Buenos Aires vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Medellin vs Seoul

Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 2,900,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 2,427,000 9,963,452
Official language(s) Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Spanish Korean
Level of English High Very high Low Low Moderate
Main airport Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit September - December March - May, September - November April - June, September and October January - April, December March - May, September - November
Currency ARS - Argentine Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
Credit cards Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted in some places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No
Average monthly costs $1321 $1549 $659 $1293 $2184
Rent $844 $618 $354 $732 $797
Groceries $98 $129 $44 $87 $356
Dining out $121 $269 $81 $131 $211
Cafe $25 $32 $18 $18 $69
Coworking space $95 $151 $49 $96 $222
Mobile internet $11 $27 $3 $16 $40
Public transportation $9 $55 $6 $21 $40
Taxis $9 $21 $6 $14 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $14 $49 $2 $0 $13
Sport and cultural events $24 $19 $11 $8 $39
Museums and sights $4 $15 $15 $9 $6
Nightlife $23 $43 $22 $73 $93
Gym $14 $36 $9 $15 $69
Yoga $19 $56 $23 $54 $112
Massage $10 $30 $15 $20 $75
SIM card options Movistar, Claro, Personal MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
Tipping 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Tip 10% in restaurants Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Bolt BiTaksi EasyTaxi Uber, Kakao
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options 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 A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture.
Local food specialities Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam
Eat like a local Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas 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 Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 79 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow