The Zabel Score: how we rate cities
The Zabel Score is a single number from 0 to 10 that says how well a city works for someone who lives and works remotely there. It is the weighted average of six areas, and every area is scored from verified prices and first-hand experience of Zabelers who actually stayed in the city.
The six areas and their weight
Cost of living
25%Real rent for a central studio, grocery basket, set lunch, monthly transport and coworking. Always measured against the average budget of a Zabeler living alone.
Internet and work
20%Speeds measured in cafes and coworkings, price and stability of home fibre, how many places you can actually work from, and power or network outages.
Nomad community
15%How many Zabelers are around, how often events happen and how easy it is to make friends in your first month.
Safety
15%How it really feels walking at night, common crimes against visitors and nomads, and areas to avoid according to people who lived there.
Weather
15%Comfortable months per year, humidity, air quality and what homes feel like indoors in the worst season.
Paperwork and visa
10%Whether a digital nomad visa exists, real timelines, local bureaucracy and how easy it is to open a bank account or sign a lease.
How the final number is calculated
Each area is scored 0 to 10 with one written justification. The final score is the weighted average, rounded to one decimal: (cost x 0.25) + (internet x 0.20) + (community x 0.15) + (safety x 0.15) + (weather x 0.15) + (paperwork x 0.10).
Our rules
- No price goes in without a date and a source. If we could not verify it, it does not appear.
- Every city guide is reviewed at least twice a year, and the review date is public.
- Experiences are signed by the Zabeler who lived them, with the length of the stay.
- Legal and visa information always links to the official source; ours is only a summary.
- Partner brands never change a score. Sponsorship and scoring are separate.