Barcelona vs Bucharest vs Buenos Aires vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Medellin

Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Population 5,585,556 1,830,000 2,900,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 2,427,000
Official language(s) Catalan, Spanish Romanian Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Spanish
Level of English High High High Very high Low Low
Main airport Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE)
Most common months to visit April - June, September - November April - October September - December March - May, September - November April - June, September and October January - April, December
Currency EUR - Euro (€) RON - Romanian Leu (L) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost evewhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted in some places
Remote worker visa Yes No No No No No
Average monthly costs $2384 $1351 $1321 $1549 $659 $1293
Rent $932 $615 $844 $618 $354 $732
Groceries $121 $114 $98 $129 $44 $87
Dining out $403 $165 $121 $269 $81 $131
Cafe $45 $38 $25 $32 $18 $18
Coworking space $213 $133 $95 $151 $49 $96
Mobile internet $10 $7 $11 $27 $3 $16
Public transportation $127 $21 $9 $55 $6 $21
Taxis $48 $9 $9 $21 $6 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $24 $25 $14 $49 $2 $0
Sport and cultural events $81 $29 $24 $19 $11 $8
Museums and sights $33 $29 $4 $15 $15 $9
Nightlife $112 $45 $23 $43 $22 $73
Gym $81 $30 $14 $36 $9 $15
Yoga $93 $59 $19 $56 $23 $54
Massage $59 $31 $10 $30 $15 $20
SIM card options Vodafone, Movistar Vodafone, Orange Movistar, Claro, Personal MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo
Tipping 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 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 Tip 10% in restaurants
Taxi apps Cabify, FreeNow Star Taxi, Uber Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Bolt BiTaksi EasyTaxi
Tap water Drinkable Not 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. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. 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 A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats
Local food specialities Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi 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 Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa
Eat like a local Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias 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 Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food
Vegetarian / vegan options 98 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 79 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow