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 dÃa. 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 |