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Bucharest ๐ท๐ด
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Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Chiang Mai ๐น๐ญ
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Lisbon ๐ต๐น
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Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
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| Population | 1,830,000 | 4,617,560 | 1,166,978 | 517,000 | 6,578,0179 |
| Official language(s) | Romanian | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Thai | Portuguese | Spanish |
| Level of English | High | Very high | Low | Very high | Moderate |
| Main airport | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) |
| Most common months to visit | April - October | March - May, September - November | November - April | March - May, September, October | March - May, September - November |
| Currency | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $1351 | $1549 | $974 | $1984 | $2498 |
| Rent | $615 | $618 | $274 | $965 | $1174 |
| Groceries | $114 | $129 | $169 | $136 | $175 |
| Dining out | $165 | $269 | $108 | $271 | $313 |
| Cafe | $38 | $32 | $45 | $37 | $51 |
| Coworking space | $133 | $151 | $95 | $164 | $196 |
| Mobile internet | $7 | $27 | $11 | $24 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $21 | $55 | $60 | $63 | $78 |
| Taxis | $9 | $21 | $20 | $27 | $44 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $25 | $49 | $10 | $18 | $49 |
| Sport and cultural events | $29 | $19 | $8 | $29 | $54 |
| Museums and sights | $29 | $15 | $8 | $24 | $20 |
| Nightlife | $45 | $43 | $62 | $47 | $82 |
| Gym | $30 | $36 | $41 | $65 | $44 |
| Yoga | $59 | $56 | $55 | $65 | $142 |
| Massage | $31 | $30 | $10 | $50 | $64 |
| SIM card options | Vodafone, Orange | MTN, Vodacom | AIS, DTAC | Vodafone | 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 | 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. |
| Taxi apps | Star Taxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | Grab | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | 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 sautรฉed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. | Combines salty, sweet, spicy and sour flavors to create bold and colorful dishes. Meals typically include a mixture of meat and seafood dishes, as well as noodles or soups recipes. Strong emphasis on local spices and vegetables. | 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. |
| Local food specialities | Sarmale, mฤmฤligฤ, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbฤ de burtฤ, covrig, papanasi | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua | 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 |
| 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 | Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food | 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! |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 90 options on HappyCow | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow |