Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Istanbul ๐น๐ท
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Lisbon ๐ต๐น
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New York City ๐บ๐ธ
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Panama City ๐ต๐ฆ
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Population | 4,617,560 | 15,520,000 | 517,000 | 8,323,340 | 880,691 |
Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Turkish | Portuguese | English (de facto) | Spanish |
Level of English | Very high | Low | Very high | Very high | Low |
Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, September, October | April - June, September - November | December - April |
Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | USD - US Dollar ($) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) |
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 almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. |
Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $1549 | $659 | $1984 | $5431 | $2359 |
Rent | $618 | $354 | $965 | $2891 | $1036 |
Groceries | $129 | $44 | $136 | $383 | $236 |
Dining out | $269 | $81 | $271 | $656 | $371 |
Cafe | $32 | $18 | $37 | $72 | $43 |
Coworking space | $151 | $49 | $164 | $326 | $157 |
Mobile internet | $27 | $3 | $24 | $45 | $21 |
Public transportation | $55 | $6 | $63 | $220 | $12 |
Taxis | $21 | $6 | $27 | $78 | $48 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $49 | $2 | $18 | $30 | $0 |
Sport and cultural events | $19 | $11 | $29 | $100 | $35 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $15 | $24 | $74 | $9 |
Nightlife | $43 | $22 | $47 | $195 | $117 |
Gym | $36 | $9 | $65 | $55 | $37 |
Yoga | $56 | $23 | $65 | $197 | $163 |
Massage | $30 | $15 | $50 | $109 | $75 |
SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Vodafone | AT&T, Verizon | Claro, Movistar |
Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere |
Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | BiTaksi | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Lyft | Uber, Tu Chofer |
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 sautรฉed 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 | American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse. | 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. |
Local food specialities | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Bacalhau ร bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameรฑos, tostones, ropa vieja |
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 | Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 24 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 309 options on HappyCow | 7 options on HappyCow |