Bucharest vs Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Medellin vs New York City vs Sofia vs Ubud vs Valencia

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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New York City 🇺🇸
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Ubud 🇮🇩
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Valencia 🇪🇸
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Population 1,830,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 2,427,000 8,323,340 1,270,169 112,490 834,000
Official language(s) Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Spanish English (de facto) Bulgarian Indonesian and Balinese Spanish, Valencian
Level of English High Very high Low Low Very high High Low Moderate
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Sofia International Airport (SOF) Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPA) Valencia Manises Airport (VLC)
Most common months to visit April - October March - May, September - November April - June, September and October January - April, December April - June, September - November April-June, September-October May - October March - June, September, October
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($) USD - US Dollar ($) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) IDR - Indonesian Rupiah (Rp) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted in some places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted in some places Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $1351 $1549 $659 $1293 $5431 $1289 $1363 $1976
Rent $615 $618 $354 $732 $2891 $567 $658 $869
Groceries $114 $129 $44 $87 $383 $10 $150 $146
Dining out $165 $269 $81 $131 $656 $227 $10 $292
Cafe $38 $32 $18 $18 $72 $27 $28 $42
Coworking space $133 $151 $49 $96 $326 $140 $106 $152
Mobile internet $7 $27 $3 $16 $45 $10 $3 $16
Public transportation $21 $55 $6 $21 $220 $30 $53 $38
Taxis $9 $21 $6 $14 $78 $12 $13 $42
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $49 $2 $0 $30 $40 $33 $30
Sport and cultural events $29 $19 $11 $8 $100 $18 $14 $73
Museums and sights $29 $15 $15 $9 $74 $12 $9 $44
Nightlife $45 $43 $22 $73 $195 $82 $118 $66
Gym $30 $36 $9 $15 $55 $23 $72 $34
Yoga $59 $56 $23 $54 $197 $62 $87 $87
Massage $31 $30 $15 $20 $109 $29 $10 $45
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo AT&T, Verizon A1, Telenor, Vivacom Telkomsel, XL Axiata Vodafone, Orange
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 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés Tip 5 - 10% in restaurants if service charge is not included in the bill Round up for good service at restaurants, not common at bars
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Uber, Bolt BiTaksi EasyTaxi Uber, Lyft TaxiMe, TaxiStars Grab, GoJek Cabify, FreeNow
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not 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 A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse. 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. Balinese foods revolve on the complex flavors from certain ingredients like fresh vegetables, meat, coconut milk, and time-tested spices mixture. Mediterranean style using vegetables, seafoods 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 Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator Satay, nasi goreng, gado-gado, martabak, bubur sumsum Paella, fideuà, esgarrat, orxata, bunyols
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 Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. Warung for authentic babi guling and bebek betutu, cafes for kopi luwak, street stalls for pisang goreng, nasi campur, and sate lilit Tapas bars, markets, menu del dia (cheap set lunches)
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 309 options on HappyCow 20 options on HappyCow 255 listings on Happy Cow 98 listings on Happy Cow