Berlin vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs Rio de Janeiro vs Seoul

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 3,400,000 15,520,000 6,578,0179 6,718,903 9,963,452
Official language(s) German Turkish Spanish Portuguese Korean
Level of English Very high Low Moderate Low Moderate
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Galeão International Airport Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit May - September April - June, September and October March - May, September - November January - March, December March - May, September - November
Currency EUR - Euro (€) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No Yes No No
Average monthly costs $2200 $659 $2498 $1833 $2184
Rent $939 $354 $1174 $1066 $797
Groceries $188 $44 $175 $95 $356
Dining out $271 $81 $313 $210 $211
Cafe $57 $18 $51 $25 $69
Coworking space $174 $49 $196 $130 $222
Mobile internet $23 $3 $10 $7 $40
Public transportation $88 $6 $78 $33 $40
Taxis $58 $6 $44 $14 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $2 $49 $16 $13
Sport and cultural events $64 $11 $54 $55 $39
Museums and sights $37 $15 $20 $26 $6
Nightlife $63 $22 $82 $54 $93
Gym $66 $9 $44 $31 $69
Yoga $99 $23 $142 $40 $112
Massage $56 $15 $64 $32 $75
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Tim, Claro, Vivo KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
Tipping Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber Uber, Kakao
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread 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, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common. 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 Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros. Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam
Eat like a local Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops 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! The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city. Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow