Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
|
Lisbon ๐ต๐น
|
Lviv ๐บ๐ฆ
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Playa del Carmen ๐ฒ๐ฝ
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Population | 4,617,560 | 144,900 | 517,000 | 731,387 | 259,453 |
Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Greek | Portuguese | Ukrainian | Spanish |
Level of English | Very high | High | Very high | Low | Moderate |
Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | March - May, October - December | March - May, September, October | May - September | January - May, October - December |
Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (โด) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $1549 | $1959 | $1984 | $922 | $2143 |
Rent | $618 | $678 | $965 | $400 | $923 |
Groceries | $129 | $157 | $136 | $91 | $127 |
Dining out | $269 | $261 | $271 | $151 | $207 |
Cafe | $32 | $56 | $37 | $21 | $42 |
Coworking space | $151 | $209 | $164 | $79 | $160 |
Mobile internet | $27 | $35 | $24 | $4 | $21 |
Public transportation | $55 | $63 | $63 | $5 | $17 |
Taxis | $21 | $42 | $27 | $12 | $9 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $49 | $45 | $18 | $16 | $49 |
Sport and cultural events | $19 | $28 | $29 | $13 | $97 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $8 | $24 | $9 | $217 |
Nightlife | $43 | $110 | $47 | $43 | $77 |
Gym | $36 | $107 | $65 | $22 | $42 |
Yoga | $56 | $105 | $65 | $30 | $54 |
Massage | $30 | $54 | $50 | $27 | $101 |
SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Vodafone | Vodafone, Kyivstar | Telcel, Movistar |
Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | 10% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere | 10-15% for restaurants |
Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | nTaxi | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Uklon | N/A |
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 sautรฉed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. | Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. | Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries | Slavic. Emphasis on frilled meats combined with potatoes, carrots, pickles and cabbage. Creamy deserts often elaborated with cottage cheese. Lviv enjoys culinary influences from Kiev (traditional with an emphasis on chicken) and Odessa (various seafood dishes). | Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices |
Local food specialities | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Bacalhau ร bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitรฃo, polvo ร lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole |
Eat like a local | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. | Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants | Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 24 options on HappyCow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 9 options on HappyCow | 72 listings on Happy Cow |