Mbabane, Eswatini 🇸🇿
#1065
,
Nomad Score:
50%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Generally affordable compared to global standards, with lower costs for daily expenses but slightly higher than rural Eswatini.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
68%
Weight: 80
Moderate prices for rental apartments and guesthouses, with limited options for high-end or serviced apartments.
🍎 Food & Groceries
75%
Weight: 40
Local markets and supermarkets offer affordable fresh produce; imported goods can be pricier.
🚌 Transportation Cost
79%
Weight: 20
Public transport and taxis are inexpensive, though options are limited and informal.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
60%
Weight: 15
Limited entertainment venues; costs are generally low but options are sparse.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
52%
Weight: 10
Few gyms available, membership fees are moderate but facilities may lack modern equipment.
💱 Currency Stability
67%
Weight: 30
The Swazi lilangeni is pegged to the South African rand, providing moderate stability.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
43%
Weight: 100
Internet is available but speeds are often slow and inconsistent, especially outside central areas.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
21%
Weight: 40
Very limited coworking spaces; most digital nomads rely on cafes or home setups.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
35%
Weight: 30
Few cafes offer WiFi, and connection quality can be unreliable.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
27%
Weight: 30
Limited number of cafes catering to digital nomads; seating and power outlets are scarce.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
18%
Weight: 100
Mbabane is not a well-known destination for digital nomads, with very low community presence.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
70%
Weight: 25
SIM cards are easy to obtain with reasonable data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
74%
Weight: 30
Relaxed lifestyle with low stress, but limited professional networking opportunities.
🌳 Environmental Quality
78%
Weight: 15
Good air quality and natural surroundings with low pollution levels.
🧼 Cleanliness
62%
Weight: 10
City is moderately clean, though some areas suffer from waste management issues.
🗨️ Language Barrier
70%
Weight: 30
English is widely spoken, reducing language barriers for most digital nomads.
💨 Air Quality
80%
Weight: 15
Generally good air quality due to low industrial activity and abundant greenery.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
55%
Weight: 25
Basic family amenities available but limited international schools and childcare.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
45%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare services available; for specialized care, travel to South Africa is common.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
70%
Weight: 25
Healthcare costs are relatively low but quality varies significantly.
🏥 Healthcare
50%
Weight: 20
Limited advanced medical facilities; adequate for minor issues but not for serious conditions.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
79%
Weight: 80
Subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters; generally pleasant year-round.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
85%
Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes or hurricanes.
🏞️ Green Spaces
76%
Weight: 10
Several parks and natural reserves nearby, offering good access to nature.
❄️ Air Conditioning
54%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is not widespread; many buildings rely on fans or natural ventilation.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
58%
Weight: 10
Mild seasonal changes with distinct wet and dry seasons but limited temperature variation.
🔊 Noise Pollution
68%
Weight: 10
Generally low noise pollution outside main roads and markets.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
73%
Weight: 20
Rich Swazi cultural heritage with traditional events and crafts accessible to visitors.
🌃 Nightlife
30%
Weight: 15
Nightlife is limited with few bars and clubs; mostly low-key social venues.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
82%
Weight: 15
Excellent access to hiking, wildlife reserves, and scenic landscapes.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
40%
Weight: 10
Limited formal language schools; opportunities mainly through informal community interactions.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
65%
Weight: 10
Some cultural tours and nature excursions available, though not widely commercialized.
🎳 Indoors Fun
38%
Weight: 10
Few indoor entertainment options such as cinemas or museums.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
59%
Weight: 25
Local cuisine is flavorful but limited variety; international options are scarce.
🧠 Yoga Studios
23%
Weight: 10
Very few yoga studios or wellness centers in the city.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
40%
Weight: 15
Limited gyms and fitness centers with basic equipment.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
55%
Weight: 15
Fresh produce is available, but healthy prepared food options are limited.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
67%
Weight: 20
UTC+2 timezone is convenient for European and African clients but less so for Americas or Asia.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
20%
Weight: 25
Minimal professional networking events or communities for digital nomads.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
35%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most opportunities come from international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
28%
Weight: 20
Limited local freelance infrastructure or platforms.
🏢 Coworking Quality
15%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces exist and those that do are basic with limited amenities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
22%
Weight: 15
Emerging but very small startup ecosystem with limited funding and support.
💳 Local Payment Services
45%
Weight: 10
Mobile money and banking services exist but are less developed than in larger African hubs.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
30%
Weight: 15
Low adoption and awareness of blockchain and cryptocurrencies.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
40%
Weight: 30
Mbabane airport has limited international flights; most travelers connect via Johannesburg.
🚇 Public Transit
32%
Weight: 20
Public transport is informal and unreliable; no formal bus or train systems.
🚶 Walkability
50%
Weight: 20
City center is moderately walkable but infrastructure is basic.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
25%
Weight: 15
Ride-sharing apps are not widely available; taxis dominate.
🚲 Cycling
30%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure and safety concerns.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
40%
Weight: 15
Bus and minibus taxis connect to other towns but services are irregular.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
10%
Weight: 10
No formal scooter or bike rental services.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
65%
Weight: 20
Good mobile coverage in urban areas; rural coverage is spotty.
🔒 VPN Reliability
55%
Weight: 20
VPNs generally work but occasional connectivity issues occur.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
50%
Weight: 15
Frequent power outages and load shedding affect reliability.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
20%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is scarce and often insecure or slow.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
60%
Weight: 40
Tourist visas are relatively easy to obtain for many nationalities; no specific digital nomad visa.
📊 Tax Friendliness
40%
Weight: 30
Tax system is moderate but lacks incentives for remote workers.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
65%
Weight: 15
Generally respected but some restrictions exist in practice.
🏛️ Political Stability
60%
Weight: 20
Relatively stable but with occasional political tensions.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
45%
Weight: 15
Banking procedures can be bureaucratic and require local documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
38%
Weight: 10
Business registration is possible but process is slow and paperwork heavy.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No digital nomad visa or similar programs 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 organized digital nomad events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
20%
Weight: 20
Minimal online presence or forums dedicated to Mbabane digital nomads.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
55%
Weight: 100
Moderate safety; petty crime exists but violent crime is less common.
♀️ Female Friendly
50%
Weight: 50
Generally safe for women but cultural norms may require caution.
✊ Racial Tolerance
60%
Weight: 50
Relatively tolerant society with diverse ethnic groups.