Medina, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
#145
,
Nomad Score:
53%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
61%
Weight: 150
Moderate cost of living compared to major global cities; more affordable than Riyadh or Jeddah but higher than smaller towns.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
54%
Weight: 80
Accommodation prices are moderate; limited variety of short-term rentals suitable for nomads.
🍎 Food & Groceries
67%
Weight: 40
Local markets and supermarkets offer affordable groceries; dining out can be moderately priced.
🚌 Transportation Cost
73%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but taxis and ride-hailing are affordable; car rentals are common.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
42%
Weight: 15
Limited entertainment options; cultural and religious restrictions reduce nightlife and leisure activities.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
50%
Weight: 10
Gyms are available but not widespread; membership fees are moderate.
💱 Currency Stability
85%
Weight: 30
Saudi Riyal is pegged to the US dollar, providing strong currency stability.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
78%
Weight: 100
Good internet infrastructure with widespread 4G and increasing 5G coverage; fiber-optic available in urban areas.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
31%
Weight: 40
Very limited coworking spaces; most work is done from home or cafes.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
60%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi, but fewer than in larger Saudi cities.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
35%
Weight: 30
Few cafes cater specifically to digital nomads; limited plug points and work-friendly environments.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
20%
Weight: 100
Medina is not a popular destination for digital nomads due to cultural and infrastructure limitations.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
65%
Weight: 30
Strong cultural emphasis on family and religious life; work hours can be long but balanced by social norms.
🌳 Environmental Quality
70%
Weight: 15
Generally clean environment with desert climate; low pollution but dry air.
🧼 Cleanliness
80%
Weight: 10
City is well-maintained and clean, especially in religious and tourist areas.
🗨️ Language Barrier
43%
Weight: 30
Arabic is dominant; English is spoken in business and tourist sectors but limited elsewhere.
💨 Air Quality
55%
Weight: 15
Desert dust and occasional sandstorms affect air quality; generally moderate pollution levels.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
72%
Weight: 20
Good healthcare facilities with modern hospitals, especially for residents and pilgrims.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
68%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is affordable for residents; private care can be expensive for foreigners.
🏥 Healthcare
70%
Weight: 20
Accessible healthcare with both public and private options; good emergency services.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
87%
Weight: 80
Hot desert climate with very sunny days; mild winters but very hot summers.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
90%
Weight: 10
Very low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, or hurricanes.
🏞️ Green Spaces
32%
Weight: 10
Limited green spaces due to desert environment; some parks available but sparse.
❄️ Air Conditioning
95%
Weight: 15
Widespread use of air conditioning in homes, offices, and public spaces due to hot climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
20%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; consistently hot and dry with mild winters.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
78%
Weight: 20
Rich Islamic cultural heritage; conservative society with strong traditions.
🌃 Nightlife
15%
Weight: 15
Very limited nightlife due to religious and cultural restrictions.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
50%
Weight: 15
Desert landscapes and religious sites offer unique outdoor experiences but limited variety.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
40%
Weight: 10
Limited formal language schools for Arabic; informal opportunities through immersion.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
75%
Weight: 10
Rich religious and historical tours available; pilgrimage tourism dominates.
🎳 Indoors Fun
30%
Weight: 10
Few indoor entertainment venues; malls and cultural centers are main options.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
65%
Weight: 25
Traditional Saudi cuisine prevalent; limited international dining options.
🧠 Yoga Studios
10%
Weight: 10
Very rare or non-existent due to cultural norms.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
45%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms available; limited variety of fitness classes.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
55%
Weight: 15
Fresh produce available; traditional diet includes healthy options but limited organic markets.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
70%
Weight: 20
UTC+3 timezone is convenient for Europe, Asia, and Africa but less so for Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
30%
Weight: 25
Limited expat and digital nomad communities; networking mainly through religious or business circles.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
40%
Weight: 20
Local job market focused on traditional sectors; remote work culture still developing.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
25%
Weight: 20
Freelancing is not widespread; limited platforms and community support.
🏢 Coworking Quality
20%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces with basic facilities; not tailored for international nomads.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
35%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem mostly centered in Riyadh and Jeddah; limited in Medina.
💳 Local Payment Services
60%
Weight: 10
Growing digital payment infrastructure; cash still widely used.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
30%
Weight: 15
Regulatory environment cautious; limited adoption and use.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
65%
Weight: 30
Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Airport connects to major Middle Eastern hubs; limited direct international flights.
🚇 Public Transit
20%
Weight: 20
No formal public transit system; reliance on taxis and private cars.
🚶 Walkability
40%
Weight: 20
Some walkable areas in city center; hot climate limits walking comfort.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
70%
Weight: 15
Uber and local ride-hailing services widely available and affordable.
🚲 Cycling
15%
Weight: 10
Not common due to hot climate and lack of infrastructure.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
60%
Weight: 15
Good road connections; limited train services; domestic flights available.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
10%
Weight: 10
Very limited or non-existent scooter/bike rental services.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
80%
Weight: 20
Strong 4G and expanding 5G coverage throughout the city.
🔒 VPN Reliability
55%
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
40%
Weight: 10
Limited public WiFi hotspots; mostly available in malls and hotels.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
60%
Weight: 40
Tourist visas available but strict regulations; no specific digital nomad visa.
📊 Tax Friendliness
75%
Weight: 30
No personal income tax; VAT applies to goods and services.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
20%
Weight: 15
Strict limitations on speech and expression; censorship common.
🏛️ Political Stability
70%
Weight: 20
Stable government with low risk of political unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
35%
Weight: 15
Difficult for foreigners without residency; strict documentation required.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
50%
Weight: 10
Improving but still bureaucratic; easier for Saudi nationals and companies.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No digital nomad visa currently available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
25%
Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and community support for digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
10%
Weight: 25
Very few or no digital nomad events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
20%
Weight: 20
Minimal online presence or forums for nomads in Medina.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
88%
Weight: 100
Very safe city with low crime rates and strong law enforcement.
♀️ Female Friendly
30%
Weight: 50
Conservative gender norms; restrictions on women's freedoms and dress code.
✊ Racial Tolerance
50%
Weight: 50
Moderate tolerance; expatriate communities exist but some social segregation.