Cape Town vs Hanoi vs Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Madrid

Cape Town ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
Remove
Hanoi ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ
Remove
Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
Remove
Larnaca ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ
Remove
Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
Remove
Population 4,617,560 8,053,663 15,520,000 144,900 6,578,0179
Official language(s) Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Vietnamese Turkish Greek Spanish
Level of English Very high Moderate Low High Moderate
Main airport Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Nแป™i Bร i International Airport (HAN) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January, February, October - December April - June, September and October March - May, October - December March - May, September - November
Currency ZAR - South African Rand (R) VND - Vietnamese Dong (โ‚ซ) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $1549 $1167 $659 $1959 $2498
Rent $618 $503 $354 $678 $1174
Groceries $129 $151 $44 $157 $175
Dining out $269 $134 $81 $261 $313
Cafe $32 $39 $18 $56 $51
Coworking space $151 $72 $49 $209 $196
Mobile internet $27 $4 $3 $35 $10
Public transportation $55 $20 $6 $63 $78
Taxis $21 $13 $6 $42 $44
Shared bicycles and scooters $49 $0 $2 $45 $49
Sport and cultural events $19 $3 $11 $28 $54
Museums and sights $15 $4 $15 $8 $20
Nightlife $43 $89 $22 $110 $82
Gym $36 $57 $9 $107 $44
Yoga $56 $57 $23 $105 $142
Massage $30 $21 $15 $54 $64
SIM card options MTN, Vodacom Viettel, Mobifone Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Orange, Movistar, Vodafone
Tipping 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Not required but appreciated, especially in taxis, restaurants and bars. Round up or add 10%. Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated.
Taxi apps Uber, Bolt Grab, GoViet BiTaksi nTaxi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable 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. A mix of French, Southeast Asian and Chinese with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Northern Vietnam cuisine includes a lot of fish and noodles. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors.
Local food specialities Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Pho, cha ca, Vietnamese coffee, pastries and breads Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros
Eat like a local Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets Noodle Houses, Bakeries, Coffee and Tea Houses, street food Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros!
Vegetarian / vegan options 24 options on HappyCow 104 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 85 listings on Happy Cow