Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Mexico City vs Playa del Carmen vs Porto

Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Larnaca ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Playa del Carmen ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Porto ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Population 15,520,000 144,900 8,850,000 259,453 237,559
Official language(s) Turkish Greek Spanish Spanish Portuguese
Level of English Low High Moderate Moderate Very High
Main airport Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Cancun International Airport (CUN) Francisco Sรก Carneiro International Airport (OPO)
Most common months to visit April - June, September and October March - May, October - December March - May, October, November January - May, October - December May - September
Currency TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ)
Credit cards Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $659 $1959 $1867 $2143 $1759
Rent $354 $678 $778 $923 $717
Groceries $44 $157 $281 $127 $148
Dining out $81 $261 $182 $207 $280
Cafe $18 $56 $49 $42 $45
Coworking space $49 $209 $159 $160 $96
Mobile internet $3 $35 $25 $21 $21
Public transportation $6 $63 $11 $17 $95
Taxis $6 $42 $9 $9 $25
Shared bicycles and scooters $2 $45 $24 $49 $10
Sport and cultural events $11 $28 $81 $97 $45
Museums and sights $15 $8 $20 $217 $24
Nightlife $22 $110 $64 $77 $66
Gym $9 $107 $69 $42 $56
Yoga $23 $105 $65 $54 $82
Massage $15 $54 $51 $101 $48
SIM card options Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Telcel, Movistar Telcel, Movistar Vodafone, MEO, NOS
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
Taxi apps BiTaksi nTaxi Uber N/A Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not 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.. 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.
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
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
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