Barcelona vs Bogota vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Playa del Carmen

Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Bogota 🇨🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Population 5,585,556 10,978,360 4,617,560 15,520,000 259,453
Official language(s) Catalan, Spanish Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Spanish
Level of English High Low Very high Low Moderate
Main airport Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit April - June, September - November January - March, December March - May, September - November April - June, September and October January - May, October - December
Currency EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost evewhere Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $2384 $1097 $1549 $659 $2143
Rent $932 $480 $618 $354 $923
Groceries $121 $82 $129 $44 $127
Dining out $403 $174 $269 $81 $207
Cafe $45 $22 $32 $18 $42
Coworking space $213 $77 $151 $49 $160
Mobile internet $10 $11 $27 $3 $21
Public transportation $127 $23 $55 $6 $17
Taxis $48 $28 $21 $6 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $24 $17 $49 $2 $49
Sport and cultural events $81 $22 $19 $11 $97
Museums and sights $33 $7 $15 $15 $217
Nightlife $112 $46 $43 $22 $77
Gym $81 $15 $36 $9 $42
Yoga $93 $57 $56 $23 $54
Massage $59 $37 $30 $15 $101
SIM card options Vodafone, Movistar Tigo, Movistar, Claro MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar
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 10-15% for restaurants
Taxi apps Cabify, FreeNow Uber, Cabify Uber, Bolt BiTaksi N/A
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 Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices
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 Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole
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 Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's
Vegetarian / vegan options 98 options on HappyCow 104 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow