Bogota vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Madrid vs Mexico City

Bogota 🇨🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Population 10,978,360 4,617,560 15,520,000 6,578,0179 8,850,000
Official language(s) Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Spanish Spanish
Level of English Low Very high Low Moderate Moderate
Main airport El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit January - March, December March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September - November March - May, October, November
Currency COP - Colombian Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $1097 $1549 $659 $2498 $1867
Rent $480 $618 $354 $1174 $778
Groceries $82 $129 $44 $175 $281
Dining out $174 $269 $81 $313 $182
Cafe $22 $32 $18 $51 $49
Coworking space $77 $151 $49 $196 $159
Mobile internet $11 $27 $3 $10 $25
Public transportation $23 $55 $6 $78 $11
Taxis $28 $21 $6 $44 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $2 $49 $24
Sport and cultural events $22 $19 $11 $54 $81
Museums and sights $7 $15 $15 $20 $20
Nightlife $46 $43 $22 $82 $64
Gym $15 $36 $9 $44 $69
Yoga $57 $56 $23 $142 $65
Massage $37 $30 $15 $64 $51
SIM card options Tigo, Movistar, Claro MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 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 Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Uber, Cabify Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine 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 Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
Local food specialities 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 Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas
Eat like a local 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 Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 104 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow