Bangkok ๐น๐ญ
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Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
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Panama City ๐ต๐ฆ
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Tbilisi ๐ฌ๐ช
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Population | 5,680,000 | 4,617,560 | 144,900 | 880,691 | 1,270,169 | 1,108,700 |
Official language(s) | Thai | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Greek | Spanish | Bulgarian | Georgian |
Level of English | Low | Very high | High | Low | High | Low |
Main airport | Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) | Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) |
Most common months to visit | January - March, November, December | March - May, September - November | March - May, October - December | December - April | April-June, September-October | March - June |
Currency | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) | GEL - Georgian Lari (โพ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $1560 | $1549 | $1959 | $2359 | $1289 | $1462 |
Rent | $616 | $618 | $678 | $1036 | $567 | $752 |
Groceries | $191 | $129 | $157 | $236 | $10 | $112 |
Dining out | $168 | $269 | $261 | $371 | $227 | $169 |
Cafe | $45 | $32 | $56 | $43 | $27 | $45 |
Coworking space | $127 | $151 | $209 | $157 | $140 | $125 |
Mobile internet | $23 | $27 | $35 | $21 | $10 | $4 |
Public transportation | $32 | $55 | $63 | $12 | $30 | $8 |
Taxis | $19 | $21 | $42 | $48 | $12 | $14 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $17 | $49 | $45 | $0 | $40 | $27 |
Sport and cultural events | $46 | $19 | $28 | $35 | $18 | $21 |
Museums and sights | $21 | $15 | $8 | $9 | $12 | $9 |
Nightlife | $50 | $43 | $110 | $117 | $82 | $53 |
Gym | $96 | $36 | $107 | $37 | $23 | $33 |
Yoga | $98 | $56 | $105 | $163 | $62 | $37 |
Massage | $11 | $30 | $54 | $75 | $29 | $53 |
SIM card options | AIS | MTN, Vodacom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Claro, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom | Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline |
Tipping | 10% for restaurants, bars and services | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs | 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafรฉs. |
Taxi apps | Grab | Uber, Bolt | nTaxi | Uber, Tu Chofer | TaxiMe, TaxiStars | Yandex, Bolt |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not 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 sautรฉed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. | Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. | Latin American. Emphasis on rice, beans, coconut, and local fruits and vegetables. Pork and beef are regularly used and influence from the islands gives seafood dishes a prominent spot in Panamanian cuisine. | 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. | Cuisine of the Caucasus meets regional diversity in Georgia. Emphasis on spices and meats (poultry, beef, pork and mutton) as well as soups and creams. |
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 | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, tostones, ropa vieja | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator | Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli |
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 | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. | Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 416 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 7 options on HappyCow | 20 options on HappyCow | 10 options on Happy Cow |