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

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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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 3,400,000 2,900,000 1,166,978 15,520,000 6,578,0179 1,270,169
Official language(s) German Spanish Thai Turkish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Very high High Low Low Moderate High
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit May - September September - December November - April April - June, September and October March - May, September - November April-June, September-October
Currency EUR - Euro (€) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
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 $1289
Rent $939 $844 $274 $354 $1174 $567
Groceries $188 $98 $169 $44 $175 $10
Dining out $271 $121 $108 $81 $313 $227
Cafe $57 $25 $45 $18 $51 $27
Coworking space $174 $95 $95 $49 $196 $140
Mobile internet $23 $11 $11 $3 $10 $10
Public transportation $88 $9 $60 $6 $78 $30
Taxis $58 $9 $20 $6 $44 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $14 $10 $2 $49 $40
Sport and cultural events $64 $24 $8 $11 $54 $18
Museums and sights $37 $4 $8 $15 $20 $12
Nightlife $63 $23 $62 $22 $82 $82
Gym $66 $14 $41 $9 $44 $23
Yoga $99 $19 $55 $23 $142 $62
Massage $56 $10 $10 $15 $64 $29
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Movistar, Claro, Personal AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone A1, Telenor, Vivacom
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. 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Grab BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not 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. Vegetables and mild spices are often mixed with dairy products to create rich chicken and pork products. Seafood dishes also popular in some regions of the country, making them popular in the capital.
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 Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
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! Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
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 20 options on HappyCow