Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Valencia 🇪🇸
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Population | 2,900,000 | 4,617,560 | 15,520,000 | 1,270,169 | 834,000 |
Official language(s) | Spanish | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Turkish | Bulgarian | Spanish, Valencian |
Level of English | High | Very high | Low | High | Moderate |
Main airport | Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) | Valencia Manises Airport (VLC) |
Most common months to visit | September - December | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | April-June, September-October | March - June, September, October |
Currency | ARS - Argentine Peso ($) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) | EUR - Euro (€) |
Credit cards | Accepted everywhere. (ID required!) | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $1321 | $1549 | $659 | $1289 | $1976 |
Rent | $844 | $618 | $354 | $567 | $869 |
Groceries | $98 | $129 | $44 | $10 | $146 |
Dining out | $121 | $269 | $81 | $227 | $292 |
Cafe | $25 | $32 | $18 | $27 | $42 |
Coworking space | $95 | $151 | $49 | $140 | $152 |
Mobile internet | $11 | $27 | $3 | $10 | $16 |
Public transportation | $9 | $55 | $6 | $30 | $38 |
Taxis | $9 | $21 | $6 | $12 | $42 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $14 | $49 | $2 | $40 | $30 |
Sport and cultural events | $24 | $19 | $11 | $18 | $73 |
Museums and sights | $4 | $15 | $15 | $12 | $44 |
Nightlife | $23 | $43 | $22 | $82 | $66 |
Gym | $14 | $36 | $9 | $23 | $34 |
Yoga | $19 | $56 | $23 | $62 | $87 |
Massage | $10 | $30 | $15 | $29 | $45 |
SIM card options | Movistar, Claro, Personal | MTN, Vodacom | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | A1, Telenor, Vivacom | Vodafone, Orange |
Tipping | 10% at restaurants and cafés is common, not common at bars | 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 | Round up for good service at restaurants, not common at bars |
Taxi apps | Uber (not official), Cabify, BA Taxi (Spanish only) | Uber, Bolt | BiTaksi | TaxiMe, TaxiStars | Cabify, FreeNow |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable |
Overall cuisine | Argentinian style with an emphasis on red meats, pastries, and Italian-inspired options | 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. | Mediterranean style using vegetables, seafoods and meats |
Local food specialities | Asado, empanadas (Argentinian style), locro, milanesa napolitana, facturas and alfajores | 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 | Paella, fideuà , esgarrat, orxata, bunyols |
Eat like a local | Local restaurants serving asados grill-to-dish (Parrillas), markets (San Telmo, Recoleta) and local cafés for maté and facturas | 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. | Tapas bars, markets, menu del dia (cheap set lunches) |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 79 options on Happy Cow | 24 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow | 98 listings on Happy Cow |