Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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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 | 517,000 | 6,578,0179 | 2,427,000 | 1,270,169 | 112,490 | 834,000 |
Official language(s) | Romanian | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Portuguese | Spanish | Spanish | Bulgarian | Indonesian and Balinese | Spanish, Valencian |
Level of English | High | Very high | Very high | Moderate | Low | High | Low | Moderate |
Main airport | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | José MarÃa Córdova International Airport (MDE) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) | Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPA) | Valencia Manises Airport (VLC) |
Most common months to visit | April - October | March - May, September - November | March - May, September, October | March - May, September - November | January - April, December | April-June, September-October | May - October | March - June, September, October |
Currency | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (€) | EUR - Euro (€) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | 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 almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Accepted in some places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted in some places | Accepted almost everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $1351 | $1549 | $1984 | $2498 | $1293 | $1289 | $1363 | $1976 |
Rent | $615 | $618 | $965 | $1174 | $732 | $567 | $658 | $869 |
Groceries | $114 | $129 | $136 | $175 | $87 | $10 | $150 | $146 |
Dining out | $165 | $269 | $271 | $313 | $131 | $227 | $10 | $292 |
Cafe | $38 | $32 | $37 | $51 | $18 | $27 | $28 | $42 |
Coworking space | $133 | $151 | $164 | $196 | $96 | $140 | $106 | $152 |
Mobile internet | $7 | $27 | $24 | $10 | $16 | $10 | $3 | $16 |
Public transportation | $21 | $55 | $63 | $78 | $21 | $30 | $53 | $38 |
Taxis | $9 | $21 | $27 | $44 | $14 | $12 | $13 | $42 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $25 | $49 | $18 | $49 | $0 | $40 | $33 | $30 |
Sport and cultural events | $29 | $19 | $29 | $54 | $8 | $18 | $14 | $73 |
Museums and sights | $29 | $15 | $24 | $20 | $9 | $12 | $9 | $44 |
Nightlife | $45 | $43 | $47 | $82 | $73 | $82 | $118 | $66 |
Gym | $30 | $36 | $65 | $44 | $15 | $23 | $72 | $34 |
Yoga | $59 | $56 | $65 | $142 | $54 | $62 | $87 | $87 |
Massage | $31 | $30 | $50 | $64 | $20 | $29 | $10 | $45 |
SIM card options | Vodafone, Orange | MTN, Vodacom | Vodafone | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Claro, Tigo | 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 | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | Tip 10% in restaurants | 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 | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | EasyTaxi | TaxiMe, TaxiStars | Grab, GoJek | Cabify, FreeNow |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not 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. | 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. | A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats | 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 | 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 | Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa | 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 | 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! | Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food | 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 | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 153 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow | 255 listings on Happy Cow | 98 listings on Happy Cow |