Berlin vs Bogota vs Bucharest vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Lisbon

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Population 3,400,000 10,978,360 1,830,000 1,166,978 15,520,000 517,000
Official language(s) German Spanish Romanian Thai Turkish Portuguese
Level of English Very high Low High Low Low Very high
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS)
Most common months to visit May - September January - March, December April - October November - April April - June, September and October March - May, September, October
Currency EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX)
Remote worker visa Yes No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $2200 $1097 $1351 $974 $659 $1984
Rent $939 $480 $615 $274 $354 $965
Groceries $188 $82 $114 $169 $44 $136
Dining out $271 $174 $165 $108 $81 $271
Cafe $57 $22 $38 $45 $18 $37
Coworking space $174 $77 $133 $95 $49 $164
Mobile internet $23 $11 $7 $11 $3 $24
Public transportation $88 $23 $21 $60 $6 $63
Taxis $58 $28 $9 $20 $6 $27
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $17 $25 $10 $2 $18
Sport and cultural events $64 $22 $29 $8 $11 $29
Museums and sights $37 $7 $29 $8 $15 $24
Nightlife $63 $46 $45 $62 $22 $47
Gym $66 $15 $30 $41 $9 $65
Yoga $99 $57 $59 $55 $23 $65
Massage $56 $37 $31 $10 $15 $50
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Tigo, Movistar, Claro Vodafone, Orange AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone
Tipping Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 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, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Uber, Cabify Star Taxi, Uber Grab BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread 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. 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 Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries
Local food specialities Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua 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 Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana
Eat like a local Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. 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 Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 104 options on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow