Berlin vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Mexico City vs Rio de Janeiro vs Seoul

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 3,400,000 1,166,978 15,520,000 8,850,000 6,718,903 9,963,452
Official language(s) German Thai Turkish Spanish Portuguese Korean
Level of English Very high Low Low Moderate Low Moderate
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Galeão International Airport Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit May - September November - April April - June, September and October March - May, October, November January - March, December March - May, September - November
Currency EUR - Euro (€) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No Yes No No
Average monthly costs $2200 $974 $659 $1867 $1833 $2184
Rent $939 $274 $354 $778 $1066 $797
Groceries $188 $169 $44 $281 $95 $356
Dining out $271 $108 $81 $182 $210 $211
Cafe $57 $45 $18 $49 $25 $69
Coworking space $174 $95 $49 $159 $130 $222
Mobile internet $23 $11 $3 $25 $7 $40
Public transportation $88 $60 $6 $11 $33 $40
Taxis $58 $20 $6 $9 $14 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $10 $2 $24 $16 $13
Sport and cultural events $64 $8 $11 $81 $55 $39
Museums and sights $37 $8 $15 $20 $26 $6
Nightlife $63 $62 $22 $64 $54 $93
Gym $66 $41 $9 $69 $31 $69
Yoga $99 $55 $23 $65 $40 $112
Massage $56 $10 $15 $51 $32 $75
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar Tim, Claro, Vivo KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
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 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Grab BiTaksi Uber Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber Uber, Kakao
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 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 Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese 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 Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas 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 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 Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) 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 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow