Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Tbilisi 🇬🇪
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Population | 1,830,000 | 4,617,560 | 15,520,000 | 1,270,169 | 1,108,700 |
Official language(s) | Romanian | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Turkish | Bulgarian | Georgian |
Level of English | High | Very high | Low | High | Low |
Main airport | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) | Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) |
Most common months to visit | April - October | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | April-June, September-October | March - June |
Currency | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) | GEL - Georgian Lari (₾) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $1351 | $1549 | $659 | $1289 | $1462 |
Rent | $615 | $618 | $354 | $567 | $752 |
Groceries | $114 | $129 | $44 | $10 | $112 |
Dining out | $165 | $269 | $81 | $227 | $169 |
Cafe | $38 | $32 | $18 | $27 | $45 |
Coworking space | $133 | $151 | $49 | $140 | $125 |
Mobile internet | $7 | $27 | $3 | $10 | $4 |
Public transportation | $21 | $55 | $6 | $30 | $8 |
Taxis | $9 | $21 | $6 | $12 | $14 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $25 | $49 | $2 | $40 | $27 |
Sport and cultural events | $29 | $19 | $11 | $18 | $21 |
Museums and sights | $29 | $15 | $15 | $12 | $9 |
Nightlife | $45 | $43 | $22 | $82 | $53 |
Gym | $30 | $36 | $9 | $23 | $33 |
Yoga | $59 | $56 | $23 | $62 | $37 |
Massage | $31 | $30 | $15 | $29 | $53 |
SIM card options | Vodafone, Orange | MTN, Vodacom | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | A1, Telenor, Vivacom | Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline |
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 | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés | 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafés. |
Taxi apps | Star Taxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | BiTaksi | TaxiMe, TaxiStars | Yandex, Bolt |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not 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 | 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. | Cuisine of the Caucasus meets regional diversity in Georgia. Emphasis on spices and meats (poultry, beef, pork and mutton) as well as soups and creams. |
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 | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator | Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli |
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 | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. | Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow | 10 options on Happy Cow |