Bucharest ๐ท๐ด
|
Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
|
Lisbon ๐ต๐น
|
Madrid ๐ช๐ธ
|
|
Population | 1,830,000 | 4,617,560 | 517,000 | 6,578,0179 |
Official language(s) | Romanian | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Portuguese | Spanish |
Level of English | High | Very high | Very high | Moderate |
Main airport | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) |
Most common months to visit | April - October | March - May, September - November | March - May, September, October | March - May, September - November |
Currency | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $1351 | $1549 | $1984 | $2498 |
Rent | $615 | $618 | $965 | $1174 |
Groceries | $114 | $129 | $136 | $175 |
Dining out | $165 | $269 | $271 | $313 |
Cafe | $38 | $32 | $37 | $51 |
Coworking space | $133 | $151 | $164 | $196 |
Mobile internet | $7 | $27 | $24 | $10 |
Public transportation | $21 | $55 | $63 | $78 |
Taxis | $9 | $21 | $27 | $44 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $25 | $49 | $18 | $49 |
Sport and cultural events | $29 | $19 | $29 | $54 |
Museums and sights | $29 | $15 | $24 | $20 |
Nightlife | $45 | $43 | $47 | $82 |
Gym | $30 | $36 | $65 | $44 |
Yoga | $59 | $56 | $65 | $142 |
Massage | $31 | $30 | $50 | $64 |
SIM card options | Vodafone, Orange | MTN, Vodacom | 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 | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. |
Taxi apps | Star Taxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now |
Tap water | 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. | 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 | 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 | 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 | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow |