Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Lisbon vs Medellin vs Mexico City vs Porto vs Seoul

Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Porto 🇵🇹
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 15,520,000 144,900 517,000 2,427,000 8,850,000 237,559 9,963,452
Official language(s) Turkish Greek Portuguese Spanish Spanish Portuguese Korean
Level of English Low High Very high Low Moderate Very High Moderate
Main airport Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit April - June, September and October March - May, October - December March - May, September, October January - April, December March - May, October, November May - September March - May, September - November
Currency TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) EUR - Euro (€) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
Credit cards Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted in some places Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $659 $1959 $1984 $1293 $1867 $1759 $2184
Rent $354 $678 $965 $732 $778 $717 $797
Groceries $44 $157 $136 $87 $281 $148 $356
Dining out $81 $261 $271 $131 $182 $280 $211
Cafe $18 $56 $37 $18 $49 $45 $69
Coworking space $49 $209 $164 $96 $159 $96 $222
Mobile internet $3 $35 $24 $16 $25 $21 $40
Public transportation $6 $63 $63 $21 $11 $95 $40
Taxis $6 $42 $27 $14 $9 $25 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $2 $45 $18 $0 $24 $10 $13
Sport and cultural events $11 $28 $29 $8 $81 $45 $39
Museums and sights $15 $8 $24 $9 $20 $24 $6
Nightlife $22 $110 $47 $73 $64 $66 $93
Gym $9 $107 $65 $15 $69 $56 $69
Yoga $23 $105 $65 $54 $65 $82 $112
Massage $15 $54 $50 $20 $51 $48 $75
SIM card options Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Vodafone Claro, Tigo Telcel, Movistar Vodafone, MEO, NOS KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
Tipping 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 Tip 10% in restaurants 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 BiTaksi nTaxi Uber, FreeNow EasyTaxi Uber Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify Uber, Kakao
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Drinkable
Overall cuisine 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 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 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 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 Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa 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 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 Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food 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 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 401 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 46 options on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow