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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Lviv 🇺🇦
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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| Population | 1,830,000 | 4,617,560 | 15,520,000 | 517,000 | 731,387 | 6,578,0179 |
| Official language(s) | Romanian | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Turkish | Portuguese | Ukrainian | Spanish |
| Level of English | High | Very high | Low | Very high | Low | Moderate |
| Main airport | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) |
| Most common months to visit | April - October | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, September, October | May - September | March - May, September - November |
| Currency | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (₴) | EUR - Euro (€) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $1351 | $1549 | $659 | $1984 | $922 | $2498 |
| Rent | $615 | $618 | $354 | $965 | $400 | $1174 |
| Groceries | $114 | $129 | $44 | $136 | $91 | $175 |
| Dining out | $165 | $269 | $81 | $271 | $151 | $313 |
| Cafe | $38 | $32 | $18 | $37 | $21 | $51 |
| Coworking space | $133 | $151 | $49 | $164 | $79 | $196 |
| Mobile internet | $7 | $27 | $3 | $24 | $4 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $21 | $55 | $6 | $63 | $5 | $78 |
| Taxis | $9 | $21 | $6 | $27 | $12 | $44 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $25 | $49 | $2 | $18 | $16 | $49 |
| Sport and cultural events | $29 | $19 | $11 | $29 | $13 | $54 |
| Museums and sights | $29 | $15 | $15 | $24 | $9 | $20 |
| Nightlife | $45 | $43 | $22 | $47 | $43 | $82 |
| Gym | $30 | $36 | $9 | $65 | $22 | $44 |
| Yoga | $59 | $56 | $23 | $65 | $30 | $142 |
| Massage | $31 | $30 | $15 | $50 | $27 | $64 |
| SIM card options | Vodafone, Orange | MTN, Vodacom | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Vodafone | Vodafone, Kyivstar | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone |
| Tipping | 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 | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | 10% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. |
| Taxi apps | Star Taxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | BiTaksi | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Uklon | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | 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. | 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 | Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries | Slavic. Emphasis on frilled meats combined with potatoes, carrots, pickles and cabbage. Creamy deserts often elaborated with cottage cheese. Lviv enjoys culinary influences from Kiev (traditional with an emphasis on chicken) and Odessa (various seafood dishes). | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. |
| Local food specialities | Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros |
| Eat like a local | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | 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 | Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants | Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries | Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 9 options on HappyCow | 85 listings on Happy Cow |