Bucharest vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Lisbon vs Medellin vs Mexico City

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Population 1,830,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 517,000 2,427,000 8,850,000
Official language(s) Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Portuguese Spanish Spanish
Level of English High Very high Low Very high Low Moderate
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit April - October March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September, October January - April, December March - May, October, November
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted in some places Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No Yes No Yes
Average monthly costs $1351 $1549 $659 $1984 $1293 $1867
Rent $615 $618 $354 $965 $732 $778
Groceries $114 $129 $44 $136 $87 $281
Dining out $165 $269 $81 $271 $131 $182
Cafe $38 $32 $18 $37 $18 $49
Coworking space $133 $151 $49 $164 $96 $159
Mobile internet $7 $27 $3 $24 $16 $25
Public transportation $21 $55 $6 $63 $21 $11
Taxis $9 $21 $6 $27 $14 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $49 $2 $18 $0 $24
Sport and cultural events $29 $19 $11 $29 $8 $81
Museums and sights $29 $15 $15 $24 $9 $20
Nightlife $45 $43 $22 $47 $73 $64
Gym $30 $36 $9 $65 $15 $69
Yoga $59 $56 $23 $65 $54 $65
Massage $31 $30 $15 $50 $20 $51
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone Claro, Tigo Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Tip 10% in restaurants 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Uber, FreeNow EasyTaxi Uber
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. 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 Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries 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 Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana 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 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 Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants 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 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow