Bucharest vs Istanbul vs Lviv vs Medellin vs Mexico City vs Playa del Carmen vs Seoul

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lviv 🇺🇦
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 1,830,000 15,520,000 731,387 2,427,000 8,850,000 259,453 9,963,452
Official language(s) Romanian Turkish Ukrainian Spanish Spanish Spanish Korean
Level of English High Low Low Low Moderate Moderate Moderate
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Istanbul Airport (IST) Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit April - October April - June, September and October May - September January - April, December March - May, October, November January - May, October - December March - May, September - November
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (₴) COP - Colombian Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in some places Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1351 $659 $922 $1293 $1867 $2143 $2184
Rent $615 $354 $400 $732 $778 $923 $797
Groceries $114 $44 $91 $87 $281 $127 $356
Dining out $165 $81 $151 $131 $182 $207 $211
Cafe $38 $18 $21 $18 $49 $42 $69
Coworking space $133 $49 $79 $96 $159 $160 $222
Mobile internet $7 $3 $4 $16 $25 $21 $40
Public transportation $21 $6 $5 $21 $11 $17 $40
Taxis $9 $6 $12 $14 $9 $9 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $2 $16 $0 $24 $49 $13
Sport and cultural events $29 $11 $13 $8 $81 $97 $39
Museums and sights $29 $15 $9 $9 $20 $217 $6
Nightlife $45 $22 $43 $73 $64 $77 $93
Gym $30 $9 $22 $15 $69 $42 $69
Yoga $59 $23 $30 $54 $65 $54 $112
Massage $31 $15 $27 $20 $51 $101 $75
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone, Kyivstar Claro, Tigo Telcel, Movistar Telcel, Movistar KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
Tipping 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere Tip 10% in restaurants 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10-15% for restaurants Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber BiTaksi Uber, Uklon EasyTaxi Uber N/A Uber, Kakao
Tap water Not drinkable 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. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Slavic. Emphasis on frilled meats combined with potatoes, carrots, pickles and cabbage. Creamy deserts often elaborated with cottage cheese. Lviv enjoys culinary influences from Kiev (traditional with an emphasis on chicken) and Odessa (various seafood dishes). 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 Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture.
Local food specialities Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam
Eat like a local Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 9 options on HappyCow 153 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow