Bucharest vs Buenos Aires vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Medellin vs New York City

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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New York City 🇺🇸
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Population 1,830,000 2,900,000 1,166,978 15,520,000 2,427,000 8,323,340
Official language(s) Romanian Spanish Thai Turkish Spanish English (de facto)
Level of English High High Low Low Low Very high
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) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Most common months to visit April - October September - December November - April April - June, September and October January - April, December April - June, September - November
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($) USD - US Dollar ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted in some places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No No
Average monthly costs $1351 $1321 $974 $659 $1293 $5431
Rent $615 $844 $274 $354 $732 $2891
Groceries $114 $98 $169 $44 $87 $383
Dining out $165 $121 $108 $81 $131 $656
Cafe $38 $25 $45 $18 $18 $72
Coworking space $133 $95 $95 $49 $96 $326
Mobile internet $7 $11 $11 $3 $16 $45
Public transportation $21 $9 $60 $6 $21 $220
Taxis $9 $9 $20 $6 $14 $78
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $14 $10 $2 $0 $30
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $8 $11 $8 $100
Museums and sights $29 $4 $8 $15 $9 $74
Nightlife $45 $23 $62 $22 $73 $195
Gym $30 $14 $41 $9 $15 $55
Yoga $59 $19 $55 $23 $54 $197
Massage $31 $10 $10 $15 $20 $109
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Movistar, Claro, Personal AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo AT&T, Verizon
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 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Grab BiTaksi EasyTaxi Uber, Lyft
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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 American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse.
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 Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options.
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 Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants
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 309 options on HappyCow