|
Barcelona ๐ช๐ธ
|
Berlin ๐ฉ๐ช
|
Bucharest ๐ท๐ด
|
Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
|
Chiang Mai ๐น๐ญ
|
Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
|
|
| Population | 5,585,556 | 3,400,000 | 1,830,000 | 4,617,560 | 1,166,978 | 6,578,0179 |
| Official language(s) | Catalan, Spanish | German | Romanian | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Thai | Spanish |
| Level of English | High | Very high | High | Very high | Low | Moderate |
| Main airport | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Berlin Tegel (TXL) | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) |
| Most common months to visit | April - June, September - November | May - September | April - October | March - May, September - November | November - April | March - May, September - November |
| Currency | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted in some places but cash often preferred | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $2384 | $2200 | $1351 | $1549 | $974 | $2498 |
| Rent | $932 | $939 | $615 | $618 | $274 | $1174 |
| Groceries | $121 | $188 | $114 | $129 | $169 | $175 |
| Dining out | $403 | $271 | $165 | $269 | $108 | $313 |
| Cafe | $45 | $57 | $38 | $32 | $45 | $51 |
| Coworking space | $213 | $174 | $133 | $151 | $95 | $196 |
| Mobile internet | $10 | $23 | $7 | $27 | $11 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $127 | $88 | $21 | $55 | $60 | $78 |
| Taxis | $48 | $58 | $9 | $21 | $20 | $44 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $24 | $17 | $25 | $49 | $10 | $49 |
| Sport and cultural events | $81 | $64 | $29 | $19 | $8 | $54 |
| Museums and sights | $33 | $37 | $29 | $15 | $8 | $20 |
| Nightlife | $112 | $63 | $45 | $43 | $62 | $82 |
| Gym | $81 | $66 | $30 | $36 | $41 | $44 |
| Yoga | $93 | $99 | $59 | $56 | $55 | $142 |
| Massage | $59 | $56 | $31 | $30 | $10 | $64 |
| SIM card options | Vodafone, Movistar | Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone | Vodafone, Orange | MTN, Vodacom | AIS, DTAC | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone |
| Tipping | 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere | Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services | 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 | 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. |
| Taxi apps | Cabify, FreeNow | Mytaxi, Uber | Star Taxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | Grab | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now |
| Tap water | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable |
| Overall cuisine | 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. | Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread | 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 sautรฉed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. | 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. | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. |
| Local food specialities | Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomรกquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo | Currywurst, spรคtzle, kรถnigsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels | Sarmale, mฤmฤligฤ, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbฤ de burtฤ, covrig, papanasi | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros |
| Eat like a local | Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots | Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food | 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! |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 98 options on HappyCow | 844 listings on Happy Cow | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 90 options on HappyCow | 85 listings on Happy Cow |