Bucharest vs Cape Town vs Chiang Mai vs Istanbul vs Medellin vs Seoul

Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population 1,830,000 4,617,560 1,166,978 15,520,000 2,427,000 9,963,452
Official language(s) Romanian Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Thai Turkish Spanish Korean
Level of English High Very high Low Low Low Moderate
Main airport Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Istanbul Airport (IST) José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Most common months to visit April - October March - May, September - November November - April April - June, September and October January - April, December March - May, September - November
Currency RON - Romanian Leu (L) ZAR - South African Rand (R) THB - Thai Baht (฿) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) COP - Colombian Peso ($) KRW - South Korean won (₩)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted in most places Accepted in some places Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No No
Average monthly costs $1351 $1549 $974 $659 $1293 $2184
Rent $615 $618 $274 $354 $732 $797
Groceries $114 $129 $169 $44 $87 $356
Dining out $165 $269 $108 $81 $131 $211
Cafe $38 $32 $45 $18 $18 $69
Coworking space $133 $151 $95 $49 $96 $222
Mobile internet $7 $27 $11 $3 $16 $40
Public transportation $21 $55 $60 $6 $21 $40
Taxis $9 $21 $20 $6 $14 $41
Shared bicycles and scooters $25 $49 $10 $2 $0 $13
Sport and cultural events $29 $19 $8 $11 $8 $39
Museums and sights $29 $15 $8 $15 $9 $6
Nightlife $45 $43 $62 $22 $73 $93
Gym $30 $36 $41 $9 $15 $69
Yoga $59 $56 $55 $23 $54 $112
Massage $31 $30 $10 $15 $20 $75
SIM card options Vodafone, Orange MTN, Vodacom AIS, DTAC Turkcell, Turk Telekom Claro, Tigo KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus
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 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Tip 10% in restaurants Not customary or expected
Taxi apps Star Taxi, Uber Uber, Bolt Grab BiTaksi EasyTaxi Uber, Kakao
Tap water Not drinkable Not 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. Combines salty, sweet, spicy and sour flavors to create bold and colorful dishes. Meals typically include a mixture of meat and seafood dishes, as well as noodles or soups recipes. Strong emphasis on local spices and vegetables. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture.
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 Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam
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 Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets
Vegetarian / vegan options 33 listings on Happy Cow 24 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 153 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow