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

Bogota 🇨🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Population 10,978,360 4,617,560 15,520,000 6,578,0179 259,453
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) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit January - March, December March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September - November January - May, October - December
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 Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $1097 $1549 $659 $2498 $2143
Rent $480 $618 $354 $1174 $923
Groceries $82 $129 $44 $175 $127
Dining out $174 $269 $81 $313 $207
Cafe $22 $32 $18 $51 $42
Coworking space $77 $151 $49 $196 $160
Mobile internet $11 $27 $3 $10 $21
Public transportation $23 $55 $6 $78 $17
Taxis $28 $21 $6 $44 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $2 $49 $49
Sport and cultural events $22 $19 $11 $54 $97
Museums and sights $7 $15 $15 $20 $217
Nightlife $46 $43 $22 $82 $77
Gym $15 $36 $9 $44 $42
Yoga $57 $56 $23 $142 $54
Massage $37 $30 $15 $64 $101
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
Taxi apps Uber, Cabify Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now N/A
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. Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices
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 Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole
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! Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's
Vegetarian / vegan options 104 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow