Istanbul vs Madrid vs Mexico City vs Playa del Carmen

Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Population 15,520,000 6,578,0179 8,850,000 259,453
Official language(s) Turkish Spanish Spanish Spanish
Level of English Low Moderate Moderate Moderate
Main airport Istanbul Airport (IST) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Cancun International Airport (CUN)
Most common months to visit April - June, September and October March - May, September - November March - May, October, November January - May, October - December
Currency TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No Yes Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $659 $2498 $1867 $2143
Rent $354 $1174 $778 $923
Groceries $44 $175 $281 $127
Dining out $81 $313 $182 $207
Cafe $18 $51 $49 $42
Coworking space $49 $196 $159 $160
Mobile internet $3 $10 $25 $21
Public transportation $6 $78 $11 $17
Taxis $6 $44 $9 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $2 $49 $24 $49
Sport and cultural events $11 $54 $81 $97
Museums and sights $15 $20 $20 $217
Nightlife $22 $82 $64 $77
Gym $9 $44 $69 $42
Yoga $23 $142 $65 $54
Massage $15 $64 $51 $101
SIM card options Turkcell, Turk Telekom Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar Telcel, Movistar
Tipping Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10-15% for restaurants
Taxi apps BiTaksi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber N/A
Tap water Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. 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
Local food specialities Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole
Eat like a local Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's
Vegetarian / vegan options 59 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 72 listings on Happy Cow