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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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| Population | 4,617,560 | 15,520,000 | 517,000 | 6,578,0179 | 1,270,169 |
| Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Turkish | Portuguese | Spanish | Bulgarian |
| Level of English | Very high | Low | Very high | Moderate | High |
| Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, September, October | March - May, September - November | April-June, September-October |
| Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | EUR - Euro (€) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Average monthly costs | $1549 | $659 | $1984 | $2498 | $1289 |
| Rent | $618 | $354 | $965 | $1174 | $567 |
| Groceries | $129 | $44 | $136 | $175 | $10 |
| Dining out | $269 | $81 | $271 | $313 | $227 |
| Cafe | $32 | $18 | $37 | $51 | $27 |
| Coworking space | $151 | $49 | $164 | $196 | $140 |
| Mobile internet | $27 | $3 | $24 | $10 | $10 |
| Public transportation | $55 | $6 | $63 | $78 | $30 |
| Taxis | $21 | $6 | $27 | $44 | $12 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $49 | $2 | $18 | $49 | $40 |
| Sport and cultural events | $19 | $11 | $29 | $54 | $18 |
| Museums and sights | $15 | $15 | $24 | $20 | $12 |
| Nightlife | $43 | $22 | $47 | $82 | $82 |
| Gym | $36 | $9 | $65 | $44 | $23 |
| Yoga | $56 | $23 | $65 | $142 | $62 |
| Massage | $30 | $15 | $50 | $64 | $29 |
| SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Vodafone | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
| Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | BiTaksi | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | 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 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 | Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | 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 | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros | 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 | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants | 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! | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 24 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |