Bucharest vs Buenos Aires vs Istanbul vs Medellin vs Playa del Carmen vs Porto

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Porto 🇵🇹
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Population 1,830,000 2,900,000 15,520,000 2,427,000 259,453 237,559
Official language(s) Romanian Spanish Turkish Spanish Spanish Portuguese
Level of English High High Low Low Moderate Very High
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO)
Most common months to visit April - October September - December April - June, September and October January - April, December January - May, October - December May - September
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted in most places Accepted in some places Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $1351 $1321 $659 $1293 $2143 $1759
Rent $615 $844 $354 $732 $923 $717
Groceries $114 $98 $44 $87 $127 $148
Dining out $165 $121 $81 $131 $207 $280
Cafe $38 $25 $18 $18 $42 $45
Coworking space $133 $95 $49 $96 $160 $96
Mobile internet $7 $11 $3 $16 $21 $21
Public transportation $21 $9 $6 $21 $17 $95
Taxis $9 $9 $6 $14 $9 $25
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $14 $2 $0 $49 $10
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $11 $8 $97 $45
Museums and sights $29 $4 $15 $9 $217 $24
Nightlife $45 $23 $22 $73 $77 $66
Gym $30 $14 $9 $15 $42 $56
Yoga $59 $19 $23 $54 $54 $82
Massage $31 $10 $15 $20 $101 $48
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Movistar, Claro, Personal Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo Telcel, Movistar Vodafone, MEO, NOS
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 Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Tip 10% in restaurants 10-15% for restaurants 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) BiTaksi EasyTaxi N/A Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify
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 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 Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts.
Local food specialities Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa
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 Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 79 options on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow 46 options on Happy Cow