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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Medellin 🇨🇴
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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| Population | 4,617,560 | 15,520,000 | 517,000 | 2,427,000 | 259,453 |
| Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Turkish | Portuguese | Spanish | Spanish |
| Level of English | Very high | Low | Very high | Low | Moderate |
| Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | José MarÃa Córdova International Airport (MDE) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, September, October | January - April, December | January - May, October - December |
| Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted in some places | Accepted almost everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $1549 | $659 | $1984 | $1293 | $2143 |
| Rent | $618 | $354 | $965 | $732 | $923 |
| Groceries | $129 | $44 | $136 | $87 | $127 |
| Dining out | $269 | $81 | $271 | $131 | $207 |
| Cafe | $32 | $18 | $37 | $18 | $42 |
| Coworking space | $151 | $49 | $164 | $96 | $160 |
| Mobile internet | $27 | $3 | $24 | $16 | $21 |
| Public transportation | $55 | $6 | $63 | $21 | $17 |
| Taxis | $21 | $6 | $27 | $14 | $9 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $49 | $2 | $18 | $0 | $49 |
| Sport and cultural events | $19 | $11 | $29 | $8 | $97 |
| Museums and sights | $15 | $15 | $24 | $9 | $217 |
| Nightlife | $43 | $22 | $47 | $73 | $77 |
| Gym | $36 | $9 | $65 | $15 | $42 |
| Yoga | $56 | $23 | $65 | $54 | $54 |
| Massage | $30 | $15 | $50 | $20 | $101 |
| SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Vodafone | Claro, Tigo | Telcel, Movistar |
| Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | Tip 10% in restaurants | 10-15% for restaurants |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | BiTaksi | Uber, FreeNow | EasyTaxi | N/A |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Not 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 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 | A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats | Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices |
| 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 | Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole |
| 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 | Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 24 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 153 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow |