Barcelona vs Bogota vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Larnaca

Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Population 5,585,556 10,978,360 4,617,560 15,520,000 144,900
Official language(s) Catalan, Spanish Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Greek
Level of English High Low Very high Low High
Main airport Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA)
Most common months to visit April - June, September - November January - March, December March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, October - December
Currency EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost evewhere Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No No No
Average monthly costs $2384 $1097 $1549 $659 $1959
Rent $932 $480 $618 $354 $678
Groceries $121 $82 $129 $44 $157
Dining out $403 $174 $269 $81 $261
Cafe $45 $22 $32 $18 $56
Coworking space $213 $77 $151 $49 $209
Mobile internet $10 $11 $27 $3 $35
Public transportation $127 $23 $55 $6 $63
Taxis $48 $28 $21 $6 $42
Shared bicycles and scooters $24 $17 $49 $2 $45
Sport and cultural events $81 $22 $19 $11 $28
Museums and sights $33 $7 $15 $15 $8
Nightlife $112 $46 $43 $22 $110
Gym $81 $15 $36 $9 $107
Yoga $93 $57 $56 $23 $105
Massage $59 $37 $30 $15 $54
SIM card options Vodafone, Movistar Tigo, Movistar, Claro MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN
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 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars
Taxi apps Cabify, FreeNow Uber, Cabify Uber, Bolt BiTaksi nTaxi
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. 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 Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well..
Local food specialities Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka
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. 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 Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too.
Vegetarian / vegan options 98 options on HappyCow 104 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available