Bucharest vs Buenos Aires vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Medellin

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Population 1,830,000 2,900,000 1,166,978 15,520,000 2,427,000
Official language(s) Romanian Spanish Thai Turkish Spanish
Level of English High High Low Low Low
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE)
Most common months to visit April - October September - December November - April April - June, September and October January - April, December
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted in some places
Remote worker visa No No No No No
Average monthly costs $1351 $1321 $974 $659 $1293
Rent $615 $844 $274 $354 $732
Groceries $114 $98 $169 $44 $87
Dining out $165 $121 $108 $81 $131
Cafe $38 $25 $45 $18 $18
Coworking space $133 $95 $95 $49 $96
Mobile internet $7 $11 $11 $3 $16
Public transportation $21 $9 $60 $6 $21
Taxis $9 $9 $20 $6 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $14 $10 $2 $0
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $8 $11 $8
Museums and sights $29 $4 $8 $15 $9
Nightlife $45 $23 $62 $22 $73
Gym $30 $14 $41 $9 $15
Yoga $59 $19 $55 $23 $54
Massage $31 $10 $10 $15 $20
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Movistar, Claro, Personal AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo
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% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Tip 10% in restaurants
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Grab BiTaksi EasyTaxi
Tap water 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 Combines salty, sweet, spicy and sour flavors to create bold and colorful dishes. Meals typically include a mixture of meat and seafood dishes, as well as noodles or soups recipes. Strong emphasis on local spices and vegetables. 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 Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa
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 Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food 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 33 listings on Happy Cow 79 options on Happy Cow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow