Bangkok 🇹ðŸ‡
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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Population | 5,680,000 | 5,585,556 | 15,520,000 | 6,578,0179 | 2,427,000 |
Official language(s) | Thai | Catalan, Spanish | Turkish | Spanish | Spanish |
Level of English | Low | High | Low | Moderate | Low |
Main airport | Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | José MarÃa Córdova International Airport (MDE) |
Most common months to visit | January - March, November, December | April - June, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, September - November | January - April, December |
Currency | THB - Thai Baht (฿) | EUR - Euro (€) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted in some places |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $1560 | $2384 | $659 | $2498 | $1293 |
Rent | $616 | $932 | $354 | $1174 | $732 |
Groceries | $191 | $121 | $44 | $175 | $87 |
Dining out | $168 | $403 | $81 | $313 | $131 |
Cafe | $45 | $45 | $18 | $51 | $18 |
Coworking space | $127 | $213 | $49 | $196 | $96 |
Mobile internet | $23 | $10 | $3 | $10 | $16 |
Public transportation | $32 | $127 | $6 | $78 | $21 |
Taxis | $19 | $48 | $6 | $44 | $14 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $17 | $24 | $2 | $49 | $0 |
Sport and cultural events | $46 | $81 | $11 | $54 | $8 |
Museums and sights | $21 | $33 | $15 | $20 | $9 |
Nightlife | $50 | $112 | $22 | $82 | $73 |
Gym | $96 | $81 | $9 | $44 | $15 |
Yoga | $98 | $93 | $23 | $142 | $54 |
Massage | $11 | $59 | $15 | $64 | $20 |
SIM card options | AIS | Vodafone, Movistar | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Claro, Tigo |
Tipping | 10% for restaurants, bars and services | 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | Tip 10% in restaurants |
Taxi apps | Grab | Cabify, FreeNow | BiTaksi | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | EasyTaxi |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not 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. | 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. | A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, 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 | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros | Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa |
Eat like a local | Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants | Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots | 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! | Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 416 listings on Happy Cow | 98 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 153 listings on Happy Cow |