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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest ðŸ‡ðŸ‡º
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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| Population | 1,830,000 | 1,768,073 | 4,617,560 | 6,578,0179 | 1,270,169 |
| Official language(s) | Romanian | Hungarian | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Spanish | Bulgarian |
| Level of English | High | High | Very high | Moderate | High |
| Main airport | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
| Most common months to visit | April - October | March - June, September - November | March - May, September - November | March - May, September - November | April-June, September-October |
| Currency | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (€) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Average monthly costs | $1351 | $1230 | $1549 | $2498 | $1289 |
| Rent | $615 | $499 | $618 | $1174 | $567 |
| Groceries | $114 | $108 | $129 | $175 | $10 |
| Dining out | $165 | $202 | $269 | $313 | $227 |
| Cafe | $38 | $29 | $32 | $51 | $27 |
| Coworking space | $133 | $120 | $151 | $196 | $140 |
| Mobile internet | $7 | $9 | $27 | $10 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $21 | $36 | $55 | $78 | $30 |
| Taxis | $9 | $27 | $21 | $44 | $12 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $25 | $13 | $49 | $49 | $40 |
| Sport and cultural events | $29 | $24 | $19 | $54 | $18 |
| Museums and sights | $29 | $7 | $15 | $20 | $12 |
| Nightlife | $45 | $43 | $43 | $82 | $82 |
| Gym | $30 | $37 | $36 | $44 | $23 |
| Yoga | $59 | $48 | $56 | $142 | $62 |
| Massage | $31 | $26 | $30 | $64 | $29 |
| SIM card options | Vodafone, Orange | Vodafone, Telenor | MTN, Vodacom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
| Tipping | 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis | 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés |
| Taxi apps | Star Taxi, Uber | Bolt, Fotaxi | Uber, Bolt | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not 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. | Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich desserts. | 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, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | 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. |
| Local food specialities | Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi | Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator |
| Eat like a local | Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias | Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | 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! | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 47 options on HappyCow | 24 options on HappyCow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |