Bucharest vs Buenos Aires vs Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Mexico City vs New York City

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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New York City 🇺🇸
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Population 1,830,000 2,900,000 15,520,000 144,900 8,850,000 8,323,340
Official language(s) Romanian Spanish Turkish Greek Spanish English (de facto)
Level of English High High Low High Moderate Very high
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Most common months to visit April - October September - December April - June, September and October March - May, October - December March - May, October, November April - June, September - November
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) USD - US Dollar ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1351 $1321 $659 $1959 $1867 $5431
Rent $615 $844 $354 $678 $778 $2891
Groceries $114 $98 $44 $157 $281 $383
Dining out $165 $121 $81 $261 $182 $656
Cafe $38 $25 $18 $56 $49 $72
Coworking space $133 $95 $49 $209 $159 $326
Mobile internet $7 $11 $3 $35 $25 $45
Public transportation $21 $9 $6 $63 $11 $220
Taxis $9 $9 $6 $42 $9 $78
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $14 $2 $45 $24 $30
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $11 $28 $81 $100
Museums and sights $29 $4 $15 $8 $20 $74
Nightlife $45 $23 $22 $110 $64 $195
Gym $30 $14 $9 $107 $69 $55
Yoga $59 $19 $23 $105 $65 $197
Massage $31 $10 $15 $54 $51 $109
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Movistar, Claro, Personal Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Telcel, Movistar 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 Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) BiTaksi nTaxi Uber 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 A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese 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 Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas 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 Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) 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 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 279 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow