Bucharest vs Cape Town vs Larnaca vs Lisbon vs Madrid vs Rio de Janeiro

Bucharest ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด
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Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
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Larnaca ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ
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Lisbon ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Rio de Janeiro ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท
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Population 1,830,000 4,617,560 144,900 517,000 6,578,0179 6,718,903
Official language(s) Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Greek Portuguese Spanish Portuguese
Level of English High Very high High Very high Moderate Low
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Galeรฃo International Airport
Most common months to visit April - October March - May, September - November March - May, October - December March - May, September, October March - May, September - November January - March, December
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1351 $1549 $1959 $1984 $2498 $1833
Rent $615 $618 $678 $965 $1174 $1066
Groceries $114 $129 $157 $136 $175 $95
Dining out $165 $269 $261 $271 $313 $210
Cafe $38 $32 $56 $37 $51 $25
Coworking space $133 $151 $209 $164 $196 $130
Mobile internet $7 $27 $35 $24 $10 $7
Public transportation $21 $55 $63 $63 $78 $33
Taxis $9 $21 $42 $27 $44 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $49 $45 $18 $49 $16
Sport and cultural events $29 $19 $28 $29 $54 $55
Museums and sights $29 $15 $8 $24 $20 $26
Nightlife $45 $43 $110 $47 $82 $54
Gym $30 $36 $107 $65 $44 $31
Yoga $59 $56 $105 $65 $142 $40
Massage $31 $30 $54 $50 $64 $32
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Vodafone Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Tim, Claro, Vivo
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 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Uber, Bolt nTaxi Uber, FreeNow Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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 sautรฉed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common.
Local food specialities Sarmale, mฤƒmฤƒligฤƒ, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbฤƒ de burtฤƒ, covrig, papanasi Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka Bacalhau ร  bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร  lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros.
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 Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants 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! The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city.
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow