Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Mexico City vs Playa del Carmen vs Porto vs Rio de Janeiro

Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
Remove
Larnaca ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ
Remove
Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
Remove
Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
Remove
Porto ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
Remove
Rio de Janeiro ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท
Remove
Population 15,520,000 144,900 8,850,000 259,453 237,559 6,718,903
Official language(s) Turkish Greek Spanish Spanish Portuguese Portuguese
Level of English Low High Moderate Moderate Very High Low
Main airport Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Francisco Sรก Carneiro International Airport (OPO) Galeรฃo International Airport
Most common months to visit April - June, September and October March - May, October - December March - May, October, November January - May, October - December May - September January - March, December
Currency TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $659 $1959 $1867 $2143 $1759 $1833
Rent $354 $678 $778 $923 $717 $1066
Groceries $44 $157 $281 $127 $148 $95
Dining out $81 $261 $182 $207 $280 $210
Cafe $18 $56 $49 $42 $45 $25
Coworking space $49 $209 $159 $160 $96 $130
Mobile internet $3 $35 $25 $21 $21 $7
Public transportation $6 $63 $11 $17 $95 $33
Taxis $6 $42 $9 $9 $25 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $2 $45 $24 $49 $10 $16
Sport and cultural events $11 $28 $81 $97 $45 $55
Museums and sights $15 $8 $20 $217 $24 $26
Nightlife $22 $110 $64 $77 $66 $54
Gym $9 $107 $69 $42 $56 $31
Yoga $23 $105 $65 $54 $82 $40
Massage $15 $54 $51 $101 $48 $32
SIM card options Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Telcel, Movistar Telcel, Movistar Vodafone, MEO, NOS Tim, Claro, Vivo
Tipping Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10-15% for restaurants 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps BiTaksi nTaxi Uber N/A Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not 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.. 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 A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common.
Local food specialities Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros.
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. Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city.
Vegetarian / vegan options 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 279 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow 46 options on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow