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

Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Porto 🇵🇹
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Sofia 🇧🇬
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Tbilisi 🇬🇪
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Population 4,617,560 15,520,000 8,850,000 237,559 1,270,169 1,108,700
Official language(s) Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English Turkish Spanish Portuguese Bulgarian Georgian
Level of English Very high Low Moderate Very High High Low
Main airport Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Istanbul Airport (IST) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) Sofia International Airport (SOF) Tbilisi International Airport (TBS)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, October, November May - September April-June, September-October March - June
Currency ZAR - South African Rand (R) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) MXN - Mexican Peso ($) EUR - Euro (€) BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) GEL - Georgian Lari (₾)
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
Remote worker visa No No Yes Yes No Yes
Average monthly costs $1549 $659 $1867 $1759 $1289 $1462
Rent $618 $354 $778 $717 $567 $752
Groceries $129 $44 $281 $148 $10 $112
Dining out $269 $81 $182 $280 $227 $169
Cafe $32 $18 $49 $45 $27 $45
Coworking space $151 $49 $159 $96 $140 $125
Mobile internet $27 $3 $25 $21 $10 $4
Public transportation $55 $6 $11 $95 $30 $8
Taxis $21 $6 $9 $25 $12 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $49 $2 $24 $10 $40 $27
Sport and cultural events $19 $11 $81 $45 $18 $21
Museums and sights $15 $15 $20 $24 $12 $9
Nightlife $43 $22 $64 $66 $82 $53
Gym $36 $9 $69 $56 $23 $33
Yoga $56 $23 $65 $82 $62 $37
Massage $30 $15 $51 $48 $29 $53
SIM card options MTN, Vodacom Turkcell, Turk Telekom Telcel, Movistar Vodafone, MEO, NOS A1, Telenor, Vivacom Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline
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 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafés.
Taxi apps Uber, Bolt BiTaksi Uber Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify TaxiMe, TaxiStars Yandex, Bolt
Tap water Not drinkable 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 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. 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.
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 Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli
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 Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars
Vegetarian / vegan options 24 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow 46 options on Happy Cow 20 options on HappyCow 10 options on Happy Cow