Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population | 5,585,556 | 10,978,360 | 1,830,000 | 2,900,000 | 4,617,560 | 8,053,663 | 6,578,0179 | 259,453 | 9,963,452 |
Official language(s) | Catalan, Spanish | Spanish | Romanian | Spanish | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Vietnamese | Spanish | Spanish | Korean |
Level of English | High | Low | High | High | Very high | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
Main airport | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | El Dorado International Airport (BOG) | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Ná»™i BÃ i International Airport (HAN) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) |
Most common months to visit | April - June, September - November | January - March, December | April - October | September - December | March - May, September - November | January, February, October - December | March - May, September - November | January - May, October - December | March - May, September - November |
Currency | EUR - Euro (€) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | ARS - Argentine Peso ($) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) | EUR - Euro (€) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | KRW - South Korean won (₩) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $2384 | $1097 | $1351 | $1321 | $1549 | $1167 | $2498 | $2143 | $2184 |
Rent | $932 | $480 | $615 | $844 | $618 | $503 | $1174 | $923 | $797 |
Groceries | $121 | $82 | $114 | $98 | $129 | $151 | $175 | $127 | $356 |
Dining out | $403 | $174 | $165 | $121 | $269 | $134 | $313 | $207 | $211 |
Cafe | $45 | $22 | $38 | $25 | $32 | $39 | $51 | $42 | $69 |
Coworking space | $213 | $77 | $133 | $95 | $151 | $72 | $196 | $160 | $222 |
Mobile internet | $10 | $11 | $7 | $11 | $27 | $4 | $10 | $21 | $40 |
Public transportation | $127 | $23 | $21 | $9 | $55 | $20 | $78 | $17 | $40 |
Taxis | $48 | $28 | $9 | $9 | $21 | $13 | $44 | $9 | $41 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $24 | $17 | $25 | $14 | $49 | $0 | $49 | $49 | $13 |
Sport and cultural events | $81 | $22 | $29 | $24 | $19 | $3 | $54 | $97 | $39 |
Museums and sights | $33 | $7 | $29 | $4 | $15 | $4 | $20 | $217 | $6 |
Nightlife | $112 | $46 | $45 | $23 | $43 | $89 | $82 | $77 | $93 |
Gym | $81 | $15 | $30 | $14 | $36 | $57 | $44 | $42 | $69 |
Yoga | $93 | $57 | $59 | $19 | $56 | $57 | $142 | $54 | $112 |
Massage | $59 | $37 | $31 | $10 | $30 | $21 | $64 | $101 | $75 |
SIM card options | Vodafone, Movistar | Tigo, Movistar, Claro | Vodafone, Orange | Movistar, Claro, Personal | MTN, Vodacom | Viettel, Mobifone | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus |
Tipping | 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere | 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service | 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis | 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10-15% for restaurants | Not customary or expected |
Taxi apps | Cabify, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify | Star Taxi, Uber | Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) | Uber, Bolt | Grab, GoViet | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | N/A | Uber, Kakao |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | 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. | Latin American. Dishes with beef, pork and chicken are often mixed with flour-based foods and fruity desserts. Heavy influence from the Andes and other Colombian regions. | Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. | Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options | 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 mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices | Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. |
Local food specialities | Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo | Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua | Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi | Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole | Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam |
Eat like a local | Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots | Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del dÃa. Community markets and sports bars. | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street 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! | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 98 options on HappyCow | 104 options on Happy Cow | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 79 options on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 104 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow | 57 options on Happy Cow |