Cape Town ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
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Lviv ๐บ๐ฆ
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Seoul ๐ฐ๐ท
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Sofia ๐ง๐ฌ
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Population | 4,617,560 | 144,900 | 731,387 | 9,963,452 | 1,270,169 |
Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Greek | Ukrainian | Korean | Bulgarian |
Level of English | Very high | High | Low | Moderate | High |
Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | March - May, October - December | May - September | March - May, September - November | April-June, September-October |
Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (โด) | KRW - South Korean won (โฉ) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | No | No |
Average monthly costs | $1549 | $1959 | $922 | $2184 | $1289 |
Rent | $618 | $678 | $400 | $797 | $567 |
Groceries | $129 | $157 | $91 | $356 | $10 |
Dining out | $269 | $261 | $151 | $211 | $227 |
Cafe | $32 | $56 | $21 | $69 | $27 |
Coworking space | $151 | $209 | $79 | $222 | $140 |
Mobile internet | $27 | $35 | $4 | $40 | $10 |
Public transportation | $55 | $63 | $5 | $40 | $30 |
Taxis | $21 | $42 | $12 | $41 | $12 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $49 | $45 | $16 | $13 | $40 |
Sport and cultural events | $19 | $28 | $13 | $39 | $18 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $8 | $9 | $6 | $12 |
Nightlife | $43 | $110 | $43 | $93 | $82 |
Gym | $36 | $107 | $22 | $69 | $23 |
Yoga | $56 | $105 | $30 | $112 | $62 |
Massage | $30 | $54 | $27 | $75 | $29 |
SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Vodafone, Kyivstar | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus | A1, Telenor, Vivacom |
Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | 10% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere | Not customary or expected | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafรฉs |
Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | nTaxi | Uber, Uklon | Uber, Kakao | TaxiMe, TaxiStars |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | 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.. | 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). | Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. | 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. |
Local food specialities | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky | Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator |
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. | Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 24 options on HappyCow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 9 options on HappyCow | 57 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow |