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

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
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Population 1,830,000 4,617,560 15,520,000 517,000 6,578,0179 6,718,903
Official language(s) Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Portuguese Spanish Portuguese
Level of English High Very high Low Very high Moderate Low
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Galeão International Airport
Most common months to visit April - October March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September, October March - May, September - November January - March, December
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) EUR - Euro (€) EUR - Euro (€) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No Yes Yes No
Average monthly costs $1351 $1549 $659 $1984 $2498 $1833
Rent $615 $618 $354 $965 $1174 $1066
Groceries $114 $129 $44 $136 $175 $95
Dining out $165 $269 $81 $271 $313 $210
Cafe $38 $32 $18 $37 $51 $25
Coworking space $133 $151 $49 $164 $196 $130
Mobile internet $7 $27 $3 $24 $10 $7
Public transportation $21 $55 $6 $63 $78 $33
Taxis $9 $21 $6 $27 $44 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $49 $2 $18 $49 $16
Sport and cultural events $29 $19 $11 $29 $54 $55
Museums and sights $29 $15 $15 $24 $20 $26
Nightlife $45 $43 $22 $47 $82 $54
Gym $30 $36 $9 $65 $44 $31
Yoga $59 $56 $23 $65 $142 $40
Massage $31 $30 $15 $50 $64 $32
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom 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 Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and 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 BiTaksi 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 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 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, 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 Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, 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 Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee 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 59 listings on Happy Cow 401 listings on Happy Cow 85 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow