Cape Town vs Istanbul vs Mexico City vs Porto vs Seoul vs Sofia vs Tbilisi vs Valencia

Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Porto 🇵🇹
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Tbilisi 🇬🇪
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Valencia 🇪🇸
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Population 4,617,560 15,520,000 8,850,000 237,559 9,963,452 1,270,169 1,108,700 834,000
Official language(s) Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Spanish Portuguese Korean Bulgarian Georgian Spanish, Valencian
Level of English Very high Low Moderate Very High Moderate High Low Moderate
Main airport Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) Incheon International Airport (ICN) Sofia International Airport (SOF) Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) Valencia Manises Airport (VLC)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, October, November May - September March - May, September - November April-June, September-October March - June March - June, September, October
Currency ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) EUR - Euro (€) KRW - South Korean won (₩) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) GEL - Georgian Lari (₾) EUR - Euro (€)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops Accepted in most places Widely accepted (less with AMEX) Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Accepted almost everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $1549 $659 $1867 $1759 $2184 $1289 $1462 $1976
Rent $618 $354 $778 $717 $797 $567 $752 $869
Groceries $129 $44 $281 $148 $356 $10 $112 $146
Dining out $269 $81 $182 $280 $211 $227 $169 $292
Cafe $32 $18 $49 $45 $69 $27 $45 $42
Coworking space $151 $49 $159 $96 $222 $140 $125 $152
Mobile internet $27 $3 $25 $21 $40 $10 $4 $16
Public transportation $55 $6 $11 $95 $40 $30 $8 $38
Taxis $21 $6 $9 $25 $41 $12 $14 $42
Shared bicycles and scooters $49 $2 $24 $10 $13 $40 $27 $30
Sport and cultural events $19 $11 $81 $45 $39 $18 $21 $73
Museums and sights $15 $15 $20 $24 $6 $12 $9 $44
Nightlife $43 $22 $64 $66 $93 $82 $53 $66
Gym $36 $9 $69 $56 $69 $23 $33 $34
Yoga $56 $23 $65 $82 $112 $62 $37 $87
Massage $30 $15 $51 $48 $75 $29 $53 $45
SIM card options MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar Vodafone, MEO, NOS KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus A1, Telenor, Vivacom Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline Vodafone, Orange
Tipping 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars Not customary or expected 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafés. Round up for good service at restaurants, not common at bars
Taxi apps Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Uber Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify Uber, Kakao TaxiMe, TaxiStars Yandex, Bolt Cabify, FreeNow
Tap water Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable 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 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 Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. 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. Cuisine of the Caucasus meets regional diversity in Georgia. Emphasis on spices and meats (poultry, beef, pork and mutton) as well as soups and creams. Mediterranean style using vegetables, seafoods and meats
Local food specialities Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli Paella, fideuà, esgarrat, orxata, bunyols
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 Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars Tapas bars, markets, menu del dia (cheap set lunches)
Vegetarian / vegan options 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 46 options on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow 10 options on Happy Cow 98 listings on Happy Cow