Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Hanoi ๐ป๐ณ
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Istanbul ๐น๐ท
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Panama City ๐ต๐ฆ
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Population | 4,617,560 | 8,053,663 | 15,520,000 | 880,691 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Vietnamese | Turkish | Spanish | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Very high | Moderate | Low | Low | High |
Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Nแปi Bร i International Airport (HAN) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | January, February, October - December | April - June, September and October | December - April | April-June, September-October |
Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | VND - Vietnamese Dong (โซ) | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in some places. Cash often preferred. | Accepted in most places | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Average monthly costs | $1549 | $1167 | $659 | $2359 | $1289 |
Rent | $618 | $503 | $354 | $1036 | $567 |
Groceries | $129 | $151 | $44 | $236 | $10 |
Dining out | $269 | $134 | $81 | $371 | $227 |
Cafe | $32 | $39 | $18 | $43 | $27 |
Coworking space | $151 | $72 | $49 | $157 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $27 | $4 | $3 | $21 | $10 |
Public transportation | $55 | $20 | $6 | $12 | $30 |
Taxis | $21 | $13 | $6 | $48 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $49 | $0 | $2 | $0 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $19 | $3 | $11 | $35 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $4 | $15 | $9 | $12 |
Nightlife | $43 | $89 | $22 | $117 | $82 |
Gym | $36 | $57 | $9 | $37 | $23 |
Yoga | $56 | $57 | $23 | $163 | $62 |
Massage | $30 | $21 | $15 | $75 | $29 |
SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | Viettel, Mobifone | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Claro, Movistar | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
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% in restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | Grab, GoViet | BiTaksi | Uber, Tu Chofer | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not 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. | 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 | Latin American. Emphasis on rice, beans, coconut, and local fruits and vegetables. Pork and beef are regularly used and influence from the islands gives seafood dishes a prominent spot in Panamanian cuisine. | 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 | 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 | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, tostones, ropa vieja | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator |
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 | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 24 options on HappyCow | 104 listings on Happy Cow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 7 options on HappyCow | 20 options on HappyCow |