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Cape Town 🇿🇦
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Lisbon 🇵🇹
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Lviv 🇺🇦
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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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| Population | 4,617,560 | 517,000 | 731,387 | 8,850,000 | 259,453 |
| Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Portuguese | Ukrainian | Spanish | Spanish |
| Level of English | Very high | Very high | Low | Moderate | Moderate |
| Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | March - May, September, October | May - September | March - May, October, November | January - May, October - December |
| Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (€) | UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnia (₴) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) |
| Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted almost everywhere | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted almost everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $1549 | $1984 | $922 | $1867 | $2143 |
| Rent | $618 | $965 | $400 | $778 | $923 |
| Groceries | $129 | $136 | $91 | $281 | $127 |
| Dining out | $269 | $271 | $151 | $182 | $207 |
| Cafe | $32 | $37 | $21 | $49 | $42 |
| Coworking space | $151 | $164 | $79 | $159 | $160 |
| Mobile internet | $27 | $24 | $4 | $25 | $21 |
| Public transportation | $55 | $63 | $5 | $11 | $17 |
| Taxis | $21 | $27 | $12 | $9 | $9 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $49 | $18 | $16 | $24 | $49 |
| Sport and cultural events | $19 | $29 | $13 | $81 | $97 |
| Museums and sights | $15 | $24 | $9 | $20 | $217 |
| Nightlife | $43 | $47 | $43 | $64 | $77 |
| Gym | $36 | $65 | $22 | $69 | $42 |
| Yoga | $56 | $65 | $30 | $65 | $54 |
| Massage | $30 | $50 | $27 | $51 | $101 |
| SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | Vodafone | Vodafone, Kyivstar | Telcel, Movistar | Telcel, Movistar |
| Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | 10% in restaurants, not expected elsewhere | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 10-15% for restaurants |
| Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Uklon | Uber | N/A |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not 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 sautéed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. | 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). | 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 |
| Local food specialities | Bitlong and droewors, boerewors, Cape Malay curry, bobotie, melkert, gatsby, bunny chow | Bacalhau à bras, sardinhas, petiscos, leitão, polvo à lagareiro, pasteis de nata, bifana | Lviv cheesecake, fish Zupa, Tsivikli, Karmanadli, Banosh, Borscht, Salo, Syrnyky | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | 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 | Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants | Local grills, themed taverns, local breweries, small bakeries | Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 24 options on HappyCow | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 9 options on HappyCow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 72 listings on Happy Cow |