Bucharest vs Buenos Aires vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Medellin vs Mexico City

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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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Population 1,830,000 2,900,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 2,427,000 8,850,000
Official language(s) Romanian Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Spanish Spanish
Level of English High High Very high Low Low Moderate
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit April - October September - December March - May, September - November April - June, September and October January - April, December March - May, October, November
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards 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 Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $1351 $1321 $1549 $659 $1293 $1867
Rent $615 $844 $618 $354 $732 $778
Groceries $114 $98 $129 $44 $87 $281
Dining out $165 $121 $269 $81 $131 $182
Cafe $38 $25 $32 $18 $18 $49
Coworking space $133 $95 $151 $49 $96 $159
Mobile internet $7 $11 $27 $3 $16 $25
Public transportation $21 $9 $55 $6 $21 $11
Taxis $9 $9 $21 $6 $14 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $14 $49 $2 $0 $24
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $19 $11 $8 $81
Museums and sights $29 $4 $15 $15 $9 $20
Nightlife $45 $23 $43 $22 $73 $64
Gym $30 $14 $36 $9 $15 $69
Yoga $59 $19 $56 $23 $54 $65
Massage $31 $10 $30 $15 $20 $51
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Movistar, Claro, Personal MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 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 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Bolt BiTaksi EasyTaxi Uber
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine 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 Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
Local food specialities 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 Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas
Eat like a local 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 Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 79 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow