Bucharest vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Lviv vs Madrid vs Medellin

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lviv 🇺🇦
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Population 1,830,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 731,387 6,578,0179 2,427,000
Official language(s) Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Ukrainian Spanish Spanish
Level of English High Very high Low Low Moderate Low
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE)
Most common months to visit April - October March - May, September - November April - June, September and October May - September March - May, September - November January - April, December
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (₴) EUR - Euro (€) COP - Colombian Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted in some places
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1351 $1549 $659 $922 $2498 $1293
Rent $615 $618 $354 $400 $1174 $732
Groceries $114 $129 $44 $91 $175 $87
Dining out $165 $269 $81 $151 $313 $131
Cafe $38 $32 $18 $21 $51 $18
Coworking space $133 $151 $49 $79 $196 $96
Mobile internet $7 $27 $3 $4 $10 $16
Public transportation $21 $55 $6 $5 $78 $21
Taxis $9 $21 $6 $12 $44 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $49 $2 $16 $49 $0
Sport and cultural events $29 $19 $11 $13 $54 $8
Museums and sights $29 $15 $15 $9 $20 $9
Nightlife $45 $43 $22 $43 $82 $73
Gym $30 $36 $9 $22 $44 $15
Yoga $59 $56 $23 $30 $142 $54
Massage $31 $30 $15 $27 $64 $20
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Vodafone, Kyivstar Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Claro, Tigo
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 10% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. Tip 10% in restaurants
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Uber, Uklon Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now EasyTaxi
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. 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 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. A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats
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 Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa
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 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! Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 9 options on HappyCow 85 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow