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Analytics
Mecca, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
#146
,
Nomad Score:
51%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
61%
Weight: 150
Moderate cost of living compared to other Saudi cities; prices are higher during pilgrimage seasons.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
53%
Weight: 80
Accommodation prices can be high near the Grand Mosque, especially during Hajj and Ramadan.
🍎 Food & Groceries
72%
Weight: 40
Local food and groceries are reasonably priced; imported goods tend to be more expensive.
🚌 Transportation Cost
75%
Weight: 20
Public transportation options are limited but affordable; taxis and ride-hailing services are moderately priced.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
38%
Weight: 15
Limited entertainment options due to cultural and religious restrictions; costs vary widely.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
60%
Weight: 10
Gyms are available but fewer in number; membership fees are moderate.
💱 Currency Stability
87%
Weight: 30
Saudi Riyal is pegged to the US Dollar, providing strong currency stability.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
70%
Weight: 100
Good internet infrastructure with decent speeds, but occasional throttling and restrictions.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
32%
Weight: 40
Very limited coworking spaces; mostly traditional offices and hotels.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
50%
Weight: 30
Some cafes offer WiFi, but internet quality and digital nomad friendliness vary.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
25%
Weight: 30
Few cafes cater specifically to digital nomads; work-friendly environments are scarce.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
18%
Weight: 100
Mecca is not a popular destination for digital nomads due to religious and cultural factors.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
80%
Weight: 25
Easy to obtain local SIM cards with good data plans for foreigners.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
64%
Weight: 30
Strong cultural emphasis on family and religion; work hours can be long but balanced with prayer times.
🌳 Environmental Quality
45%
Weight: 15
Urban pollution and dust storms affect air quality; limited green spaces.
🧼 Cleanliness
70%
Weight: 10
City is generally clean, especially in religious areas, due to strict maintenance.
🗨️ Language Barrier
40%
Weight: 30
Arabic is dominant; English is spoken in tourist and business areas but limited elsewhere.
💨 Air Quality
37%
Weight: 15
Air quality is often poor due to dust and urban pollution.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
60%
Weight: 25
Family-oriented culture with many facilities catering to families.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
78%
Weight: 20
Good healthcare facilities, especially for pilgrims; modern hospitals available.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
69%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is affordable for residents; private care can be costly for foreigners.
🏥 Healthcare
75%
Weight: 20
Accessible healthcare with a focus on emergency and pilgrimage-related services.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
73%
Weight: 80
Hot desert climate with very hot summers and mild winters; mostly sunny days.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
90%
Weight: 10
Very low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods.
🏞️ Green Spaces
28%
Weight: 10
Limited green spaces and parks within the city.
❄️ Air Conditioning
85%
Weight: 15
Widespread use of air conditioning due to hot climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
15%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; consistently hot and dry.
🔊 Noise Pollution
50%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels; higher near busy markets and religious events.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
80%
Weight: 20
Rich Islamic cultural heritage; strong religious significance.
🌃 Nightlife
10%
Weight: 15
Nightlife is very limited due to religious and cultural norms.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
40%
Weight: 15
Desert landscapes nearby but limited outdoor recreational areas.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
55%
Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Arabic exist but limited formal language schools for foreigners.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
87%
Weight: 10
Unique religious and cultural tours available, especially for pilgrims.
🎳 Indoors Fun
35%
Weight: 10
Few indoor entertainment options; mostly religious and cultural activities.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
68%
Weight: 25
Traditional Saudi cuisine widely available; limited international options.
🧠 Yoga Studios
12%
Weight: 10
Yoga studios are virtually nonexistent due to cultural restrictions.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
58%
Weight: 15
Some gyms and fitness centers available, mostly gender-segregated.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
60%
Weight: 15
Healthy options available but not widespread; traditional diets are meat-heavy.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
70%
Weight: 20
UTC+3 time zone is favorable for working with Europe, less so for Americas or Asia.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
30%
Weight: 25
Limited professional networking events for digital nomads or expats.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
25%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most opportunities come from abroad.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
20%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is minimal and not well-developed.
🏢 Coworking Quality
28%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces exist; quality and amenities are basic.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
35%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem focused mainly in Riyadh and Jeddah, less so in Mecca.
💳 Local Payment Services
65%
Weight: 10
Modern payment services available but some international services are restricted.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
20%
Weight: 15
Cryptocurrency use is heavily regulated and limited.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
60%
Weight: 30
King Abdulaziz International Airport nearby with good regional and some international connections.
🚇 Public Transit
35%
Weight: 20
Limited public transit; metro under development but not fully operational.
🚶 Walkability
40%
Weight: 20
Walkability is moderate near central areas but challenging in outskirts due to heat and infrastructure.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
70%
Weight: 15
Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Careem are widely used and reliable.
🚲 Cycling
15%
Weight: 10
Cycling is uncommon due to hot climate and lack of infrastructure.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
65%
Weight: 15
Good intercity bus and train connections to major Saudi cities.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
10%
Weight: 10
Scooter and bike rentals are virtually nonexistent.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
80%
Weight: 20
Strong mobile network coverage with 4G and growing 5G availability.
🔒 VPN Reliability
40%
Weight: 20
VPN use is restricted and sometimes blocked; reliability varies.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
85%
Weight: 15
Stable and reliable power supply with minimal outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
45%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is limited and often restricted in content.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
50%
Weight: 40
Tourist visas available but digital nomad-specific visas are not offered.
📊 Tax Friendliness
75%
Weight: 30
No personal income tax, favorable for freelancers and remote workers.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
15%
Weight: 15
Strict limitations on freedom of speech and expression.
🏛️ Political Stability
70%
Weight: 20
Generally politically stable, though regional tensions exist.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
40%
Weight: 15
Challenging for foreigners; requires residency and extensive documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
55%
Weight: 10
Improving but still bureaucratic; easier for Saudis than foreigners.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No digital nomad visa or similar permits available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
15%
Weight: 50
Not considered a nomad-friendly city due to cultural and infrastructural limitations.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
10%
Weight: 25
Very few, if any, digital nomad events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
20%
Weight: 20
Minimal online presence or communities focused on Mecca for digital nomads.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
78%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low crime rates, especially in religious zones.
♀️ Female Friendly
25%
Weight: 50
Strict gender segregation and cultural norms limit female independence.
✊ Racial Tolerance
50%
Weight: 50
Moderate tolerance; some discrimination reported but generally peaceful coexistence.