Bangkok vs Barcelona vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Medellin

Bangkok 🇹🇭
Remove
Barcelona 🇪🇸
Remove
Cape Town 🇿🇦
Remove
Istanbul 🇹🇷
Remove
Medellin 🇨🇴
Remove
Population 5,680,000 5,585,556 4,617,560 15,520,000 2,427,000
Official language(s) Thai Catalan, Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Spanish
Level of English Low High Very high Low Low
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December April - June, September - November March - May, September - November April - June, September and October January - April, December
Currency THB - Thai Baht (฿) EUR - Euro (€) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost evewhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted in some places
Remote worker visa No Yes No No No
Average monthly costs $1560 $2384 $1549 $659 $1293
Rent $616 $932 $618 $354 $732
Groceries $191 $121 $129 $44 $87
Dining out $168 $403 $269 $81 $131
Cafe $45 $45 $32 $18 $18
Coworking space $127 $213 $151 $49 $96
Mobile internet $23 $10 $27 $3 $16
Public transportation $32 $127 $55 $6 $21
Taxis $19 $48 $21 $6 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $24 $49 $2 $0
Sport and cultural events $46 $81 $19 $11 $8
Museums and sights $21 $33 $15 $15 $9
Nightlife $50 $112 $43 $22 $73
Gym $96 $81 $36 $9 $15
Yoga $98 $93 $56 $23 $54
Massage $11 $59 $30 $15 $20
SIM card options AIS Vodafone, Movistar MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Tip 10% in restaurants
Taxi apps Grab Cabify, FreeNow Uber, Bolt BiTaksi EasyTaxi
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. South African cuisine has been shaped by a long history of Dutch, Malay, British and Indian settlements, making the food diverse and strong in flavor. There is a strong emphasis on game in all of its different forms, as well as spicy sauces and sautéed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats
Local food specialities Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa
Eat like a local Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 98 options on HappyCow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow