Bogota vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Mexico City vs Sofia

Bogota 🇨🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 10,978,360 4,617,560 15,520,000 8,850,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English Low Very high Low Moderate High
Main airport El Dorado International Airport (BOG) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit January - March, December March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, October, November April-June, September-October
Currency COP - Colombian Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1097 $1549 $659 $1867 $1289
Rent $480 $618 $354 $778 $567
Groceries $82 $129 $44 $281 $10
Dining out $174 $269 $81 $182 $227
Cafe $22 $32 $18 $49 $27
Coworking space $77 $151 $49 $159 $140
Mobile internet $11 $27 $3 $25 $10
Public transportation $23 $55 $6 $11 $30
Taxis $28 $21 $6 $9 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $17 $49 $2 $24 $40
Sport and cultural events $22 $19 $11 $81 $18
Museums and sights $7 $15 $15 $20 $12
Nightlife $46 $43 $22 $64 $82
Gym $15 $36 $9 $69 $23
Yoga $57 $56 $23 $65 $62
Massage $37 $30 $15 $51 $29
SIM card options Tigo, Movistar, Claro MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 10% service included in all bills, not required or expected at bars without table service 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Uber, Cabify Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Uber TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Latin American. Dishes with beef, pork and chicken are often mixed with flour-based foods and fruity desserts. Heavy influence from the Andes and other Colombian regions. 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 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 Arepas, ajiaco santaferense, buñuelos, patacones, té de coca, changua Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Local family restaurants and those from other regions. Menú del día. Community markets and sports bars. 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 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 104 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow