Barcelona vs Bogota vs Buenos Aires vs Cape Town vs Istanbul

Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Population 5,585,556 10,978,360 2,900,000 4,617,560 15,520,000
Official language(s) Catalan, Spanish Spanish Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish
Level of English High Low High Very high Low
Main airport Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST)
Most common months to visit April - June, September - November January - March, December September - December March - May, September - November April - June, September and October
Currency EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺)
Credit cards Accepted almost evewhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places
Remote worker visa Yes No No No No
Average monthly costs $2384 $1097 $1321 $1549 $659
Rent $932 $480 $844 $618 $354
Groceries $121 $82 $98 $129 $44
Dining out $403 $174 $121 $269 $81
Cafe $45 $22 $25 $32 $18
Coworking space $213 $77 $95 $151 $49
Mobile internet $10 $11 $11 $27 $3
Public transportation $127 $23 $9 $55 $6
Taxis $48 $28 $9 $21 $6
Shared bicycles and scooters $24 $17 $14 $49 $2
Sport and cultural events $81 $22 $24 $19 $11
Museums and sights $33 $7 $4 $15 $15
Nightlife $112 $46 $23 $43 $22
Gym $81 $15 $14 $36 $9
Yoga $93 $57 $19 $56 $23
Massage $59 $37 $10 $30 $15
SIM card options Vodafone, Movistar Tigo, Movistar, Claro Movistar, Claro, Personal MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom
Tipping 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars
Taxi apps Cabify, FreeNow Uber, Cabify Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Bolt BiTaksi
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine 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. Latin American. Dishes with beef, pork and chicken are often mixed with flour-based foods and fruity desserts. Heavy influence from the Andes and other Colombian regions. Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options 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
Local food specialities Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight
Eat like a local Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas 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
Vegetarian / vegan options 98 options on HappyCow 104 options on Happy Cow 79 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow