|
Berlin 🇩🇪
|
Chiang Mai 🇹ðŸ‡
|
Istanbul 🇹🇷
|
Madrid 🇪🇸
|
Mexico City 🇲🇽
|
|
| Population | 3,400,000 | 1,166,978 | 15,520,000 | 6,578,0179 | 8,850,000 |
| Official language(s) | German | Thai | Turkish | Spanish | Spanish |
| Level of English | Very high | Low | Low | Moderate | Moderate |
| Main airport | Berlin Tegel (TXL) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) |
| Most common months to visit | May - September | November - April | April - June, September and October | March - May, September - November | March - May, October, November |
| Currency | EUR - Euro (€) | THB - Thai Baht (฿) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) |
| Credit cards | Accepted in some places but cash often preferred | Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) |
| Remote worker visa | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $2200 | $974 | $659 | $2498 | $1867 |
| Rent | $939 | $274 | $354 | $1174 | $778 |
| Groceries | $188 | $169 | $44 | $175 | $281 |
| Dining out | $271 | $108 | $81 | $313 | $182 |
| Cafe | $57 | $45 | $18 | $51 | $49 |
| Coworking space | $174 | $95 | $49 | $196 | $159 |
| Mobile internet | $23 | $11 | $3 | $10 | $25 |
| Public transportation | $88 | $60 | $6 | $78 | $11 |
| Taxis | $58 | $20 | $6 | $44 | $9 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $17 | $10 | $2 | $49 | $24 |
| Sport and cultural events | $64 | $8 | $11 | $54 | $81 |
| Museums and sights | $37 | $8 | $15 | $20 | $20 |
| Nightlife | $63 | $62 | $22 | $82 | $64 |
| Gym | $66 | $41 | $9 | $44 | $69 |
| Yoga | $99 | $55 | $23 | $142 | $65 |
| Massage | $56 | $10 | $15 | $64 | $51 |
| SIM card options | Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone | AIS, DTAC | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar |
| Tipping | Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services | 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. | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services |
| Taxi apps | Mytaxi, Uber | Grab | BiTaksi | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | Uber |
| Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable |
| Overall cuisine | Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread | 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. | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese |
| Local food specialities | Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels | 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 | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas |
| Eat like a local | Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops | 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! | Markets, food stalls, menú del dÃa (cheap set lunch menus) |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 844 listings on Happy Cow | 90 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow |