Cape Town 🇿🇦
|
Lisbon 🇵🇹
|
Madrid 🇪🇸
|
Mexico City 🇲🇽
|
New York City 🇺🇸
|
Porto 🇵🇹
|
Prague 🇨🇿
|
Seoul 🇰🇷
|
Sofia 🇧🇬
|
Tbilisi 🇬🇪
|
|
Population | 4,617,560 | 517,000 | 6,578,0179 | 8,850,000 | 8,323,340 | 237,559 | 1,305,737 | 9,963,452 | 1,270,169 | 1,108,700 |
Official language(s) | Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English | Portuguese | Spanish | Spanish | English (de facto) | Portuguese | Czech | Korean | Bulgarian | Georgian |
Level of English | Very high | Very high | Moderate | Moderate | Very high | Very High | High | Moderate | High | Low |
Main airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) | Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport (OPO) | Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) | Sofia International Airport (SOF) | Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) |
Most common months to visit | March - May, September - November | March - May, September, October | March - May, September - November | March - May, October, November | April - June, September - November | May - September | June - October | March - May, September - November | April-June, September-October | March - June |
Currency | ZAR - South African Rand (R) | EUR - Euro (€) | EUR - Euro (€) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | USD - US Dollar ($) | EUR - Euro (€) | CZK - Czech Koruna (Kč) | KRW - South Korean won (₩) | BGN - Bulgarian Lev (лв) | GEL - Georgian Lari (₾) |
Credit cards | Accepted almost everywhere, but cash still needed in smaller shops | Accepted almost everywhere (less for AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted most places (some places are cash only) | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $1549 | $1984 | $2498 | $1867 | $5431 | $1759 | $1806 | $2184 | $1289 | $1462 |
Rent | $618 | $965 | $1174 | $778 | $2891 | $717 | $780 | $797 | $567 | $752 |
Groceries | $129 | $136 | $175 | $281 | $383 | $148 | $158 | $356 | $10 | $112 |
Dining out | $269 | $271 | $313 | $182 | $656 | $280 | $240 | $211 | $227 | $169 |
Cafe | $32 | $37 | $51 | $49 | $72 | $45 | $53 | $69 | $27 | $45 |
Coworking space | $151 | $164 | $196 | $159 | $326 | $96 | $175 | $222 | $140 | $125 |
Mobile internet | $27 | $24 | $10 | $25 | $45 | $21 | $24 | $40 | $10 | $4 |
Public transportation | $55 | $63 | $78 | $11 | $220 | $95 | $61 | $40 | $30 | $8 |
Taxis | $21 | $27 | $44 | $9 | $78 | $25 | $33 | $41 | $12 | $14 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $49 | $18 | $49 | $24 | $30 | $10 | $19 | $13 | $40 | $27 |
Sport and cultural events | $19 | $29 | $54 | $81 | $100 | $45 | $19 | $39 | $18 | $21 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $24 | $20 | $20 | $74 | $24 | $35 | $6 | $12 | $9 |
Nightlife | $43 | $47 | $82 | $64 | $195 | $66 | $50 | $93 | $82 | $53 |
Gym | $36 | $65 | $44 | $69 | $55 | $56 | $56 | $69 | $23 | $33 |
Yoga | $56 | $65 | $142 | $65 | $197 | $82 | $66 | $112 | $62 | $37 |
Massage | $30 | $50 | $64 | $51 | $109 | $48 | $37 | $75 | $29 | $53 |
SIM card options | MTN, Vodacom | Vodafone | Orange, Movistar, Vodafone | Telcel, Movistar | AT&T, Verizon | Vodafone, MEO, NOS | Vodafone, T-Mobile | KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus | A1, Telenor, Vivacom | Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline |
Tipping | 10 - 15% at restaurants, round up elsewhere | 5-10% for restaurants, not common at bars | Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 15-20% at restaurants, 1 USD per drink at bars | 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars | 10% at restaurants and bars, round up elsewhere | Not customary or expected | 10% in restaurants, 1-2 BGN at bars and cafés | 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafés. |
Taxi apps | Uber, Bolt | Uber, FreeNow | Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now | Uber | Uber, Lyft | Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify | Uber, Liftago | Uber, Kakao | TaxiMe, TaxiStars | Yandex, Bolt |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Drinkable | 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 sautéed vegetables and dry-cured meats. Creamy desserts and liqueurs compliment large and flavorful meals. | Fresh seafood, meats, soup, sausages and famous pastries | 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 | American. Emphasis on comfort and fast food, with some good seafood dishes. Influence from other regions of the US, North America and the world make NYC a cosmopolitan and international cuisine hub that is incredibly diverse. | A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. | Thick soups are often combined with stewed vegetables and baked meats to produce rich dishes. Gravies and creams are popular in Czech cuisine, as is beer! | 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. | Cuisine of the Caucasus meets regional diversity in Georgia. Emphasis on spices and meats (poultry, beef, pork and mutton) as well as soups and creams. |
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 | Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileña, churros | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | Pizza, clam chowder, bagels, corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, hot dogs, and hundred of other international food options. | Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa | Vepřo knedlo zelo, Česnečka, Guláš, Svíčková na smetaně, Ovocné Knedlíky. | Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam | Kebapche, Bulgarian musaka, lyutenitsa, shkember chorba, kyufte, kavarma, banitsa and tarator | Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli |
Eat like a local | Cape Malay shacks, food trucks, street food joints, local grills, small bakeries and food markets | Tascas, snack bars, seafood restaurants | 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) | Delis, local pizza shops, street food stalls and food trucks, food markets, local bakeries and smaller, authentic international cuisine restaurants | Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars | Pubs and taverns, street food stalls, local cafés | Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets | Taverns, local BBQ restaurants, local markets and smaller eateries in residential and university areas. | Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 24 options on HappyCow | 401 listings on Happy Cow | 85 listings on Happy Cow | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 309 options on HappyCow | 46 options on Happy Cow | 112 options on HappyCow | 57 options on Happy Cow | 20 options on HappyCow | 10 options on Happy Cow |