Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest ðŸ‡ðŸ‡º
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Tbilisi 🇬🇪
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Valencia 🇪🇸
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Population | 1,830,000 | 1,768,073 | 4,617,560 | 15,520,000 | 2,427,000 | 259,453 | 1,270,169 | 1,108,700 | 834,000 |
Official language(s) | Romanian | Hungarian | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Turkish | Spanish | Spanish | Bulgarian | Georgian | Spanish, Valencian |
Level of English | High | High | Very high | Low | Low | Moderate | High | Low | Moderate |
Main airport | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | José MarÃa Córdova International Airport (MDE) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) | Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) | Valencia Manises Airport (VLC) |
Most common months to visit | April - October | March - June, September - November | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | January - April, December | January - May, October - December | April-June, September-October | March - June | March - June, September, October |
Currency | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) | GEL - Georgian Lari (₾) | EUR - Euro (€) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted in some places | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $1351 | $1230 | $1549 | $659 | $1293 | $2143 | $1289 | $1462 | $1976 |
Rent | $615 | $499 | $618 | $354 | $732 | $923 | $567 | $752 | $869 |
Groceries | $114 | $108 | $129 | $44 | $87 | $127 | $10 | $112 | $146 |
Dining out | $165 | $202 | $269 | $81 | $131 | $207 | $227 | $169 | $292 |
Cafe | $38 | $29 | $32 | $18 | $18 | $42 | $27 | $45 | $42 |
Coworking space | $133 | $120 | $151 | $49 | $96 | $160 | $140 | $125 | $152 |
Mobile internet | $7 | $9 | $27 | $3 | $16 | $21 | $10 | $4 | $16 |
Public transportation | $21 | $36 | $55 | $6 | $21 | $17 | $30 | $8 | $38 |
Taxis | $9 | $27 | $21 | $6 | $14 | $9 | $12 | $14 | $42 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $25 | $13 | $49 | $2 | $0 | $49 | $40 | $27 | $30 |
Sport and cultural events | $29 | $24 | $19 | $11 | $8 | $97 | $18 | $21 | $73 |
Museums and sights | $29 | $7 | $15 | $15 | $9 | $217 | $12 | $9 | $44 |
Nightlife | $45 | $43 | $43 | $22 | $73 | $77 | $82 | $53 | $66 |
Gym | $30 | $37 | $36 | $9 | $15 | $42 | $23 | $33 | $34 |
Yoga | $59 | $48 | $56 | $23 | $54 | $54 | $62 | $37 | $87 |
Massage | $31 | $26 | $30 | $15 | $20 | $101 | $29 | $53 | $45 |
SIM card options | Vodafone, Orange | Vodafone, Telenor | MTN, Vodacom | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Claro, Tigo | Telcel, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom | Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline | Vodafone, Orange |
Tipping | 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis | 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | Tip 10% in restaurants | 10-15% for restaurants | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés | 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafés. | Round up for good service at restaurants, not common at bars |
Taxi apps | Star Taxi, Uber | Bolt, Fotaxi | Uber, Bolt | BiTaksi | EasyTaxi | N/A | TaxiMe, TaxiStars | Yandex, Bolt | Cabify, FreeNow |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable |
Overall cuisine | Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. | Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich desserts. | 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 | A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats | Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices | 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. | Mediterranean style using vegetables, seafoods and meats |
Local food specialities | Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi | Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator | Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli | Paella, fideuà , esgarrat, orxata, bunyols |
Eat like a local | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional 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 | Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. | Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars | Tapas bars, markets, menu del dia (cheap set lunches) |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 47 options on HappyCow | 24 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 153 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow | 10 options on Happy Cow | 98 listings on Happy Cow |