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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Madrid 🇪🇸
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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| Population | 4,617,560 | 144,900 | 6,578,0179 | 8,850,000 | 9,963,452 |
| Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Greek | Spanish | Spanish | Korean |
| Level of English | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | March - May, October - December | March - May, September - November | March - May, October, November | March - May, September - November |
| Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (€) | EUR - Euro (€) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | KRW - South Korean won (₩) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Average monthly costs | $1549 | $1959 | $2498 | $1867 | $2184 |
| Rent | $618 | $678 | $1174 | $778 | $797 |
| Groceries | $129 | $157 | $175 | $281 | $356 |
| Dining out | $269 | $261 | $313 | $182 | $211 |
| Cafe | $32 | $56 | $51 | $49 | $69 |
| Coworking space | $151 | $209 | $196 | $159 | $222 |
| Mobile internet | $27 | $35 | $10 | $25 | $40 |
| Public transportation | $55 | $63 | $78 | $11 | $40 |
| Taxis | $21 | $42 | $44 | $9 | $41 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $49 | $45 | $49 | $24 | $13 |
| Sport and cultural events | $19 | $28 | $54 | $81 | $39 |
| Museums and sights | $15 | $8 | $20 | $20 | $6 |
| Nightlife | $43 | $110 | $82 | $64 | $93 |
| Gym | $36 | $107 | $44 | $69 | $69 |
| Yoga | $56 | $105 | $142 | $65 | $112 |
| Massage | $30 | $54 | $64 | $51 | $75 |
| SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus |
| Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | Not customary or expected |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | nTaxi | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | Uber | Uber, Kakao |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | 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. | Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. | Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. | 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 | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros | 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 | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. | 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! | Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 24 options on HappyCow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 57 options on Happy Cow |