Berlin vs Buenos Aires vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs Seoul

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 3,400,000 2,900,000 1,166,978 15,520,000 6,578,0179 9,963,452
Official language(s) German Spanish Thai Turkish Spanish Korean
Level of English Very high High Low Low Moderate Moderate
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit May - September September - December November - April April - June, September and October March - May, September - November March - May, September - November
Currency EUR - Euro (€) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $2200 $1321 $974 $659 $2498 $2184
Rent $939 $844 $274 $354 $1174 $797
Groceries $188 $98 $169 $44 $175 $356
Dining out $271 $121 $108 $81 $313 $211
Cafe $57 $25 $45 $18 $51 $69
Coworking space $174 $95 $95 $49 $196 $222
Mobile internet $23 $11 $11 $3 $10 $40
Public transportation $88 $9 $60 $6 $78 $40
Taxis $58 $9 $20 $6 $44 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $14 $10 $2 $49 $13
Sport and cultural events $64 $24 $8 $11 $54 $39
Museums and sights $37 $4 $8 $15 $20 $6
Nightlife $63 $23 $62 $22 $82 $93
Gym $66 $14 $41 $9 $44 $69
Yoga $99 $19 $55 $23 $142 $112
Massage $56 $10 $10 $15 $64 $75
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Movistar, Claro, Personal AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
Tipping Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Grab BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber, Kakao
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options 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, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture.
Local food specialities Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam
Eat like a local Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas 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 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! Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 79 options on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow