Bangkok vs Barcelona vs Bucharest vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs Seoul vs Ubud vs Valencia

Bangkok 🇹🇭
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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Ubud 🇮🇩
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Valencia 🇪🇸
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Population 5,680,000 5,585,556 1,830,000 1,166,978 15,520,000 6,578,0179 9,963,452 112,490 834,000
Official language(s) Thai Catalan, Spanish Romanian Thai Turkish Spanish Korean Indonesian and Balinese Spanish, Valencian
Level of English Low High High Low Low Moderate Moderate Low Moderate
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Incheon International Airport (ICN) Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPA) Valencia Manises Airport (VLC)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December April - June, September - November April - October November - April April - June, September and October March - May, September - November March - May, September - November May - October March - June, September, October
Currency THB - Thai Baht (฿) EUR - Euro (€) RON - Romanian Leu (L) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) KRW - South Korean won (₩) IDR - Indonesian Rupiah (Rp) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost evewhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted in some places Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No Yes No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $1560 $2384 $1351 $974 $659 $2498 $2184 $1363 $1976
Rent $616 $932 $615 $274 $354 $1174 $797 $658 $869
Groceries $191 $121 $114 $169 $44 $175 $356 $150 $146
Dining out $168 $403 $165 $108 $81 $313 $211 $10 $292
Cafe $45 $45 $38 $45 $18 $51 $69 $28 $42
Coworking space $127 $213 $133 $95 $49 $196 $222 $106 $152
Mobile internet $23 $10 $7 $11 $3 $10 $40 $3 $16
Public transportation $32 $127 $21 $60 $6 $78 $40 $53 $38
Taxis $19 $48 $9 $20 $6 $44 $41 $13 $42
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $24 $25 $10 $2 $49 $13 $33 $30
Sport and cultural events $46 $81 $29 $8 $11 $54 $39 $14 $73
Museums and sights $21 $33 $29 $8 $15 $20 $6 $9 $44
Nightlife $50 $112 $45 $62 $22 $82 $93 $118 $66
Gym $96 $81 $30 $41 $9 $44 $69 $72 $34
Yoga $98 $93 $59 $55 $23 $142 $112 $87 $87
Massage $11 $59 $31 $10 $15 $64 $75 $10 $45
SIM card options AIS Vodafone, Movistar Vodafone, Orange AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus Telkomsel, XL Axiata 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% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. Not customary or expected Tip 5 - 10% in restaurants if service charge is not included in the bill Round up for good service at restaurants, not common at bars
Taxi apps Grab Cabify, FreeNow Star Taxi, Uber Grab BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Kakao Grab, GoJek 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. Combines salty, sweet, spicy and sour flavors to create bold and colorful dishes. Meals typically include a mixture of meat and seafood dishes, as well as noodles or soups recipes. Strong emphasis on local spices and vegetables. 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. Balinese foods revolve on the complex flavors from certain ingredients like fresh vegetables, meat, coconut milk, and time-tested spices mixture. 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 Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua 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 Satay, nasi goreng, gado-gado, martabak, bubur sumsum 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 Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food 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 Warung for authentic babi guling and bebek betutu, cafes for kopi luwak, street stalls for pisang goreng, nasi campur, and sate lilit 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 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow 255 listings on Happy Cow 98 listings on Happy Cow