Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Chiang Mai ๐น๐ญ
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Istanbul ๐น๐ท
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Porto ๐ต๐น
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Seoul ๐ฐ๐ท
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Ubud ๐ฎ๐ฉ
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Population | 4,617,560 | 1,166,978 | 15,520,000 | 237,559 | 9,963,452 | 1,270,169 | 112,490 |
Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Thai | Turkish | Portuguese | Korean | Bulgarian | Indonesian and Balinese |
Level of English | Very high | Low | Low | Very High | Moderate | High | Low |
Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Francisco Sรก Carneiro International Airport (OPO) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) | Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPA) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | November - April | April - June, September and October | May - September | March - May, September - November | April-June, September-October | May - October |
Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | KRW - South Korean won (โฉ) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) | IDR - Indonesian Rupiah (Rp) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted in some places |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $1549 | $974 | $659 | $1759 | $2184 | $1289 | $1363 |
Rent | $618 | $274 | $354 | $717 | $797 | $567 | $658 |
Groceries | $129 | $169 | $44 | $148 | $356 | $10 | $150 |
Dining out | $269 | $108 | $81 | $280 | $211 | $227 | $10 |
Cafe | $32 | $45 | $18 | $45 | $69 | $27 | $28 |
Coworking space | $151 | $95 | $49 | $96 | $222 | $140 | $106 |
Mobile internet | $27 | $11 | $3 | $21 | $40 | $10 | $3 |
Public transportation | $55 | $60 | $6 | $95 | $40 | $30 | $53 |
Taxis | $21 | $20 | $6 | $25 | $41 | $12 | $13 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $49 | $10 | $2 | $10 | $13 | $40 | $33 |
Sport and cultural events | $19 | $8 | $11 | $45 | $39 | $18 | $14 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $8 | $15 | $24 | $6 | $12 | $9 |
Nightlife | $43 | $62 | $22 | $66 | $93 | $82 | $118 |
Gym | $36 | $41 | $9 | $56 | $69 | $23 | $72 |
Yoga | $56 | $55 | $23 | $82 | $112 | $62 | $87 |
Massage | $30 | $10 | $15 | $48 | $75 | $29 | $10 |
SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | AIS, DTAC | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Vodafone, MEO, NOS | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus | A1, Telenor, Vivacom | Telkomsel, XL Axiata |
Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars | Not customary or expected | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs | Tip 5 - 10% in restaurants if service charge is not included in the bill |
Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | Grab | BiTaksi | Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify | Uber, Kakao | TaxiMe, TaxiStars | Grab, GoJek |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable |
Overall 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. | 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 variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. | Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. | 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. | Balinese foods revolve on the complex flavors from certain ingredients like fresh vegetables, meat, coconut milk, and time-tested spices mixture. |
Local food specialities | 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 | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa | Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator | Satay, nasi goreng, gado-gado, martabak, bubur sumsum |
Eat like a local | 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 | Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. | Warung for authentic babi guling and bebek betutu, cafes for kopi luwak, street stalls for pisang goreng, nasi campur, and sate lilit |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 24 options on HappyCow | 90 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 46 options on Happy Cow | 57 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow | 255 listings on Happy Cow |