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Barcelona 🇪🇸
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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| Population | 5,585,556 | 2,900,000 | 4,617,560 | 15,520,000 | 9,963,452 |
| Official language(s) | Catalan, Spanish | Spanish | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Turkish | Korean |
| Level of English | High | High | Very high | Low | Moderate |
| Main airport | Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) | Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) |
| Most common months to visit | April - June, September - November | September - December | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, September - November |
| Currency | EUR - Euro (€) | ARS - Argentine Peso ($) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | KRW - South Korean won (₩) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost evewhere | Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Average monthly costs | $2384 | $1321 | $1549 | $659 | $2184 |
| Rent | $932 | $844 | $618 | $354 | $797 |
| Groceries | $121 | $98 | $129 | $44 | $356 |
| Dining out | $403 | $121 | $269 | $81 | $211 |
| Cafe | $45 | $25 | $32 | $18 | $69 |
| Coworking space | $213 | $95 | $151 | $49 | $222 |
| Mobile internet | $10 | $11 | $27 | $3 | $40 |
| Public transportation | $127 | $9 | $55 | $6 | $40 |
| Taxis | $48 | $9 | $21 | $6 | $41 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $24 | $14 | $49 | $2 | $13 |
| Sport and cultural events | $81 | $24 | $19 | $11 | $39 |
| Museums and sights | $33 | $4 | $15 | $15 | $6 |
| Nightlife | $112 | $23 | $43 | $22 | $93 |
| Gym | $81 | $14 | $36 | $9 | $69 |
| Yoga | $93 | $19 | $56 | $23 | $112 |
| Massage | $59 | $10 | $30 | $15 | $75 |
| SIM card options | Vodafone, Movistar | Movistar, Claro, Personal | MTN, Vodacom | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus |
| Tipping | 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere | 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 | Not customary or expected |
| Taxi apps | Cabify, FreeNow | Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) | Uber, Bolt | BiTaksi | Uber, Kakao |
| Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable |
| Overall cuisine | Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. | 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 | Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. |
| Local food specialities | Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomáquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo | 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 | Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam |
| Eat like a local | Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots | 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 | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 98 options on HappyCow | 79 options on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 57 options on Happy Cow |