Hama vs Riyadh

Side-by-side comparison for digital nomads

Hama 24% cheaper Riyadh +148 Mbps N/A / High
Nomad Cost

$1,998

Hama

$2,618

Riyadh

Internet

3

Mbps

151

Mbps

Safety

N/A

Hama

High

Riyadh

Air Quality

5/5

Hama

5/5

Riyadh

Healthcare

N/A

Hama

Moderate

Riyadh

Population

854.0k

Hama

6.7m

Riyadh

Hama (Syria) and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) are both in Middle East, offering different takes on the nomad lifestyle. Here is how they compare across the metrics that matter most.

Cost of Living

Hama is significantly cheaper for digital nomads at $1998/mo — 24% less than Riyadh's $2618/mo. Over 12 months, the difference adds up to $7440.

For families, Hama costs $1359.35/mo compared to Riyadh's $4009.475339534334/mo.

Internet & Infrastructure

Riyadh leads on internet connectivity at 151 Mbps (ranked #59 globally) versus Hama's 3 Mbps (#0). The speed gap is notable for video-heavy remote work.

Quality of Life

Both Hama and Riyadh share the same safety rating — travelers can feel equally comfortable in either city.

Healthcare quality is rated similarly in both Hama and Riyadh.

Monthly Weather Comparison

The best time to visit Hama is June (around 31 degrees, 0mm rain, score 345), while Riyadh peaks in March (25 degrees, 0mm rain, score 425). Timing your stay around these months can make a big difference in your experience.

Cost of Living

HamaRiyadh
Nomad$1,998/mo$2,618/mo
Expat$714/mo$1,769/mo
Local$388/mo$1,146/mo
Family$1,359/mo$4,009/mo

Internet & Infrastructure

HamaRiyadh
City Speed
3 Mbps
151 Mbps#59
Country Speed3 Mbps121 Mbps

Environment & Health

HamaRiyadh
Air Quality Score5/55/5
PollutionN/AHigh
ClimateN/AModerate
Humidity3927

Quality of Life

HamaRiyadh
SafetyN/AHigh
HealthcareN/AModerate

Monthly Weather Comparison

Hama
Riyadh
Jan
9°
7mm8
20°
0mm405
Feb
10°
1mm233
19°
0mm405
Mar
11°
2mm202
25°
0mm425
Apr
21°
0mm325
30°
0mm405
May
20°
1mm253
37°
0mm365
Jun
31°
0mm345
41°
0mm365
Jul
30°
0mm345
41°
0mm365
Aug
29°
0mm345
41°
0mm365
Sep
26°
0mm321
39°
0mm365
Oct
20°
0mm325
34°
0mm385
Nov
16°
0mm292
28°
0mm425
Dec
10°
0mm290
19°
0mm405

Who Should Choose Hama?

  • Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
  • Family-friendly at $1359.35/mo for families
  • Peak season in June — 31 degrees, score 345

Who Should Choose Riyadh?

  • Excellent for video calls and large uploads with 151 Mbps
  • High safety rating for peace of mind
  • Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
  • Major city energy with 6.7m residents
  • Peak season in March — 25 degrees, score 425

Overall Verdict

Overall, Riyadh edges ahead for most digital nomads — at $2618/mo it runs 24% cheaper than Hama's $1998/mo, with 151 Mbps internet for reliable remote work.

Granular Price Comparison

Hama Riyadh
ItemHamaRiyadhDiff
🍽️Restaurants8 items
Meal, inexpensive restaurant—$6.65
—
Meal for 2, mid-range (3-course)—$53.21
—
McMeal or equivalent combo—$6.92
—
Cappuccino (regular)—$3.84
—
Domestic beer (0.5L draught)—$1.6
—
Imported beer (0.33L bottle)—$1.86
—
Coke/Pepsi (0.33L)—$0.78
—
Water (0.33L)—$0.23
—
🛒Markets19 items
Milk (1L)—$1.82
—
White bread (500g)—$0.85
—
White rice (1kg)—$2.23
—
Eggs (12)—$2.74
—
Chicken fillets (1kg)—$7.37
—
Beef round (1kg)—$12.2
—
Local cheese (1kg)—$6.78
—
Apples (1kg)—$2.13
—
Bananas (1kg)—$1.68
—
Oranges (1kg)—$1.62
—
Tomatoes (1kg)—$1.99
—
Potatoes (1kg)—$1.3
—
Onions (1kg)—$1.17
—
Lettuce (1 head)—$1.01
—
Water (1.5L bottle)—$0.61
—
Wine, mid-range bottle—$5.32
—
Domestic beer (0.5L bottle)—$1.98
—
Imported beer (0.33L bottle)—$1.84
—
Cigarettes (pack of 20)—$7.45
—
🚌Transport8 items
One-way local transport ticket—$1.06
—
Monthly transport pass—$31.92
—
Taxi start (normal tariff)—$3.99
—
Taxi per 1km—$1.33
—
Taxi 1hr waiting—$13.3
—
Gasoline (1L)—$0.61
—
Volkswagen Golf (new)—$23,943.26
—
Toyota Corolla (new)—$20,843.94
—
⚡Utilities3 items
Utilities, 85m² apartment/mo—$92.83
—
Internet 60+ Mbps/mo—$72.34
—
Mobile prepaid per minute—$0.15
—
🏋️Sport & Leisure3 items
Fitness club, monthly—$96.34
—
Tennis court rent (1hr weekend)—$47.22
—
Cinema, 1 ticket—$17.29
—
👶Childcare2 items
Preschool, full-day private/mo—$405.61
—
International primary school/yr—$6,814.2
—
👗Clothing4 items
Jeans (Levi's 501 or similar)—$45.85
—
Summer dress (chain store)—$61.56
—
Nike running shoes (mid-range)—$107.63
—
Men's leather business shoes—$93.46
—
🏠Rent4 items
1-bedroom apartment, city centre—$752.98
—
1-bedroom apartment, outside centre—$486.4
—
3-bedroom apartment, city centre—$1,005.01
—
3-bedroom apartment, outside centre—$761.16
—
🏗️Buy2 items
Price per m², city centre—$1,758.36
—
Price per m², outside centre—$1,185.43
—
💰Finance2 items
Average monthly net salary—$2,215.89
—
Mortgage interest rate (20yr fixed)—$4
—

Lower is better for all cost items.

Data from Open-Meteo (weather) and global internet speed rankings. Updated monthly.

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