Bucharest vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Medellin vs Mexico City vs Sofia

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Population 1,830,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 2,427,000 8,850,000 1,270,169
Official language(s) Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Spanish Spanish Bulgarian
Level of English High Very high Low Low Moderate High
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Sofia International Airport (SOF)
Most common months to visit April - October March - May, September - November April - June, September and October January - April, December March - May, October, November April-June, September-October
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted in some places Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes No
Average monthly costs $1351 $1549 $659 $1293 $1867 $1289
Rent $615 $618 $354 $732 $778 $567
Groceries $114 $129 $44 $87 $281 $10
Dining out $165 $269 $81 $131 $182 $227
Cafe $38 $32 $18 $18 $49 $27
Coworking space $133 $151 $49 $96 $159 $140
Mobile internet $7 $27 $3 $16 $25 $10
Public transportation $21 $55 $6 $21 $11 $30
Taxis $9 $21 $6 $14 $9 $12
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $49 $2 $0 $24 $40
Sport and cultural events $29 $19 $11 $8 $81 $18
Museums and sights $29 $15 $15 $9 $20 $12
Nightlife $45 $43 $22 $73 $64 $82
Gym $30 $36 $9 $15 $69 $23
Yoga $59 $56 $23 $54 $65 $62
Massage $31 $30 $15 $20 $51 $29
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo Telcel, Movistar A1, Telenor, Vivacom
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 Tip 10% in restaurants 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Uber, Bolt BiTaksi EasyTaxi Uber 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. 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 Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese 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 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 Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator
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 Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas.
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow