Buenos Aires vs Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Lisbon vs Mexico City vs Porto vs Seoul

Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Porto 🇵🇹
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 2,900,000 15,520,000 144,900 517,000 8,850,000 237,559 9,963,452
Official language(s) Spanish Turkish Greek Portuguese Spanish Portuguese Korean
Level of English High Low High Very high Moderate Very High Moderate
Main airport Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit September - December April - June, September and October March - May, October - December March - May, September, October March - May, October, November May - September March - May, September - November
Currency ARS - Argentine Peso ($) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) EUR - Euro (€) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
Credit cards Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1321 $659 $1959 $1984 $1867 $1759 $2184
Rent $844 $354 $678 $965 $778 $717 $797
Groceries $98 $44 $157 $136 $281 $148 $356
Dining out $121 $81 $261 $271 $182 $280 $211
Cafe $25 $18 $56 $37 $49 $45 $69
Coworking space $95 $49 $209 $164 $159 $96 $222
Mobile internet $11 $3 $35 $24 $25 $21 $40
Public transportation $9 $6 $63 $63 $11 $95 $40
Taxis $9 $6 $42 $27 $9 $25 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $14 $2 $45 $18 $24 $10 $13
Sport and cultural events $24 $11 $28 $29 $81 $45 $39
Museums and sights $4 $15 $8 $24 $20 $24 $6
Nightlife $23 $22 $110 $47 $64 $66 $93
Gym $14 $9 $107 $65 $69 $56 $69
Yoga $19 $23 $105 $65 $65 $82 $112
Massage $10 $15 $54 $50 $51 $48 $75
SIM card options Movistar, Claro, Personal Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Vodafone Telcel, Movistar Vodafone, MEO, NOS KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
Tipping 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 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) BiTaksi nTaxi Uber, FreeNow Uber Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify Uber, Kakao
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable
Overall 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.. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. 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 Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa 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 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. Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 79 options on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 401 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 46 options on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow