Berlin vs Bucharest vs Budapest vs Istanbul vs Seoul

Berlin 🇩🇪
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 3,400,000 1,830,000 1,768,073 15,520,000 9,963,452
Official language(s) German Romanian Hungarian Turkish Korean
Level of English Very high High High Low Moderate
Main airport Berlin Tegel (TXL) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit May - September April - October March - June, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September - November
Currency EUR - Euro (€) RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
Credit cards Accepted in some places but cash often preferred Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No No No
Average monthly costs $2200 $1351 $1230 $659 $2184
Rent $939 $615 $499 $354 $797
Groceries $188 $114 $108 $44 $356
Dining out $271 $165 $202 $81 $211
Cafe $57 $38 $29 $18 $69
Coworking space $174 $133 $120 $49 $222
Mobile internet $23 $7 $9 $3 $40
Public transportation $88 $21 $36 $6 $40
Taxis $58 $9 $27 $6 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $25 $13 $2 $13
Sport and cultural events $64 $29 $24 $11 $39
Museums and sights $37 $29 $7 $15 $6
Nightlife $63 $45 $43 $22 $93
Gym $66 $30 $37 $9 $69
Yoga $99 $59 $48 $23 $112
Massage $56 $31 $26 $15 $75
SIM card options Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
Tipping Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Mytaxi, Uber Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi Uber, Kakao
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich desserts. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish 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 Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam
Eat like a local Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 844 listings on Happy Cow 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow