Berlin vs Istanbul vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Playa del Carmen vs Seoul

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 3,400,000 15,520,000 517,000 6,578,0179 259,453 9,963,452
Official language(s) German Turkish Portuguese Spanish Spanish Korean
Level of English Very high Low Very high Moderate Moderate Moderate
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit May - September April - June, September and October March - May, September, October March - May, September - November January - May, October - December March - May, September - November
Currency EUR - Euro (€) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No Yes Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $2200 $659 $1984 $2498 $2143 $2184
Rent $939 $354 $965 $1174 $923 $797
Groceries $188 $44 $136 $175 $127 $356
Dining out $271 $81 $271 $313 $207 $211
Cafe $57 $18 $37 $51 $42 $69
Coworking space $174 $49 $164 $196 $160 $222
Mobile internet $23 $3 $24 $10 $21 $40
Public transportation $88 $6 $63 $78 $17 $40
Taxis $58 $6 $27 $44 $9 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $2 $18 $49 $49 $13
Sport and cultural events $64 $11 $29 $54 $97 $39
Museums and sights $37 $15 $24 $20 $217 $6
Nightlife $63 $22 $47 $82 $77 $93
Gym $66 $9 $65 $44 $42 $69
Yoga $99 $23 $65 $142 $54 $112
Massage $56 $15 $50 $64 $101 $75
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
Tipping Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10-15% for restaurants Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now N/A Uber, Kakao
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable 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 seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices 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 Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole 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 Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants 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! Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow