Bangkok 🇹ðŸ‡
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Berlin 🇩🇪
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Hanoi 🇻🇳
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population | 5,680,000 | 3,400,000 | 1,830,000 | 4,617,560 | 8,053,663 | 15,520,000 | 6,578,0179 | 2,427,000 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | Thai | German | Romanian | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Vietnamese | Turkish | Spanish | Spanish | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Low | Very high | High | Very high | Moderate | Low | Moderate | Low | High |
Main airport | Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) | Berlin Tegel (TXL) | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Ná»™i Bà i International Airport (HAN) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | José MarÃa Córdova International Airport (MDE) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | January - March, November, December | May - September | April - October | March - May, September - November | January, February, October - December | April - June, September and October | March - May, September - November | January - April, December | April-June, September-October |
Currency | THB - Thai Baht (฿) | EUR - Euro (€) | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | VND - Vietnamese Dong (₫) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted in some places but cash often preferred | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted in some places | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Average monthly costs | $1560 | $2200 | $1351 | $1549 | $1167 | $659 | $2498 | $1293 | $1289 |
Rent | $616 | $939 | $615 | $618 | $503 | $354 | $1174 | $732 | $567 |
Groceries | $191 | $188 | $114 | $129 | $151 | $44 | $175 | $87 | $10 |
Dining out | $168 | $271 | $165 | $269 | $134 | $81 | $313 | $131 | $227 |
Cafe | $45 | $57 | $38 | $32 | $39 | $18 | $51 | $18 | $27 |
Coworking space | $127 | $174 | $133 | $151 | $72 | $49 | $196 | $96 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $23 | $23 | $7 | $27 | $4 | $3 | $10 | $16 | $10 |
Public transportation | $32 | $88 | $21 | $55 | $20 | $6 | $78 | $21 | $30 |
Taxis | $19 | $58 | $9 | $21 | $13 | $6 | $44 | $14 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $17 | $17 | $25 | $49 | $0 | $2 | $49 | $0 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $46 | $64 | $29 | $19 | $3 | $11 | $54 | $8 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $21 | $37 | $29 | $15 | $4 | $15 | $20 | $9 | $12 |
Nightlife | $50 | $63 | $45 | $43 | $89 | $22 | $82 | $73 | $82 |
Gym | $96 | $66 | $30 | $36 | $57 | $9 | $44 | $15 | $23 |
Yoga | $98 | $99 | $59 | $56 | $57 | $23 | $142 | $54 | $62 |
Massage | $11 | $56 | $31 | $30 | $21 | $15 | $64 | $20 | $29 |
SIM card options | AIS | Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone | Vodafone, Orange | MTN, Vodacom | Viettel, Mobifone | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Claro, Tigo | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
Tipping | 10% for restaurants, bars and services | Round up for restaurants, not common for bars and services | 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | Tip 10% in restaurants | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés |
Taxi apps | Grab | Mytaxi, Uber | Star Taxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | Grab, GoViet | BiTaksi | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | EasyTaxi | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable |
Overall cuisine | Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup | Heavy and hearty meals with plenty of meat, potatoes and bread | Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. | South African cuisine has been shaped by a long history of Dutch, Malay, British and Indian settlements, making the food diverse and strong in flavor. There is a strong emphasis on game in all of its different forms, as well as spicy sauces and sautéed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. | A mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. | 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. | A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats | Vegetables and mild spices are often mixed with dairy products to create rich chicken and pork products. Seafood dishes also popular in some regions of the country, making them popular in the capital. |
Local food specialities | Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan | Currywurst, spätzle, königsberger klopse, schnitzel, eisbein, doner kebab, pretzels | Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros | Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator |
Eat like a local | Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants | Brew pubs, cafes, bars, deli shops | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food | 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! | Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 416 listings on Happy Cow | 844 listings on Happy Cow | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 104 listings on Happy Cow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 153 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |