Barcelona ๐ช๐ธ
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Chiang Mai ๐น๐ญ
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Hanoi ๐ป๐ณ
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Istanbul ๐น๐ท
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Mexico City ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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Playa del Carmen ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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Seoul ๐ฐ๐ท
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Population | 5,585,556 | 1,166,978 | 8,053,663 | 15,520,000 | 8,850,000 | 259,453 | 9,963,452 |
Official language(s) | Catalan, Spanish | Thai | Vietnamese | Turkish | Spanish | Spanish | Korean |
Level of English | High | Low | Moderate | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
Main airport | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) | Nแปi Bร i International Airport (HAN) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) |
Most common months to visit | April - June, September - November | November - April | January, February, October - December | April - June, September and October | March - May, October, November | January - May, October - December | March - May, September - November |
Currency | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | VND - Vietnamese Dong (โซ) | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | KRW - South Korean won (โฉ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. | Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. | Accepted in most places | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $2384 | $974 | $1167 | $659 | $1867 | $2143 | $2184 |
Rent | $932 | $274 | $503 | $354 | $778 | $923 | $797 |
Groceries | $121 | $169 | $151 | $44 | $281 | $127 | $356 |
Dining out | $403 | $108 | $134 | $81 | $182 | $207 | $211 |
Cafe | $45 | $45 | $39 | $18 | $49 | $42 | $69 |
Coworking space | $213 | $95 | $72 | $49 | $159 | $160 | $222 |
Mobile internet | $10 | $11 | $4 | $3 | $25 | $21 | $40 |
Public transportation | $127 | $60 | $20 | $6 | $11 | $17 | $40 |
Taxis | $48 | $20 | $13 | $6 | $9 | $9 | $41 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $24 | $10 | $0 | $2 | $24 | $49 | $13 |
Sport and cultural events | $81 | $8 | $3 | $11 | $81 | $97 | $39 |
Museums and sights | $33 | $8 | $4 | $15 | $20 | $217 | $6 |
Nightlife | $112 | $62 | $89 | $22 | $64 | $77 | $93 |
Gym | $81 | $41 | $57 | $9 | $69 | $42 | $69 |
Yoga | $93 | $55 | $57 | $23 | $65 | $54 | $112 |
Massage | $59 | $10 | $21 | $15 | $51 | $101 | $75 |
SIM card options | Vodafone, Movistar | AIS, DTAC | Viettel, Mobifone | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Telcel, Movistar | Telcel, Movistar | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus |
Tipping | 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere | 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere | Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 10-15% for restaurants | Not customary or expected |
Taxi apps | Cabify, FreeNow | Grab | Grab, GoViet | BiTaksi | Uber | N/A | 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. | 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 mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese | 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 tomรกquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo | Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua | Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | 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 | Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food | Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) | 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 | 90 options on HappyCow | 104 listings on Happy Cow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow | 57 options on Happy Cow |