Austin 🇺🇸
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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Larnaca 🇨🇾
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Population | 926,426 | 4,617,560 | 144,900 | 9,963,452 |
Official language(s) | English (de facto) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Greek | Korean |
Level of English | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate |
Main airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | March - May, September - November | March - May, October - December | March - May, September - November |
Currency | USD - US Dollar ($) | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (€) | KRW - South Korean won (₩) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | No | No |
Average monthly costs | $3484 | $1549 | $1959 | $2184 |
Rent | $1650 | $618 | $678 | $797 |
Groceries | $243 | $129 | $157 | $356 |
Dining out | $396 | $269 | $261 | $211 |
Cafe | $66 | $32 | $56 | $69 |
Coworking space | $331 | $151 | $209 | $222 |
Mobile internet | $40 | $27 | $35 | $40 |
Public transportation | $110 | $55 | $63 | $40 |
Taxis | $73 | $21 | $42 | $41 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $96 | $49 | $45 | $13 |
Sport and cultural events | $54 | $19 | $28 | $39 |
Museums and sights | $11 | $15 | $8 | $6 |
Nightlife | $124 | $43 | $110 | $93 |
Gym | $62 | $36 | $107 | $69 |
Yoga | $139 | $56 | $105 | $112 |
Massage | $89 | $30 | $54 | $75 |
SIM card options | AT&T, T-Mobile. | MTN, Vodacom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus |
Tipping | 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | Not customary or expected |
Taxi apps | Uber, Lyft | Uber, Bolt | nTaxi | Uber, Kakao |
Tap water | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable |
Overall cuisine | Emphasis on barbecued meats (beef and pork) as well as corn-based dishes and tex-mex, and rich American-style desserts. | 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.. | Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. |
Local food specialities | Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam |
Eat like a local | Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries | 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. | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 30 options on HappyCow | 24 options on HappyCow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 57 options on Happy Cow |