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Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Istanbul ๐น๐ท
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Mexico City ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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Playa del Carmen ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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Seoul ๐ฐ๐ท
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| Population | 4,617,560 | 15,520,000 | 8,850,000 | 259,453 | 9,963,452 |
| Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Turkish | Spanish | Spanish | Korean |
| Level of English | Very high | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | April - June, September and October | March - May, October, November | January - May, October - December | March - May, September - November |
| Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | KRW - South Korean won (โฉ) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted in most places | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Average monthly costs | $1549 | $659 | $1867 | $2143 | $2184 |
| Rent | $618 | $354 | $778 | $923 | $797 |
| Groceries | $129 | $44 | $281 | $127 | $356 |
| Dining out | $269 | $81 | $182 | $207 | $211 |
| Cafe | $32 | $18 | $49 | $42 | $69 |
| Coworking space | $151 | $49 | $159 | $160 | $222 |
| Mobile internet | $27 | $3 | $25 | $21 | $40 |
| Public transportation | $55 | $6 | $11 | $17 | $40 |
| Taxis | $21 | $6 | $9 | $9 | $41 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $49 | $2 | $24 | $49 | $13 |
| Sport and cultural events | $19 | $11 | $81 | $97 | $39 |
| Museums and sights | $15 | $15 | $20 | $217 | $6 |
| Nightlife | $43 | $22 | $64 | $77 | $93 |
| Gym | $36 | $9 | $69 | $42 | $69 |
| Yoga | $56 | $23 | $65 | $54 | $112 |
| Massage | $30 | $15 | $51 | $101 | $75 |
| SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Telcel, Movistar | Telcel, Movistar | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus |
| Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 10-15% for restaurants | Not customary or expected |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | BiTaksi | Uber | N/A | 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 sautรฉed 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 | Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices | 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 | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole | 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 | Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus) | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 24 options on HappyCow | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow | 57 options on Happy Cow |