Bangkok vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Lviv vs Madrid vs Mexico City vs Sofia

Bangkok 🇹🇭
Remove
Cape Town 🇿🇦
Remove
Istanbul 🇹🇷
Remove
Lviv 🇺🇦
Remove
Madrid 🇪🇸
Remove
Mexico City 🇲🇽
Remove
Sofia 🇧🇬
Remove
Population 5,680,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 731,387 6,578,0179 8,850,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) Thai Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Ukrainian Spanish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Low Very high Low Low Moderate Moderate High
Main airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit January - March, November, December March - May, September - November April - June, September and October May - September March - May, September - November March - May, October, November April-June, September-October
Currency THB - Thai Baht (฿) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (₴) EUR - Euro (€) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1560 $1549 $659 $922 $2498 $1867 $1289
Rent $616 $618 $354 $400 $1174 $778 $567
Groceries $191 $129 $44 $91 $175 $281 $10
Dining out $168 $269 $81 $151 $313 $182 $227
Cafe $45 $32 $18 $21 $51 $49 $27
Coworking space $127 $151 $49 $79 $196 $159 $140
Mobile internet $23 $27 $3 $4 $10 $25 $10
Public transportation $32 $55 $6 $5 $78 $11 $30
Taxis $19 $21 $6 $12 $44 $9 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $2 $16 $49 $24 $40
Sport and cultural events $46 $19 $11 $13 $54 $81 $18
Museums and sights $21 $15 $15 $9 $20 $20 $12
Nightlife $50 $43 $22 $43 $82 $64 $82
Gym $96 $36 $9 $22 $44 $69 $23
Yoga $98 $56 $23 $30 $142 $65 $62
Massage $11 $30 $15 $27 $64 $51 $29
SIM card options AIS MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone, Kyivstar Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10% for restaurants, bars and services 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Grab Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Uber, Uklon Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup 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 fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Slavic. Emphasis on frilled meats combined with potatoes, carrots, pickles and cabbage. Creamy deserts often elaborated with cottage cheese. Lviv enjoys culinary influences from Kiev (traditional with an emphasis on chicken) and Odessa (various seafood dishes). 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 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 Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries 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, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 416 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 9 options on HappyCow 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow