Bucharest vs Buenos Aires vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Medellin vs Sofia

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 1,830,000 2,900,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 2,427,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) Romanian Spanish Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English High High Very high Low Low High
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit April - October September - December March - May, September - November April - June, September and October January - April, December April-June, September-October
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) ARS - Argentine Peso ($) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted in some places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No No
Average monthly costs $1351 $1321 $1549 $659 $1293 $1289
Rent $615 $844 $618 $354 $732 $567
Groceries $114 $98 $129 $44 $87 $10
Dining out $165 $121 $269 $81 $131 $227
Cafe $38 $25 $32 $18 $18 $27
Coworking space $133 $95 $151 $49 $96 $140
Mobile internet $7 $11 $27 $3 $16 $10
Public transportation $21 $9 $55 $6 $21 $30
Taxis $9 $9 $21 $6 $14 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $14 $49 $2 $0 $40
Sport and cultural events $29 $24 $19 $11 $8 $18
Museums and sights $29 $4 $15 $15 $9 $12
Nightlife $45 $23 $43 $22 $73 $82
Gym $30 $14 $36 $9 $15 $23
Yoga $59 $19 $56 $23 $54 $62
Massage $31 $10 $30 $15 $20 $29
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange Movistar, Claro, Personal MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo A1, Telenor, Vivacom
Tipping 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Tip 10% in restaurants 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) Uber, Bolt BiTaksi EasyTaxi TaxiMe, TaxiStars
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options 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 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 Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores 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 Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
Eat like a local Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas 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 Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 79 options on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow