|
Cape Town 🇿🇦
|
Istanbul 🇹🇷
|
Medellin 🇨🇴
|
Mexico City 🇲🇽
|
Seoul 🇰🇷
|
|
| Population | 4,617,560 | 15,520,000 | 2,427,000 | 8,850,000 | 9,963,452 |
| Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Turkish | Spanish | Spanish | Korean |
| Level of English | Very high | Low | Low | Moderate | Moderate |
| Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | José MarÃa Córdova International Airport (MDE) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | January - April, December | March - May, October, November | March - May, September - November |
| Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | COP - Colombian Peso ($) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | KRW - South Korean won (₩) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted in some places | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Average monthly costs | $1549 | $659 | $1293 | $1867 | $2184 |
| Rent | $618 | $354 | $732 | $778 | $797 |
| Groceries | $129 | $44 | $87 | $281 | $356 |
| Dining out | $269 | $81 | $131 | $182 | $211 |
| Cafe | $32 | $18 | $18 | $49 | $69 |
| Coworking space | $151 | $49 | $96 | $159 | $222 |
| Mobile internet | $27 | $3 | $16 | $25 | $40 |
| Public transportation | $55 | $6 | $21 | $11 | $40 |
| Taxis | $21 | $6 | $14 | $9 | $41 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $49 | $2 | $0 | $24 | $13 |
| Sport and cultural events | $19 | $11 | $8 | $81 | $39 |
| Museums and sights | $15 | $15 | $9 | $20 | $6 |
| Nightlife | $43 | $22 | $73 | $64 | $93 |
| Gym | $36 | $9 | $15 | $69 | $69 |
| Yoga | $56 | $23 | $54 | $65 | $112 |
| Massage | $30 | $15 | $20 | $51 | $75 |
| SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Claro, Tigo | Telcel, Movistar | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus |
| Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | Tip 10% in restaurants | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | Not customary or expected |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | BiTaksi | EasyTaxi | Uber | Uber, Kakao |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Not 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 | A blend of indigenous and European traditions with rice, maize, cassava, assorted legumes, and meats | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese | Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. |
| Local food specialities | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Bandeja paisa, ajiaco, mondongo, empanada, and arepa | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam |
| 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 | Street stalls for empanada and arepa with cheese, restaurants for traditional Colombian food | Markets, food stalls, menú del dÃa (cheap set lunch menus) | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 24 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 153 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 57 options on Happy Cow |