|
Cape Town 🇿🇦
|
Istanbul 🇹🇷
|
Madrid 🇪🇸
|
Panama City 🇵🇦
|
Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
|
|
| Population | 4,617,560 | 15,520,000 | 6,578,0179 | 880,691 | 6,718,903 |
| Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Turkish | Spanish | Spanish | Portuguese |
| Level of English | Very high | Low | Moderate | Low | Low |
| Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) | Galeão International Airport |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, September - November | December - April | January - March, December |
| Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) | EUR - Euro (€) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) | BRL - Brazilian Real (R$) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Average monthly costs | $1549 | $659 | $2498 | $2359 | $1833 |
| Rent | $618 | $354 | $1174 | $1036 | $1066 |
| Groceries | $129 | $44 | $175 | $236 | $95 |
| Dining out | $269 | $81 | $313 | $371 | $210 |
| Cafe | $32 | $18 | $51 | $43 | $25 |
| Coworking space | $151 | $49 | $196 | $157 | $130 |
| Mobile internet | $27 | $3 | $10 | $21 | $7 |
| Public transportation | $55 | $6 | $78 | $12 | $33 |
| Taxis | $21 | $6 | $44 | $48 | $14 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $49 | $2 | $49 | $0 | $16 |
| Sport and cultural events | $19 | $11 | $54 | $35 | $55 |
| Museums and sights | $15 | $15 | $20 | $9 | $26 |
| Nightlife | $43 | $22 | $82 | $117 | $54 |
| Gym | $36 | $9 | $44 | $37 | $31 |
| Yoga | $56 | $23 | $142 | $163 | $40 |
| Massage | $30 | $15 | $64 | $75 | $32 |
| SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Claro, Movistar | Tim, Claro, Vivo |
| Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | BiTaksi | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | Uber, Tu Chofer | Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber |
| 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, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | 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. | Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common. |
| Local food specialities | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja | Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros. |
| 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 | Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks | The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city. |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 24 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 7 options on HappyCow | 54 options on Happy Cow |