Medina, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
#145
,
Nomad Score:
54%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
61%
Weight: 150
Moderate cost of living compared to other Saudi cities; cheaper than Riyadh or Jeddah but higher than smaller towns.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
54%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are moderate; furnished apartments for short-term stays can be somewhat expensive due to limited supply.
🍎 Food & Groceries
72%
Weight: 40
Local markets and supermarkets offer affordable groceries; dining out is moderately priced with many halal options.
🚌 Transportation Cost
78%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but taxis and ride-hailing apps are affordable; fuel prices are low.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
43%
Weight: 15
Limited entertainment options due to cultural restrictions; cinemas and concerts are rare.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
59%
Weight: 10
Gyms are available but prices are slightly above average; some gender-segregated facilities may affect availability.
💱 Currency Stability
87%
Weight: 30
Saudi Riyal is pegged to the US dollar, providing strong currency stability.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
76%
Weight: 100
Good 4G and fiber internet available in urban areas; speeds are reliable but not top-tier globally.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
32%
Weight: 40
Very limited coworking spaces; most digital nomads rely on cafes or hotels for work.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
65%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi but the culture is more conservative; fewer casual hangout spots.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
38%
Weight: 30
Few cafes cater specifically to digital nomads; WiFi quality and seating comfort vary.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
21%
Weight: 100
Medina is not a popular destination for digital nomads due to cultural and infrastructural limitations.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
86%
Weight: 25
Easy to obtain SIM cards with good data plans for tourists and residents.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
60%
Weight: 30
Work culture is formal; religious activities influence daily schedules, offering structured downtime.
🌳 Environmental Quality
67%
Weight: 15
Generally clean environment with desert climate; occasional dust storms can affect air quality.
🧼 Cleanliness
79%
Weight: 10
City is well-maintained with strict cleanliness regulations, especially in religious areas.
🗨️ Language Barrier
45%
Weight: 30
Arabic is dominant; English is understood in business and tourist areas but limited elsewhere.
💨 Air Quality
52%
Weight: 15
Air quality can be moderate; dust and sandstorms occasionally reduce air quality.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
65%
Weight: 25
Safe environment with family-oriented culture; limited entertainment for children.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
73%
Weight: 20
Good healthcare facilities with modern hospitals; quality is high but some specialized care requires travel.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
68%
Weight: 25
Public healthcare is affordable or free for residents; private care can be expensive.
🏥 Healthcare
70%
Weight: 20
Accessible healthcare with a mix of public and private options; emergency services are reliable.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
84%
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 spaces due to desert environment; some parks exist but are small.
❄️ Air Conditioning
91%
Weight: 15
Widespread use of air conditioning in homes, offices, and public spaces due to hot climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
24%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; mostly hot and dry year-round with mild winters.
🔊 Noise Pollution
71%
Weight: 10
Generally low noise pollution except during religious events and busy market areas.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
78%
Weight: 20
Rich Islamic cultural heritage; conservative social norms strongly influence daily life.
🌃 Nightlife
15%
Weight: 15
Very limited nightlife options 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
Few formal language schools for foreigners; Arabic learning mostly self-directed or informal.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
79%
Weight: 10
Rich religious and historical tours available; access to many Islamic heritage sites.
🎳 Indoors Fun
33%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options; malls and shopping centers are main venues.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
69%
Weight: 25
Traditional Saudi cuisine dominates; limited international options but growing variety.
🧠 Yoga Studios
20%
Weight: 10
Very few yoga studios due to cultural conservatism and limited demand.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
55%
Weight: 15
Gyms available but gender segregation and cultural norms limit accessibility.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
62%
Weight: 15
Fresh produce and traditional dishes available; limited organic or health-focused eateries.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
70%
Weight: 20
UTC+3 time zone is convenient for Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia but less so for Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
31%
Weight: 25
Limited formal networking events for digital nomads; business networking mostly local and traditional.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
28%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most opportunities come from outside Saudi Arabia.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
25%
Weight: 20
Freelancing is not widely established; regulatory and cultural factors limit growth.
🏢 Coworking Quality
29%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces exist; those available are basic with limited amenities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
40%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem mainly in Riyadh and Jeddah; Medina has limited activity.
💳 Local Payment Services
64%
Weight: 10
Mobile payment and banking apps are growing but cash is still widely used.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
30%
Weight: 15
Regulations are cautious; crypto adoption is low and tightly controlled.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
57%
Weight: 30
Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Airport connects to major Middle Eastern cities but limited global direct flights.
🚇 Public Transit
23%
Weight: 20
Public transport infrastructure is minimal; most rely on taxis or private cars.
🚶 Walkability
41%
Weight: 20
City center is somewhat walkable but hot climate and urban layout limit pedestrian comfort.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
74%
Weight: 15
Uber and local apps like Careem operate reliably and affordably.
🚲 Cycling
18%
Weight: 10
Cycling is uncommon due to hot climate, lack of infrastructure, and cultural norms.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
63%
Weight: 15
Good road networks and bus services; domestic flights available but limited.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
15%
Weight: 10
Very limited or no scooter/bike rental services.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
80%
Weight: 20
Strong 4G coverage citywide; 5G rollout ongoing but not yet widespread.
🔒 VPN Reliability
47%
Weight: 20
VPN use is restricted and monitored; some services are blocked or unreliable.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
85%
Weight: 15
Stable electricity supply with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
39%
Weight: 10
Limited public WiFi; mostly available in malls and hotels.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
60%
Weight: 40
Tourist e-visas available; work visas require sponsorship; digital nomad visa not available.
📊 Tax Friendliness
75%
Weight: 30
No personal income tax; some VAT applies to goods and services.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
20%
Weight: 15
Strict regulations on speech and expression; censorship is common.
🏛️ Political Stability
78%
Weight: 20
Stable government with low risk of political unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
42%
Weight: 15
Challenging for foreigners; requires residency and significant documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
50%
Weight: 10
Process improving but still bureaucratic; foreign ownership restrictions apply.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No digital nomad visa or equivalent program available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
27%
Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and cultural restrictions make it challenging for digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
12%
Weight: 25
Very few or no digital nomad-specific events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
29%
Weight: 20
Small online community for Medina-based digital nomads.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
83%
Weight: 100
Very safe city with low crime rates and strong law enforcement.
♀️ Female Friendly
30%
Weight: 50
Conservative gender norms; women face restrictions but improvements ongoing.
✊ Racial Tolerance
50%
Weight: 50
Moderate tolerance; expatriate communities present but some social segregation.