Bangkok vs Barcelona vs Bucharest vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs Seoul vs Sofia vs Valencia

Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Valencia 🇪🇸
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Population 5,680,000 5,585,556 1,830,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 6,578,0179 9,963,452 1,270,169 834,000
Official language(s) Thai Catalan, Spanish Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Spanish Korean Bulgarian Spanish, Valencian
Level of English Low High High Very high Low Moderate Moderate High Moderate
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Incheon International Airport (ICN) Sofia International Airport (SOF) Valencia Manises Airport (VLC)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December April - June, September - November April - October March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September - November March - May, September - November April-June, September-October March - June, September, October
Currency THB - Thai Baht (฿) EUR - Euro (€) RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) KRW - South Korean won (₩) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost evewhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No Yes No No Yes
Average monthly costs $1560 $2384 $1351 $1549 $659 $2498 $2184 $1289 $1976
Rent $616 $932 $615 $618 $354 $1174 $797 $567 $869
Groceries $191 $121 $114 $129 $44 $175 $356 $10 $146
Dining out $168 $403 $165 $269 $81 $313 $211 $227 $292
Cafe $45 $45 $38 $32 $18 $51 $69 $27 $42
Coworking space $127 $213 $133 $151 $49 $196 $222 $140 $152
Mobile internet $23 $10 $7 $27 $3 $10 $40 $10 $16
Public transportation $32 $127 $21 $55 $6 $78 $40 $30 $38
Taxis $19 $48 $9 $21 $6 $44 $41 $12 $42
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $24 $25 $49 $2 $49 $13 $40 $30
Sport and cultural events $46 $81 $29 $19 $11 $54 $39 $18 $73
Museums and sights $21 $33 $29 $15 $15 $20 $6 $12 $44
Nightlife $50 $112 $45 $43 $22 $82 $93 $82 $66
Gym $96 $81 $30 $36 $9 $44 $69 $23 $34
Yoga $98 $93 $59 $56 $23 $142 $112 $62 $87
Massage $11 $59 $31 $30 $15 $64 $75 $29 $45
SIM card options AIS Vodafone, Movistar Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus A1, Telenor, Vivacom Vodafone, Orange
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. Not customary or expected 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés Round up for good service at restaurants, not common at bars
Taxi apps Grab Cabify, FreeNow Star Taxi, Uber Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Kakao TaxiMe, TaxiStars Cabify, FreeNow
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. South African cuisine has been shaped by a long history of Dutch, Malay, British and Indian settlements, making the food diverse and strong in flavor. There is a strong emphasis on game in all of its different forms, as well as spicy sauces and sautéed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. Vegetables and mild spices are often mixed with dairy products to create rich chicken and pork products. Seafood dishes also popular in some regions of the country, making them popular in the capital. Mediterranean style using vegetables, seafoods and meats
Local food specialities Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator Paella, fideuà, esgarrat, orxata, bunyols
Eat like a local Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. Tapas bars, markets, menu del dia (cheap set lunches)
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 98 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow 98 listings on Happy Cow