|
Bucharest ๐ท๐ด
|
Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
|
Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
|
Lisbon ๐ต๐น
|
Porto ๐ต๐น
|
Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
|
|
| Population | 1,830,000 | 4,617,560 | 144,900 | 517,000 | 237,559 | 1,270,169 |
| Official language(s) | Romanian | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Greek | Portuguese | Portuguese | Bulgarian |
| Level of English | High | Very high | High | Very high | Very High | High |
| Main airport | Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Francisco Sรก Carneiro International Airport (OPO) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
| Most common months to visit | April - October | March - May, September - November | March - May, October - December | March - May, September, October | May - September | April-June, September-October |
| Currency | RON - Romanian Leu (L) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Average monthly costs | $1351 | $1549 | $1959 | $1984 | $1759 | $1289 |
| Rent | $615 | $618 | $678 | $965 | $717 | $567 |
| Groceries | $114 | $129 | $157 | $136 | $148 | $10 |
| Dining out | $165 | $269 | $261 | $271 | $280 | $227 |
| Cafe | $38 | $32 | $56 | $37 | $45 | $27 |
| Coworking space | $133 | $151 | $209 | $164 | $96 | $140 |
| Mobile internet | $7 | $27 | $35 | $24 | $21 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $21 | $55 | $63 | $63 | $95 | $30 |
| Taxis | $9 | $21 | $42 | $27 | $25 | $12 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $25 | $49 | $45 | $18 | $10 | $40 |
| Sport and cultural events | $29 | $19 | $28 | $29 | $45 | $18 |
| Museums and sights | $29 | $15 | $8 | $24 | $24 | $12 |
| Nightlife | $45 | $43 | $110 | $47 | $66 | $82 |
| Gym | $30 | $36 | $107 | $65 | $56 | $23 |
| Yoga | $59 | $56 | $105 | $65 | $82 | $62 |
| Massage | $31 | $30 | $54 | $50 | $48 | $29 |
| SIM card options | Vodafone, Orange | MTN, Vodacom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Vodafone | Vodafone, MEO, NOS | 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, round up elsewhere | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
| Taxi apps | Star Taxi, Uber | Uber, Bolt | nTaxi | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | 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. | 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. | Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. | Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries | A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. | 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, mฤmฤligฤ, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbฤ de burtฤ, covrig, papanasi | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Bacalhau ร bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator |
| 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 | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. | Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants | Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 33 listings on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 46 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |