists, but racial tolerance can vary depending on context.