Barcelona vs Bucharest vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Medellin vs Rio de Janeiro vs Seoul

Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 5,585,556 1,830,000 1,166,978 15,520,000 2,427,000 6,718,903 9,963,452
Official language(s) Catalan, Spanish Romanian Thai Turkish Spanish Portuguese Korean
Level of English High High Low Low Low Low Moderate
Main airport Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Galeão International Airport Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit April - June, September - November April - October November - April April - June, September and October January - April, December January - March, December March - May, September - November
Currency EUR - Euro (€) RON - Romanian Leu (L) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
Credit cards Accepted almost evewhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted in some places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No No No No No
Average monthly costs $2384 $1351 $974 $659 $1293 $1833 $2184
Rent $932 $615 $274 $354 $732 $1066 $797
Groceries $121 $114 $169 $44 $87 $95 $356
Dining out $403 $165 $108 $81 $131 $210 $211
Cafe $45 $38 $45 $18 $18 $25 $69
Coworking space $213 $133 $95 $49 $96 $130 $222
Mobile internet $10 $7 $11 $3 $16 $7 $40
Public transportation $127 $21 $60 $6 $21 $33 $40
Taxis $48 $9 $20 $6 $14 $14 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $24 $25 $10 $2 $0 $16 $13
Sport and cultural events $81 $29 $8 $11 $8 $55 $39
Museums and sights $33 $29 $8 $15 $9 $26 $6
Nightlife $112 $45 $62 $22 $73 $54 $93
Gym $81 $30 $41 $9 $15 $31 $69
Yoga $93 $59 $55 $23 $54 $40 $112
Massage $59 $31 $10 $15 $20 $32 $75
SIM card options Vodafone, Movistar Vodafone, Orange AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo Tim, Claro, Vivo KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
Tipping 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 Tip 10% in restaurants 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Cabify, FreeNow Star Taxi, Uber Grab BiTaksi EasyTaxi Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber Uber, Kakao
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not 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. 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 A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common. 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 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 Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros. Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam
Eat like a local 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 Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city. Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 98 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow