Barcelona vs Bucharest vs Cape Town vs Lisbon vs Sofia

Barcelona ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Bucharest ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Sofia ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ
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Population 5,585,556 1,830,000 4,617,560 517,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) Catalan, Spanish Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Portuguese Bulgarian
Level of English High High Very high Very high High
Main airport Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit April - June, September - November April - October March - May, September - November March - May, September, October April-June, September-October
Currency EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ)
Credit cards Accepted almost evewhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa Yes No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $2384 $1351 $1549 $1984 $1289
Rent $932 $615 $618 $965 $567
Groceries $121 $114 $129 $136 $10
Dining out $403 $165 $269 $271 $227
Cafe $45 $38 $32 $37 $27
Coworking space $213 $133 $151 $164 $140
Mobile internet $10 $7 $27 $24 $10
Public transportation $127 $21 $55 $63 $30
Taxis $48 $9 $21 $27 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $24 $25 $49 $18 $40
Sport and cultural events $81 $29 $19 $29 $18
Museums and sights $33 $29 $15 $24 $12
Nightlife $112 $45 $43 $47 $82
Gym $81 $30 $36 $65 $23
Yoga $93 $59 $56 $65 $62
Massage $59 $31 $30 $50 $29
SIM card options Vodafone, Movistar Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom Vodafone A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere 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 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs
Taxi apps Cabify, FreeNow Star Taxi, Uber Uber, Bolt Uber, FreeNow TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. 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 sautรฉed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries 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 Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomรกquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Sarmale, mฤƒmฤƒligฤƒ, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbฤƒ de burtฤƒ, covrig, papanasi Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Bacalhau ร  bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร  lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 98 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 401 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow