Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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Porto 🇵🇹
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Prague 🇨🇿
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Population | 1,830,000 | 1,768,073 | 4,617,560 | 15,520,000 | 259,453 | 237,559 | 1,305,737 |
Official language(s) | Romanian | Hungarian | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Turkish | Spanish | Portuguese | Czech |
Level of English | High | High | Very high | Low | Moderate | Very High | High |
Main airport | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) | Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) | Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) |
Most common months to visit | April - October | March - June, September - November | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | January - May, October - December | May - September | June - October |
Currency | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | EUR - Euro (€) | CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč) |
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 almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted most places (some places are cash only) |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $1351 | $1230 | $1549 | $659 | $2143 | $1759 | $1806 |
Rent | $615 | $499 | $618 | $354 | $923 | $717 | $780 |
Groceries | $114 | $108 | $129 | $44 | $127 | $148 | $158 |
Dining out | $165 | $202 | $269 | $81 | $207 | $280 | $240 |
Cafe | $38 | $29 | $32 | $18 | $42 | $45 | $53 |
Coworking space | $133 | $120 | $151 | $49 | $160 | $96 | $175 |
Mobile internet | $7 | $9 | $27 | $3 | $21 | $21 | $24 |
Public transportation | $21 | $36 | $55 | $6 | $17 | $95 | $61 |
Taxis | $9 | $27 | $21 | $6 | $9 | $25 | $33 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $25 | $13 | $49 | $2 | $49 | $10 | $19 |
Sport and cultural events | $29 | $24 | $19 | $11 | $97 | $45 | $19 |
Museums and sights | $29 | $7 | $15 | $15 | $217 | $24 | $35 |
Nightlife | $45 | $43 | $43 | $22 | $77 | $66 | $50 |
Gym | $30 | $37 | $36 | $9 | $42 | $56 | $56 |
Yoga | $59 | $48 | $56 | $23 | $54 | $82 | $66 |
Massage | $31 | $26 | $30 | $15 | $101 | $48 | $37 |
SIM card options | Vodafone, Orange | Vodafone, Telenor | MTN, Vodacom | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Telcel, Movistar | Vodafone, MEO, NOS | Vodafone, T-Mobile |
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 | 10-15% for restaurants | 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars | 10% at restaurants and bars, round up elsewhere |
Taxi apps | Star Taxi, Uber | Bolt, Fotaxi | Uber, Bolt | BiTaksi | N/A | Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify | Uber, Liftago |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | 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 | Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices | A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. | Thick soups are often combined with stewed vegetables and baked meats to produce rich dishes. Gravies and creams are popular in Czech cuisine, as is beer! |
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 | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole | Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa | Vepřo knedlo zelo, Česnečka, Guláš, Svíčková na smetaně, Ovocné Knedlíky. |
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 | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's | Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars | Pubs and taverns, street food stalls, local cafés |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 47 options on HappyCow | 24 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow | 46 options on Happy Cow | 112 options on HappyCow |